FAQ
The associated questions are as individual as the animal transports themselves: we have compiled the most frequently asked questions for you, but there are a lot of them, so you also have the option of addressing topics directly: timing, documents, exotic animals, food & water, collar and lead, tranquilizers, noises, transport boxes, collection, care, costs and payment.
Timing and pets by pro service
Depending on the destination country, you should allow 1 – 3 months for the planning and organization of your pet transport.
For flights to Australia and New Zealand, we recommend a preparation period of 9 – 12 months due to the extensive entry regulations there.
Unfortunately not. The coordination of the booking, taking into account all regulations, does not allow this. We normally need at least 3 works to book your animal.
This is possible on all long-haul flights. On shorter routes, where smaller aircraft are used, it is sometimes not possible to transport very large animals, so road transport offers a good alternative.
Get in touch with us: By phone, e-mail or via our online form. After clarifying all questions, we will send you our booking form, which you should fill out and return to us.
As a rule, you should leave your pet with us at least 4 hours before departure, with some airlines 5-6 hours. You will receive the exact time from us together with the flight details.
At the beginning we will send you an offer for the possible flights and the expected costs.
We will discuss the country’s entry regulations with you and explain which steps need to be taken and in what order.
As soon as the airline allows it, we can book the flight ticket for your pet and you will receive the exact flight details from us.
If an import agent is required or requested by you to handle all import formalities, we will of course also take care of this.
No, the crates must comply with IATA regulations: Each airline has its own list of dogs that are not transported at all or are only transported in certain wooden crates due to their strength.
In addition, the boxes must meet certain criteria for air circulation and stability. The cage door, for example, must not be at the top of the box.
We stock transport boxes in various sizes, including for listed dogs. Measure your dog from the tip of the nose to the tail, the shoulder height and the width and ask us for the transport box with these measurements using the contact form, we will be happy to make you a non-binding offer.
We have a fleet of special transport vehicles that we can use to transport your pet anywhere in the EU.
We work with internationally recognized freight forwarders worldwide. Our local partners can transport your pet by road to any location.
Flight booking
Freight shipments are only accepted by the airlines from authorized carriers, such as pets by pro.
In most cases, it is also not always possible to transport the animal as “excess baggage” due to various factors (size of the animal, regulations of the destination country, airline regulations, etc.).
Depending on the airline, there are different advance booking deadlines. With some airlines, the animal can be booked up to 3 months before departure, with others it is a maximum of 10 days.
In any case, the flight should be booked through pets by pro at least 3 working days before the desired flight date.
This must be decided on a case-by-case basis. Please get in touch with us!
Depending on the airline, there are different advance booking deadlines. With some airlines, the animal can be booked up to 3 months before departure, with others it is a maximum of 10 days. As soon as we have received the booking confirmation from the airline, we will send you the exact flight details.
No, you can – but you don’t have to – fly on the same flight. For some destinations we book the flight in cargo aircraft, where passengers are not permitted.
Smaller airports often do not offer handling for animal transportation. Airlines also use aircraft on many routes that do not have the necessary capacity for transporting animals.
That is why pets by pro also offers road transportation with specially air-conditioned and equipped buses to enable transportation to the nearest major airport.
Care and animal welfare
If you are leaving before your pet or if it cannot stay overnight with you for other reasons, we can organize one or more overnight stays in selected boarding kennels near the airport. Thanks to our many years of cooperation with these boarding kennels, there is always a “place” available.
At the agreed time, which we will inform you of together with the flight details, you will hand over your pet to our office. We will check the required documents again, which you should bring to us in the original (e.g. pet passport, health certificate). We then take care of your pet and bring it to the respective airline.
Our pets by pro veterinarian will be happy to carry out the necessary examinations for you or, if necessary, take your pet to the official veterinarian. However, in order to leave the animal in its familiar environment, it is often advisable to have all examinations carried out in advance by a vet you trust.
During the flight, it is not possible to access the special area reserved for animal transportation in the cargo hold of the aircraft.
Before the flight, we and all the attendants keep an eye on the animal until take-off to ensure that it is sufficiently supplied with water. During the flight, the animal has the opportunity to drink from the water bowls in the transport box.
Unfortunately, there is no general answer to this question, as it varies depending on the country and the destination airport. The following applies to transports within the EU: After landing at your destination, your animal will be unloaded from the aircraft first by the handling partners there and taken to the animal station or the warehouse of the respective airline. There the animal is immediately supplied with water. The official veterinarian or customs will then carry out the import inspection. Once all the import formalities have been completed – which can take 2-3 hours depending on the airport – your pet can be collected. For all other countries, we summarize this information together with your checklist.
Yes, your animal will be taken care of immediately after landing and released from the animal box
Yes, only trained animal keepers work in the airport animal stations.
