19 Tips for Flying With Your Service Dog From an SD Handler

Traveling with a service dog can be an intimidating experience.

From the added stress of being in an unfamiliar environment to navigating through airports and dealing with airline policies, it can be overwhelming for both handler and animal alike.

And honestly there aren’t a lot of proper resources on how to do it!

I remember feeling completely panicked the first time I traveled with my service dog – and it was a national trip! Our first international one had me sweating clean through my shirt just at the thought of what could go wrong.

Fortunately, there are ways to make traveling with your service dog easier and more enjoyable.

Here are 19 tips from a seasoned service dog handler on how to make flying with your beloved pup as smooth as possible!

1. Tire Them Out Before the Flight

Make sure your pup gets plenty of exercise the day before and on the morning of the flight.

This can be tough if you have an early morning flight. So in that case, take them out the day before to get some exercise. Maybe go for a hike or take them to doggy daycare so they’re thoroughly tired.

When my mobility is restricted, I play a jumping game with my dog or hide and seek.

The jumping game has me sit in a doorway with my legs up on the frame. I throw a piece of kibble over my legs and he has to jump across me to get it.

We do this with his dinner and he’s properly panting by the end!

Hide and seek is more when there are outside mobility restrictions, as you will need to move around. I put him in a place or stay command, then go and hide around the house or hotel room. He has to come find me.

This can be done by hiding treats around the room too, if you don’t have room to hide your whole body.

Having your pup properly tired makes it easier on them to rest during the flight.

2. Prepare for Pet Relief Areas

Pet relief areas at airports suck – plain and simple.

The nicest ones are a private room with a piece of astroturf in the corner. But some – like at Toronto Pearson – are just out in the open with a fake bush in front of them.

Even to me with my terrible sense of smell, they reek! And for a dog it must be way worse.

You can help prep your dog to go on these areas by training them on astroturf, or creating a potty command that has them go on command.

My dog has these skills and still won’t pee on them, so I bring a pee pad with me and put it beside the area or let him go on it in the human bathrooms and use a Lysol wipe on the floor beneath it after.

You should consider bringing pee pads especially for smaller dogs who can’t hold it during the flight. You can take them to the airplane bathroom and put it on the floor, then put it in the trash (do not flush them!).

For small service dogs, it can go in their carrier as well, but I recommend changing it out as none of us want to sit on pee for a long flight and neither do our dogs.

3. Preparing for Security

Security was one of the things that freaked me out the most.

I knew my dog’s vest is full of metal, so it’s going to set it off. Even his leash has metal rings on it to make it a hands-free version when I need it.

There are two ways security will ask you to go through the machine:

1) Your dog walks ahead of you at a distance and you hold the leash out. You’ll want to essentially have a full arms length between any of the metal of the dog’s leash and your body as you go through the metal detector.

2) You walk through first while your dog is in a stay command on the other side of the metal detector. Once you are approved, you call them through.

Then they will be wanded to check their vest.

I practiced for these with my dog by using a doorway as a fake metal detector and playing beeping noises on my phone so he wouldn’t be thrown off by it.

I then had him sit while I waved a rolling pin around him (it was the only wand-sized thing I could think of).

Most dogs won’t have trouble with these, but like anyone new things can be surprising and airports are chaotic places. You’ll be stressed out too if you don’t know what to expect, so I found practising helped us both. I felt more confident in his knowledge and felt more confident that I’d be able to handle whatever happened.

Some other notes for security:

• While you’re putting things in the bins, don’t rush. Take a moment to put your dog in a place that feels comfortable. I know we all want to get through the process quickly, especially with them yelling at everyone to hurry, but realistically chaos isn’t productive. So take a beat to settle yourself and your SD.
• You can bring treats as carry-on, even internationally. However, some countries like New Zealand and Australia, will make you throw them away before you go through customs on their end. However most countries are totally fine with dog treats and kibble. I use a fanny pack instead of a treat pouch (since I wear leggings to fly) and just toss it in with my backpack and carry on luggage on the conveyor belt.
• Kibble can go in your carry on for your dog. However, some things like peanut butter or other “liquids” (how is peanut butter a liquid??) can’t. This is true of wet dog food as well. You can only bring 100ml of them. So be mindful.

4. Shorter Lines (Sometimes)

99% of the time when I fly with my SD – which is pretty often as a full-time travel writer – we get moved to the priority line.

I don’t have Nexus or anything, but I get to go through those priority lines because they want to ensure your SD is set up for success and neither of you are standing around for hours in line ups.

My grandma had the same treatment when flying in a wheelchair and my cousin gets the same for flying with her newborn.

It’s common practice and a really nice bonus – especially since we have to manually check in with them when we arrive and that can slow down the whole airport experience.

