Flying with Pets: The Complete Checklist
From First Booking to Final Descent: A Step-by-Step Plan for a Safe, Calm Flight with Your Dog or Cat
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
The complete step-by-step plan for flying with your dog or cat—from picking the right carrier to calming in-cabin anxiety. No fluff, just checklists and real techniques.
About this book
Flying with a pet can feel like a nightmare before you've even booked the ticket. Will the airline let them in the cabin? What if they cry the whole way? Does the crate need to be a specific size? This book walks you through every decision and every phase, so you know exactly what to do at 12 weeks out, 4 weeks out, the night before, and at the security gate. You'll get concrete checklists for airline policies, crate training schedules, and vet paperwork—no more endless scrolling through forums with contradictory advice.
Using the same step-by-step approach that professional pet movers use, you'll help your dog or cat feel safe and secure from takeoff to landing. Learn how to make the carrier a happy space, practice with airport noises and motion, and use food and exercise strategically to reduce anxiety. This isn't about pretending your pet will love flying—it's about making the experience genuinely calm and low-stress for both of you.
If you're worried about a meltdown at 30,000 feet, this guide gives you a plan you can trust. It's written by someone who has seen it all—the crying dog, the cat that escapes the carrier, the missed connecting flight—and knows exactly how to help you avoid every one of those disasters.
Reader Reviews
John Lopez
★★★★★I picked this up after a horrible experience with my cat on a short flight. I wish I'd had this book before. It's pretty detailed, and I could have used the countdown. I do think some parts are overkill if you have a laid-back pet, but for a first-timer it's a decent primer. I only used about 60% of the advice honestly, but that 60% did help with the second flight.
Sharon Miller
★★★★★I'm not a big reader of how-to books, but I was desperate when I had to move with my dog. The author clearly knows what they're talking about. The crate training plan was the only reason my dog didn't lose his mind. My only complaint: I wish there was more about flying with two cats, but I get that it's not a common situation. Still, worth the money.
Michael Johnson
★★★★★I've flown with my dog three times and always dreaded it. This book completely changed the game. The week-by-week plan made me feel so much more prepared, and the script for TSA was pure gold. My dog slept the whole flight for the first time ever! If you're nervous about flying with your dog, just get this. It's like having a trainer by your side.
Paul Thompson
★★★★★Some helpful tips, but I felt like the target audience is someone with an overly anxious pet, which mine is not. The lengths about desensitization felt unnecessary for a chill dog. The airline booking chapter was actually the most useful part for me. It got me up to speed on fees and policies. It's okay, but I'd skip it if your pet travels well already.
Steven Jackson
★★★★★I was concerned about the medical advice. The book says to talk to your vet before flying, which is good, but I wish it had more specific guidance about sedatives. The info on the FDA warning was helpful though, and it made me reconsider. Overall a decent resource, but I wanted a bit more on the vet side of things.
Kenneth Smith
★★★★★For a checklist book, I found some of the steps redundant. The flight day chapter repeated things from the countdown chapters. That said, having everything in one place with actual times for meals and bathroom breaks was exactly what my type-A brain needed. I also appreciated the red flags chapter, even if it scared me a little. I'd say it's a good buy if you're the over-planning type like me.
Sandra Harris
★★★★★My partner and I were about to cancel our move because we were both terrified of flying with our dachshund, Waffle. This book made us feel like we had a clear plan. The crate training section saved us—I never would have thought to start so early or to use the car rides. Every question we had was answered somewhere in here. We flew last weekend and Waffle cried for all of 5 minutes at takeoff and then slept. I probably teared up. Worth every penny.
Sandra Thompson
★★★★★Useful, but I felt the author was a little dismissive of flying pets in cargo. I have a large dog, and the book pretty much said 'if you can avoid it, do.' That's not always possible. I'd have liked more practical guidance on making cargo safe and comfortable for the dog, not just a bunch of warnings. The cabin-focused advice is solid, but it left me with a lot of unanswered questions for my situation.