How animals are transported by plane

“Air transportation of animals is a small but important segment of airports and airlines. I and the editor-in-chief of Air Transport Review Alexei Sinitsky decided to see how this happens in practice, ”says Marina Lystseva.

(Total 32 photos)

1.

2. Miniature Schnauzer Mickey and girl Tanya left Sheremetyevo Airport for Prague on a Czech Airlines flight.

3. A dog needs a cage to fly. If the weight of the animal together with the cage does not exceed 8 kg, it can fly in the cabin. In this case, the sum of the length, height and width of the cage should not exceed 115 cm. But this is not our case, so Mickey will have to travel in the luggage compartment of the aircraft.

4. The cage must necessarily be rigid and large enough so that the animal can easily stand up and turn around in it. It is better to check with a particular airline for details, as requirements may vary slightly.

5. Special control at the entrance to Terminal E of Sheremetyevo Airport.

6. Things and cages on the conveyor belt, people and dogs through the frame.

7. First of all, we go to the veterinary control.

8. Not earlier than three days before departure, you need to obtain a veterinary certificate (form No. 1-vet) at any state veterinary clinic.

9. On departure, options are possible - if the dog has a European veterinary passport (and Mickey has it - it lies on the left), then the veterinary service employee makes a mark in the passport. And if there is no passport, in exchange for a certificate (located on the right for an example), an international veterinary certificate is issued on the day of departure. Since the rules tend to change, it is better to clarify the procedure in advance.

10. The dog must have all the necessary vaccinations, and the rabies vaccination must be delivered at least 30 days before the visit to the veterinary clinic.

11. What kind of vaccinations are needed for a particular country, it is better to be interested separately. In some countries, such as the UK or Cyprus, it is better not to travel with animals at all - they are quarantined there for six months.

12. Before the flight, you need to take a walk and drink water.

13. The miniature schnauzer is the smallest breed of the schnauzer group, reaching a height of 30-35 cm at the withers. It is also the shortest breed among service dogs.

14. You can run a little along the spacious corridors of Terminal E.

15. And play with your favorite toy.

16. You must inform about the intention to bring a dog with you when booking a ticket. Typically, airlines allow no more than one animal in each of the cabins of the aircraft - business class and economy, and no more than one animal in the front and rear cargo compartments of the aircraft.

17. It is also quite likely that the animals should be, so to speak, of the same type - that is, if a cat travels in one cabin, then the dog cannot be taken even in another cabin, because they will smell each other anyway. Therefore, when booking, you always need to get confirmation that the dog is accepted for transportation, and it usually takes some time for the airline to do this.

18. Mustache, paws and tail!

19. The weight of the animal and the container for its transportation is paid as excess baggage. And in its entirety, and not at all as the difference between the allowable norm and the actual weight of the cage with the animal and the passenger's luggage.

20. "My name is Mickey, and I'm flying to Prague." The girl, by the way, flies unaccompanied, so a red tag UM - Unattended Minor is attached to the luggage.

21. A special mark is made on the boarding pass.

22. Excess dog weight of 60 euros paid at the Czech Airlines office.

23. Sad moment of parting of the hostess and the faithful dog. But this is not for long.

24. Next, the loader transports the cage with the dog. We were allowed to follow him to places where ordinary passengers are not allowed to enter.

25. All the baggage of our flight is stowed. Mickey follows on a separate, trailing cart.

26.

— How do you feel, passenger? “Meow Woof, okay!”

27. Baggage is delivered for loading onto the aircraft. The photo shows the open luggage hatch of an Airbus A319, but Mickey will fly in the tail luggage compartment.

28. Tanya looks out the window and worries about her dog. By phone, we report that everything is in order.

29. Final formalities before loading Mickey into the luggage compartment.

30. Someone asked - is it not cold there, in the rear compartment? I report - it's not cold there, the temperature is room temperature.

31. While the plane is being prepared for departure, we manage to get to the Fifth Ocean restaurant - from here there are beautiful views from the windows. Our A319 is taxiing.

32. The plane takes off and heads for Prague. Mickey endured the flight normally, and the return too.

No dogs were harmed during filming.

We were able to capture the main moments of this process thanks to the assistance of the Public Relations Center of Sheremetyevo International Airport, which issued us permission to take photographs and provided us with an accompanying shift supervisor of the transportation service, who helped us in all matters.

Photographing at the veterinary control point of Sheremetyevo Airport and general assistance was provided to us by the Rosselkhoznadzor Administration for the city of Moscow, the Moscow and Tula regions.