When I’m not immediately routed to the fast lane, I just ask, “Would you mind if we use the short lane due to my SD and disability?”

You don’t have to disclose your disability. But more than 9/10 times, you’ll be routed there.

The only time I haven’t been was when there were legit two other people in the regular line in Halifax’s airport, so it really wouldn’t have sped things up at all anyway.

Having more time helps when you need to hunt down the dog relief station and get yourself prepped for the flight.

5. Pre-Boarding

Like the shorter lines, with an SD you’re included in the pre-boarding call for anyone who needs more time or has small children.

This is great because it gives you time to get your dog settled in without tons of crowds or suitcases bumping into them.

The one downside is, it means more time stuck in a small space.

I use this time to get him settled into his “tuck” command for the small space and then I play treat games with him. It keeps both of us distracted and makes the boarding time go faster.

Some of the things I do are:

• Using the edge of his towel/blanket as a snuffle mat and crumpling it up with some treats
• Holding treats in front of him and making him wait to take them
• Having him pick between my hands for which one has the treat
• And even DPT on my feet and once he’s in place he gets his treat

After our first two flights, he didn’t really need the games anymore as he settles in and isn’t bothered anymore. But our first two this was really needed.

6. Pack Them a Towel

Airports and airplanes are gross.

And on top of the germs, they have sooo many smells that can be distracting for your pup.

I bring an XL microfiber towel with me everywhere for my service dog. This helps in rental cars too, so he doesn’t get fur or any dirt from his paws on the seats.

When flying with your service dog, it’s a good idea to have something for them like this that smells of home.

It’s also helpful if you think your dog will struggle to stay in place for the whole flight. You can practice the place command on the towel ahead of time so they associate it with staying put.

I spread this out for him when we’re waiting at our gate and on the floor of the plane where he’ll need to stay for our flight.

🐾 Check out my favorite large microfiber dog towel here!

7. Have a Treat Pouch Handy

Pockets and flying do not mesh. You have to empty them all the time with security, and on the plane they can be hard to access.

Instead, have a treat pouch or fanny pack handy so you can easily reward your service dog for their excellent work.

I use a fanny pack because I wear leggings so it’s harder to attach a treat pouch to them while flying – but equally a treat pouch would work.

This is where all your treats will go. I stick with high value treats for flights. For my SD this is mainly freeze dried rabbit and salmon treats.

Since this is a tougher situation, I figure he deserves the best treats possible!

8. Put on a Happy Hoodie/Snood

Planes are very loud for us. For our service dogs with way better hearing, it’s deafening – especially during take off and landing.

Those are the parts my service dog had the most trouble with initially.

I got him this happy hoodie (or snood – that’s what I call it) to help him.

It’s used by groomers to help dogs handle the noise of blow dryers in their face. Which is pretty similar to a plane … I guess?

But it works!

We practiced with it a couple times at home so he’d get used to how it felt to wear it since it presses his ears down a bit. The first time I put it on him, he was determined to get it off. But by the third, he just fell asleep.

On the plane, I pop it on him for the take off and landing only – you can leave it on the whole way, but for us it isn’t needed as he just sleeps for most of the flight.

I did intend to get him a blue one but it arrived and it was bright pink, so now he rocks his very very pink snood on all flights and everyone asks me what the heck it is cause he does look a little weird.

🐾 Check out my favorite Happy Hoodie to protect your dogs’ ears here!

9. Help Pop Their Ears with Water and Treats

Like babies, dogs need their ears to pop. But we can’t just tell them to yawn or have a hard candy.

So how do we pop their ears?

Make them swallow. And the easiest way to do that is water or treats.

I always have a collapsible water dish on me for him. So when we get on the plane, I fill it halfway with some water for him and put it beside his head.

I also give him some treats once I take his snood off after takeoff.

You’ll notice your dog is struggling with their ears if they’re pawing at them or rubbing them on the ground. If you notice this, try to get them to eat or drink something.

Again, this is where high value treats come in. Even if they’re distracted or upset, their best treat will likely convince them to eat something.

I did try to bring some peanut butter once for this purpose for my dog, but the container was 150ml by accident. So try to bring a smaller one if something like that would help.

10. Try to Desensitize Them to the Noise

Beyond the Happy Hoodie, you can prep them for the noise ahead of time by having them in the place or stay command while playing airplane noises on your laptop or your phone.

I practiced with Theo by putting him in place between my chair and under my desk (I measured out the 83cm of space Air Canada said our seat would have for him), and putting on these noises while I worked for chunks of time.

While it’s never quite the same as an actual plane, it definitely helps them feel like it’s not a completely novel situation.

In fact, I recommend anyone flying with a dog do this – whether or not they’re a service dog.

11. Practice “Tuck”

Or whatever you call it!

