by Melanie Monteiro, author of The Safe Dog Handbook

Most pet parents agree the mere thought of flying their beloved companions “below cabin” is daunting. And in some cases it should be avoided altogether.

But should a time come when you must consider the prospect, knowing what the experience is like from Fido’s point of view can help you determine whether he (and you) are up for the adventure.

For the inside scoop, I asked pilots, baggage handlers, flight attendants, and customer service representatives from United, American, and Alaska Airlines, as well as British Airways, to weigh in on the subject.

Drop-off and Loading

Assuming you’ve met all the airline’s pet travel guidelines including your vet’s approval, once you drop your kenneled pet off he’ll be taken to a designated holding area until its time to load. His kennel will then be placed by hand onto the loading ramp for the short ride up to the plane’s cargo hold. One pilot I spoke with mentioned witnessing baggage handlers riding alongside kennels on the loading ramp for added safety, although this is certainly not the norm.

Once inside the hold, the kennels are secured in an area designated for live animals, away from the other baggage and cargo. While one airline employee claimed there are only runners to keep the kennels in place, everyone else said the kennels are either strapped down individually or otherwise secured with tarp or netting. This would be an important detail to clarify with your airline.

The Air Down There

The air in the cargo hold is the exact same pressurized, temperature-controlled air that circulates throughout the main cabin. But because the multitude of human bodies sitting together generates added warmth in the more insulated main cabin, the air is always cooler in cargo. To remedy this, most aircrafts have a “high/low” switch in the cockpit that sends additional warm air to cargo, which the pilot sets to “high” whenever there are live animals below.  One pilot states that on a Boeing 777, the cargo air averages about 18°C (64.4° F) with the switch set to high, but can drop to below 10 °C (50°F) if mistakenly left on the low setting.

To help prevent such an accident, all pilots are informed on their load manifest when there are live animals “in the pit.” For caution’s sake, it would be wise to ask your flight attendant to confirm the pilot has “flipped the switch” and is aware of your precious cargo below!

Noise and Light

The cargo area is not lit in flight, so the area will be dark. It will also be noisier than in the main cabin.

Delays and Layovers

I received varying answers as to how cargo temperature is controlled when a plane is waiting on the tarmac. Find out in advance what the airline’s procedure is should there be a delay, and speak up to remind crew your pet is below should a delay occur—especially in hot or cold weather.

Plan Ahead for a Better Journey

To help ready your companion for flying, make him comfortable in his kennel as soon as possible, starting at home. Put blankets and/or an old shirt of yours inside, leave the doors open, and feed him meals and treat-stuffed toys inside. Encourage him to sleep inside and experiment with short periods of leaving him alone with the door closed. Get him used to the jostling he’ll experience by lifting his kennel in and out of your car and driving around. Ask friends to help you, to get him used to being handled by others. Do whatever you can to simulate his day as “checked baggage.” And of course, be sure he’s had a nice long walk and potty break before the flight.

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Melanie Monteiro is a dog safety expert, pet first aid instructor, and author of The Safe Dog Handbook. You may also find her at The Safe Dog on You Tube.