Of course, the same high safety standards apply to the transportation of animals as everywhere else in aviation.
In addition, everyone involved in animal transportation must complete extensive training and obtain special certificates relating to the Live Animals Regulations (LAR).
The box is cleaned immediately. To ensure animal welfare, it is not permitted to transport animals in contaminated transport boxes. In any case, please make sure that your pet does not eat anything for at least 12 hours before departure and, if it is a dog, that you go for a walk before dropping it off.
We only work with selected international agents approved by the IPATA (= International Pet and Animal Transportation Association).
A stopover for animals is generally much longer than a stopover for us humans. A good opportunity for the animal to recover.
During a stopover, your pet will be the first to be unloaded from the aircraft and taken to an animal station at the airport. There it is let out of its transport box and looked after. Depending on the length of the stay, your pet will then spend one night in its “single room” in the “airport pet hotel”.
Shortly before the onward flight, your pet will be brought back to the aircraft in its crate.
Airplane
In individual cases, small cats and dogs up to 6 kg are allowed in the cabin. However, their transport bag must fit under the front seat and the animal must not leave it. Please contact your airline.
This depends entirely on the regulations of the destination country and the airline. If this is possible, you must make the booking yourself. Unfortunately, in this case we cannot provide you with any assistance in complying with the entry regulations.
All animals that fly as “cargo” in an airplane are accommodated in a special area of the cargo hold. The cargo and baggage area of an aircraft is located in the entire lower half. The cargo hold is air-conditioned (heated) in the same way as the passenger cabin. The temperature is usually between 15 and 21 degrees Celsius.
No. It is not possible to enter the cargo hold of an aircraft during the flight.
No, there is no light in the cargo hold of the aircraft.
The ground handling services responsible for this are responsible for transportation on the airport apron.
No, each animal gets its own “room” and can get out of the box. The box is open in the room so that the animal can withdraw into it if it wishes.
The stopovers are usually several hours long and usually include an overnight stay. During this time, the animal comes out of its box and is cared for in an animal station at the airport.
However, some flight connections include short stops of no more than 3 hours, during which the animal remains in its box and is provided with water.
If the box is dirty on arrival, it will be cleaned immediately. Please ensure that your pet does not eat anything for at least 12 hours before departure in order to avoid contamination in the interests of animal welfare.
If your pet is transported as excess baggage, it will be treated (almost) as a “normal suitcase”. If the goods are transported as freight, specially trained personnel provide seamless support. In addition, the animal is brought to the departure point in specially equipped and air-conditioned buses.
The reason for this is usually that there are different handling processes for excess baggage. Excess baggage must be handled via the baggage handling facilities at the passenger terminal; freight is handled in a separate freight terminal.
Yes, you are welcome to book this with us.
Yes, if the temperatures at the point of departure or arrival are very high or very low, the airline may impose a so-called “temperature embargo”. This means that your pet cannot be transported on the desired flight at short notice. We always keep an eye on whether there may be a temperature embargo on the days before departure and will of course inform you immediately and look for alternatives together.
Sometimes, however, a temperature ban only affects certain breeds, such as “flat-nosed dogs”.
Unfortunately, many airlines now have general embargoes on the transportation of flat-nosed or blunt-nosed animals.
The regulations for very high temperatures are also much more restrictive than for other animals. For example, so-called “temperature embargoes” sometimes only apply to the transportation of flat-nosed or blunt-nosed animals.
These animals include the following breeds: Bulldog, Boston Terrier, Pug, Japanese Chin, English Toy Spaniel, Shi Tzu, Chow Chow, Pekingese and Persian cats.
Collection
Yes, our experienced drivers will be happy to collect your pet from your home and take it safely to the airport in specially air-conditioned buses.
Transport box
It will be about 3-4 hours before departure, plus the respective flight time and 2-4 hours after landing.
In general, the box must meet the requirements of the IATA (International Air Transport Association). However, please always discuss this in detail with us!
Unfortunately, this is not permitted.
One reason for this is to minimize the risk of injury during transport. On the other hand, it is also not permitted to transport objects – apart from a small blanket – in the box with the animal during the security check.
Yes, a small blanket is allowed.
No, the box must not have plastic doors in order to meet the requirements.
No, in order to meet the requirements, the transport boxes must not have plastic screws.
We generally do not recommend this.
Even animals that have known each other for many years can have problems in unfamiliar surroundings. Some airlines do not allow the transportation of several animals in one box.
Vaccinations
Each country has different entry regulations. We will send you these when you book your flight and discuss them with you.
Each animal requires a valid rabies vaccination for the journey.
As a rule, you will need a European pet passport for the journey.
Documents
This depends entirely on the country you are traveling to with your pet. You will receive detailed entry requirements from us at the time of booking, which we will then discuss with you.
Yes, all original documents, including the pet passport, must travel with the animal.
