PET CARRIERS
Whether travelling as accompanied baggage or manifest cargo, your pet must always travel in an IATA approved Pet Carrier. Most airlines and countries will impose fines is the Pet Carrier is deemed unsuitable so it is important to measure your pet correctly.
If you are travelling with a small pet as accompanied baggage and you have received confirmation from your airline that your pet will travel with you in the cabin they must travel in a soft sided carrier which can be placed comfortably under the seat in front of you.
If travelling in the hold of the aircraft (either as manifest cargo or accompanied baggage), please note the below guidelines:
- Pet carriers made entirely of wire mesh are not permitted
- Wheels are not permitted
- Purchased rigid plastic, or specially constructed carriers of hardwood, plywood or metal are acceptable (metal may not be accepted on all airlines)
- Doors may be either sliding with suitable locks to hold the door securely in place or hinged with a the lock mechanism on the door pushing metal pins at least 1 cm into the cage frame when locked
- Floor must be solid, smooth, leak proof and have no protrusions
- Water bowls must be inside the carrier but accessible without opening the door
- A maximum of three pets aged under 6 months old, under 14KG each and from the same litter may travel in the same carrier. If over 6 months old, from different litters or heavier than 14KG, a maximum of two pets may travel in the same Pet Carrier
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have booked your pet to travel with you as accompanied baggage you must check the specific carrier requirements with your airline before travel
How to measure your pet
You will need to measure your pet to ensure the Pet Carrier is suitable for their trip. Most pets won't stand still long enough for 100% accuracy so if in doubt please err on the side of caution!
Always measure your pet when in a natural standing position
You will need to measure;
A = length from the top of the nose to base of the tail
B = height from the ground to the elbow joint
C = width across shoulders or widest point (whichever is the greatest) D = height in nature standing position from top of the head or the ear tip to the floor
D = Height at the highest natural point of your pet, in either sitting or standing position, which ever is higher. This does mean to the top of the ear if highest point in a natura position. No part of your pet can touch the top of the box whilst in the box naturally.
Use these measurements to calculate the size as follows;
A + 1/2 B = Length C X 2 = Width D = Height
This will provide MINIMUM internal measurements, the external size will be larger to ensure your pets wellbeing.
Multiple pets are the same as above except;
2 pets - minimum width 3 x widest pet
3 pets - minimum width 4 x widest pet
Note: Snub nosed breeds require 10% larger Pet Carriers (if accepted by the airline)
Expat Logistics holds a large stock of IATA approved Pet Carriers for sale in Saudi Arabia, we can also build made-to-measure crates for larger dogs. Please contact us for more details and prices.
