Beyond the rules and regulations, of course, there’s a common-sense etiquette that needs to be applied. The first and main rule being: not everyone likes dogs, so don’t let your dog interact with everybody without their consent. In fact, this is a good mantra to remember when travelling anywhere with your dog, not just when flying. Other people have phobias, allergies or, if they’re completely heartless, general disdain for dogs, so keeping your dog to itself is important. That means no begging for attention from passengers in the check-in queue.
It’s essential to exercise your dog before flying so they can relax on the plane, and ensure they’ve relieved themselves prior to boarding so you can rest assured they’re not going to divert the plane with a badly timed poo – some airports have special pet relief areas installed for this very purpose. Finally, bringing a handful of small training treats can be useful for helping them regulate the air pressure in their ears during altitude changes (this is often the cause of most distress for dogs on planes), and giving them a small, long-lasting chew can help them remain focused and calm while you fly.
Now, if this all sounds a little too restrictive for your pet, there is a better way to fly: K9 Jets. This private-aircraft airline charters small planes in the US and Europe solely for dog owners. It costs a pretty penny (think around £5,500-£7,000 each way if you’re flying transatlantic), but if you’ve got five figures to fritter away on a flight to and from the States, you’ll get to join a host of other dog owners on your private jet, where the animals can lounge around at their leisure. “On a K9 Jets flight, all pets sit on your lap or beside you in the cabin. No crates, no dark cargo spaces,” says co-founder Adam Golder.