Many service dogs don’t do a ton of tight space work like sitting under your chair/table at a restaurant. They know how to, but it can fall out of practice – especially with how strenuous it is for most of us to go to restaurants anyway (and so fricken expensive!).

Even if they’re an expert at it, staying for hours on end is tough. Typically we don’t go to a restaurant for 8 hours – or at least I don’t!

So having a command where your dog knows to get into a tight space and curl up if needed helps.

This is more for large service dogs.

For a small service dog, you want to practice in their carrier so they know they’ll be in there for a long time.

Treat it like a crate and make it a safe, fun space. Maybe while you work, have them hang out in it while they’re napping.

12. Airplane Toilets Are Scary

Like hand dryers and vacuums, airplane toilets make a lot of noise.

Hell, most people hate the sound!

Plus wit hthe suction it’s pretty scary for a service dog – and there isn’t a very similar noise to desensitize them to.

The clost is a hand dryer at a public restroom.

You can try to desensitize them, but most guide dogs and SDs I’ve encountered still panic when they hear the airplane toilet.

Some options are:

• Try to get them used to the noise as best you can
• If you don’t travel alone, have your travel buddy hold the leash while you go to the bathroom
• You can ask the flight attendants to watch them outside the bathroom while you go – but be mindful that they may not feel comfortable doing so or may be busy doing their other tasks
• Wear a diaper for the flight – yes, this sounds terrible but honestly I’ve done it and it’s not the worst. I wore those thin ones meant for bladder leakage for a 9 hour flight to San Francisco because I was flying alone and was too socially anxious to ask the flight attendants to help with my SD. Honestly, it wasn’t that bad and I’d 100% do it again

13. Have a Folder With Essential Documents and Certification Proof

Flying with a service dog requires a lot of paperwork and forms. To keep track of this, have a folder that’s just for your service dog’s information.xfanyon

Typically you’ll need:

• Proof of their vaccines from a vet
• Doctor’s note
• Proof of their training certification
• Airline’s required forms
• If over a 6 hour flight, a pet relief attestation (provided with the airline forms)

But you may also need other paper work, such as import certificates if you’re moving, international health certificates to fly abroad, ticher tests if you’ve been in a high-risk rabies area, proof of heartworm or flea and tick prevention, and even to provide information on the tasks the dog does for you.

I make triplicates of all of the forms and bundle them into packages (so it’d be one of each 3x, rather than 3 doctors notes, 3 vaccine proofs) so that I can provide them when needed and they can be kept if needed.

Sometimes customs agents do need this record, so be prepared to have these copies. Never give over the original for someone to take!

14. Check the Airline’s Service Dog Policy

Before flying with your service dog, you will need to check the airline’s service dog policy.

Every airline differs based on their own policies, the legal requirements of their home country, and even by the size of the dog.

For example, within Canada 65lb+ service dogs get their own seat for free on a plane (well, the leg room. They can’t sit on the actual seat). Or in the USA, service dogs in training are allowed on national Delta flights. But they aren’t allowed on international ones.

You can typically find these restrictions on the accessibility page (usually linked on the airlines footer). Or you can call the airline to ask.

Almost every airline will require you to fill out a special form and submit your dog’s information via email/over the phone before the flight.

You have to alert airline whether you’re flying with a big dog, a little dog or a service dog anyway.

15. Inform the Airline After Booking Your Ticket

After booking your ticket, contact the airline.

I always book directly with the airline rather than through third-parties like Booking.com or Expedia. This is because of a bad experience I had with WestJet while trying to fly with my SD for the first time.

He was fully certified and it was a national flight within Canada, but they refused him the free seat or even extra legroom (the basic accommodation every airline even internationally makes for a 65lb+ service dog in order to comply with human decency for disabilities). They claimed it was due to the booking being via a third-party.

Even though their denial is illegal under the disability act in Canada (thanks 10 years of law clerk work for that tidbit!), I didn’t want to fight and ended up canceling the whole trip.

Booking with the airline directly avoids this potential excuse on their part, and ensures you tell them ASAP so if they have issues you could cancel the flight within the 24-hour free grace period.

However, they also need the documentation for their records so they can plan the flight. If they offer a free seat, they need to book that out ASAP before they sell it.

Or they need to reserve you a premium seat with extra legroom to fit your SD.

Even for small SDs, they need to know to plan the seating arrangement as only so many dogs can be on any one flight.

16. Consider CBD/Hemp Treats or Anxiety Meds

It’s totally ok to get help calming your dog down – especially for their first flight.

You can give them CBD/hemp treats (however this has to be before security as CBD is illegal post-security everywhere since it’s international “waters” technically – although I know many people dismiss this rule, I don’t want to get in trouble so I do it earlier), anxiety meds, or even car sickness tablets.

Check with your vet ahead of time for what will work best for your dog.