Ultimately, the animal owner is always responsible for the documents.
In this case, your pet may be refused entry. This means that your animal will be flown back on the next available flight or that it will be quarantined at its destination for a longer period of time. All costs incurred as a result must be borne by you. BUT: We carry out a check of the necessary papers in advance and will not let an animal leave if we do not have all the papers.
“CITES” stands for “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife”. This is a convention that concerns international trade in endangered wild animals and plants. CITES is also better known as the “Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora”.
A CITES document is available from the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation at www.bfn.de.
Exotics
Yes, we also organize transport for these animals.
Yes, we also transport these animals.
Food and water
We generally recommend that you do not give your pet anything to eat from 12 hours before departure.
It is not possible to care for the animal during the flight as the aircraft’s cargo hold is not accessible.
It is not permitted to put food in the transport box. If your pet is dependent on special food, we can attach this to the outside of the transport box in a bag.
Your pet can then be fed this during a stopover or shortly after arrival.
Collar and lead
A collar that cannot be tightened may generally be kept on. Just like the lead, we can also attach it to the outside of the transport box so that both are always to hand.
Reassurance
It is forbidden to give the animal tranquilizers before a flight. It is impossible to estimate how the animal’s cardiovascular system will react to the changed pressure conditions in an airplane. In addition, if the animal has not been calmed down, it can adjust much better to the new, unfamiliar situation. It would be much more stressful for the animal if it was sedated before departure and then only “woke up” again in the cargo hold of the aircraft.
Sedated animals will not be transported by the airline. Any rebooking fees must be borne by you in this case.
No. It is forbidden to transport animals that have been sedated.
Noise
The noise level in the cargo hold is identical to that in the passenger cabin. Due to the darkness and the monotonous sound of the turbine, your pet will sleep most of the time.
Your pet will be taken to the aircraft in specially equipped, soundproofed buses shortly before departure. There it is immediately loaded into a separate area of the cargo hold, so that noise pollution is reduced to a minimum.
Import
At the destination, your animal will be unloaded from the cargo hold immediately after landing and taken to the airport animal station in a closed, air-conditioned vehicle. There it is supplied with water. The official veterinarian then carries out the examination for import.
After landing, the veterinary border inspection post and customs must release the animal for import. This takes a different amount of time depending on the airport and country. Allow 2-4 hours.
If you have commissioned an import agent, they will tell you the exact location of the handover.
If you import the goods yourself, you must clarify this with the local authorities. Unfortunately, in this case we are usually unable to provide any precise information about the local area.
Yes, every export – whether private or for sale – must be declared to customs. In the event of a sale, this declaration serves as proof for tax purposes so that the commercial invoice to be issued is recognized as VAT-exempt. Subsequent registration is not possible. The customs declaration is handled by us.
You need an EORI number (EORI number = Economic Operators Registration and Identification number) for every sale. If you do not yet have an EORI number, you can simply apply for one online at customs using the following link:
https://www.zoll.de/DE/Fachthemen/Zoelle/EORI-Nummer/Beantragung-einer-EORI-Nummer/
Costs
According to the “Montreal Agreement” of 1999, every shipment sent with an air way bill is insured for around 27 euros per kilo.
If you require additional insurance, please contact your insurance company.
This depends on many factors: The size of the animal, the flight route, the current rates with the airline and much more.
Simply fill out our pets by pro inquiry or contact form to receive a non-binding offer for your desired flight.
Transporting your pet as cargo has many advantages over transporting it as excess baggage: in this case, your pet is looked after seamlessly – from drop-off to pick-up at the destination airport. When transported as “excess baggage”, your pet will be treated like a “normal suitcase”. There is no real supervision.
We will also provide you with all information about the required documentation and all entry requirements.
Not all airlines offer a service for transporting animals. Classic “charter airlines” in particular (e.g. Condor) do not offer the option of transporting animals.
Specially trained personnel are required throughout the entire animal transportation process. The support is much more intensive than with a “normal piece of freight”. In addition, more volume is required in the cargo hold in order to achieve the necessary air circulation.
We will also provide you with all information about the required documentation and all entry requirements.
Payment
The animal transportation booked with us must be paid for before departure.
You can pay our invoice in advance by credit card or bank transfer.
If you only pay when you drop off your pet, you can pay by credit card, EC card or cash.
No, this is not permitted by law.
Each shipment must be paid for before departure at the latest.
Your question has not been answered?
Please get in touch using the following contact form and ask your question:
Office Munic
OFFICE FRANKFURT
pets by pro GmbH
Südallee Module C, 3. floor
85356 Munich-Airport
Postal Munich
P.O. Box 23 19 52
85328 Munich
- CONTACT MUNICH
- +49 89 9761700
- +49 89 9761-701 and 702
- +49 151 2100 6336
- info@petsbypro.com
