Two weeks ago, due to moving, I had to take the 'partner' to the state of São Paulo. The reason: Moving. It was my first flight as an in-flight dog owner and his first flight.
Before buying the ticket, the first step was to check the rules of the airlines. GOL allows dogs weighing up to 10 kg to fly on top of the plane, Azul and LATAM a maximum of 8 kg. I ended up opting for GOL since the partner weighs about 8 kilos, on the scale it was a little over 8 kilos. The amount charged to take him was R$ 250,00.
The second step was to buy an air transport bag for dogs and cats, each airline has its own standard measurements. I found it on Mercado Livre, there are sales ments according to the requirements of each company. I chose one that was canvas with screens, to try to make it less closed during the flight.
The third step was to talk to his veterinarian, it is mandatory to have the vaccination card up to date with a minimum period of 30 days vaccinated and a written certificate from the veterinarian that everything is up to date with the health of the dog or cat, if applicable. The vast majority of veterinarians already know this procedure.
The partner is a Shitzu, a short-nosed breed. The veterinarian warned of the possible problems of dogs with short fuzz and if you sedate them, it can cause death. Companies like Gol do not transport large breed dogs with short noses. Many died in the hold of the plane sedated. The basement where the dogs go in flight is pressurized and acclimatized at room temperature, that's not the problem, the problem is the short fuss.
So the partner went without taking any kind of sedative.
Another important issue, they need to fly fasted. About 8 hours of fasting to avoid possible vomiting or do number 2.
Weeks before the flight I even thought about going out with it in my bag to get used to it, I ended up doing it inside the apartment.
The day of the flight arrived. The POA – GRU flight left at 19 pm, however, my daughter took us to the airport earlier because of traffic, a 00km stretch that can take more than an hour and a half due to traffic jams or accidents.
We left home at 15 pm, in the end there was no traffic jam and we arrived at the airport very quickly. In the parking lot he came on a leash, when we arrived at the airport entrance I put him in the semi-closed bag, with his head sticking out of it. I had a little problem, he jumped out, I put him back in the bag with it all closed. Which was also a problem since he was crying quite a bit.
We dispatched the luggage, made the documentation for the dog, consisting of a copy that is handed over to the head of the flight attendants and presented before boarding. The GOL employee weighed the partner and checked his documentation, filled out the documents and we were cleared for boarding.
But a problem arose, it was too early and the partner was getting stressed in the bag, I went out of the airport and walked with him going and coming back in the same stretch to calm the dog.
It was time to go to the departure lounge, I closed it in the bag again and we went to the X-ray. The procedure is to take the dog out of the bag to it on the X-ray and it on your lap with your arms outstretched.
After the X-ray we arrived at the boarding gate, I presented his documents to the GOL staff and waited for everyone to get on the plane to board last. He was wearing a chest collar, very important during the flight. To calm down a little more, until everyone boarded the plane, I put him on my lap holding the chest. It was the joy of the children on the way back.
At the entrance to the plane I presented the documents to the head of the flight attendants, she gave me the instructions. For no time take it out of the bag and only take it out in case of depressurization to put a mask on it, always after putting mine on. The planes have an extra mask to use on babies and for flight attendants to walk down the aisle.
Luckily the seat next to me was empty, as soon as I sat down I put him next to me and my mother stayed in the aisle, I put him in the middle until the plane went into taxiing and I was warned that I should put him under the seat in front of my foot. It was already night, standard takeoff procedure, all lights off and that silence. I sat there with my seat belt fastened and one hand in my bag to try to calm him down.
I took a seat at the back of the wings, which was my mistake. It was a 737-800 NG, engines with old technology, steel blades and low by-, which increases engine noise.
When the engines accelerated, panic began, I've never seen him so nervous in these six years. Trying at all costs to try to get out of there, he started to come out of his nose. As soon as the plane took off, I broke protocol and put him on the side seat, I started to calm him down until he ed.
I followed the flight with him by my side, I buckled up and held him by the pectoral collar inside the open bag during the entire flight. Finally he calmed down and slept for most of the flight. On the GRU approach, I put it back in the bag and under the seat for landing.
What considerations did I have for taking your partner on the first flight:
- Put on a chest collar;
- Choose a seat in front of the wings, in the front row it might be more interesting;
- If possible, buy two seats, one on your side;
- Take fasting;
- Arrive close to flight time;
- Choose a flight during the day and not at night;
- If it is furry and weighs more than 7 kilos, it is interesting to shave the fur to be more comfortable in the bag.