Typically it’s best to give them whatever it is 1-2 hours before the flight.

17. Space Out Flights

Flying is hard work for dogs.

I regularly fly from North America to Europe and Asia – which are really long flights for my golden retriever SD to be stuck in a tiny airplane. So I break up flights whenever I can to be 8 hours max.

I’m flying to Mexico soon from Toronto and it has a layover in Houston. Rather than sitting for a 3.5 hour layover, I’m breaking the trip into a multi-leg excursion so we’ll spend the night in Houston before continuing.

This gives him time to stretch his legs and relax so he’s not in vest for 10 hours – and on a plane for 6 of that.

I definitely know people who don’t do this or just can’t swing it – and that’s ok! But when I can, I try to give him a break between flights. Same with we don’t typically do a weekend round trip on planes because it’s a bit tougher for him. When I can, I’d rather drive.

18. After the Flight, Take Them to a Park

Or do something fun!

If he’s been cooped up on a plane for hours – and stuck in an airport for hours before that – my SD needs an outlet for his energy.

I try to match his working time with play time when I can.

When we arrived in Halifax, I took him to a lake. In San Francisco, we went right to the beach!

I definitely can’t do an 8 hour park excursion post every North America to Europe flight, but I can find an hour to take him somewhere to run around like crazy. Or if I know the place I’m flying to and have a doggy daycare I trust, I can check him in there for the next day.

I have issues with dog parks due to a few attacks we experienced at different ones we trusted and went to for months. So I don’t recommend strange dog parks.

But even a normal park with a long lead tied to a tree and then some fetch or sniff work will help tire them out.

If I get in too late, I’ll play the jumping game over my legs in a doorway or have him snuffle in his towel at the hotel with his dinner.

Anything to let him get some energy out in a traditional dog way.

19. Remember: Flying is Scary for Dogs

Flying is no walk in the park for a dog.

They can’t understand what’s happening, and it’s really loud and scary for them sometimes.

My SD has a few flights under his belt now and he knows what’s going on – but he still gets a bit nervous when we’re taking off or if there’s turbulence. And sitting in a tight spot for that many hours definitely isn’t his favorite thing.

The first couple times we flew he fully freaked out. I’m talking jumped into my lap – all 70lbs of him! – and tried to run into the aisle.

The flight attendant was great and helped me soothe him back into place and comfort him.

But I’ve also seen other SDs bark for the entire plane ride or even refuse to lie down for the whole flight.

If these things happen, take a deep breath and remember: no one died.

I remember telling my therapist I was nervous for a flight and she asked me for the worst case scenario. I told her “what if they have to emergency land the plane and the air mashall has to escort us off and we’re arrested??”

She looked at me like I had 3 heads.

“What could you or he possibly do that that would happen?”

I thought about it and realized it was ridiculous. Anything he could do would at most be a bit uncomfortable for others. But they don’t emergency land the plane whenever a baby cries, so they’re not gonna do it for a dog that barks or gets a bit antsy.

She has two SDs herself and gave me the best advice: “they’re dogs. They won’t be perfect all the time. We can’t predict exactly what they’ll do. And we can’t guarantee they wont ‘bother’ anyone. But that’s not our responsibility. We just have to do our best and remember that it doesn’t need to be perfect.”

So if your SD struggles or does “misbehave” in some way, don’t panic. It happens.

Give yourself some grace and remember this is tough for them. You two can get through it.

Airlines and Service Dogs

Can you fly with a service dog on United Airlines?

Yes, you can fly with your service dog on United Airlines as long as the dog is over 4 months old and “individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability”.

Qualifying individuals can travel with up to 2 service dogs.

Note that you must have your dog out of aisles or adjacent passengers footspace. They must be in a carrier if they are small enough to be.

Does United Airlines charge for a service dog?

No, United Airlines allows service dogs in cabin free of charge no matter what breed or size. However, they must be individually trained to work or perform tasks, and be older than 4 months of age.

Do you have to pay for a service dog on Spirit Airlines?

No, service dogs can fly on Spirit Airlines free of charge as long as they are certified. You will need to fill out a form to to submit to the airline after booking your ticket. This goes for both service dogs and psychiatric service dogs, but does not encompass emotional support animals.

How do you get a service dog on Southwest Airlines?

To fly with a service dog on Southwest Airlines, your dog must be a service dog trained to perform individual tasks for your disability. Then you must submit a form once you book in your flight. Large dogs must stay on the floor, while small dogs must be in a carrier. There is no fee.

Do you have to pay for service dog on JetBlue?

No, service dogs flying on JetBlue do not have to pay a fee. They can fly in the cabin free of charge, regardless of their size. However, they have to be specially trained to perform specific tasks for you and you must submit a form to JetBlue after booking your ticket.

FAQs About Flying with a Service Dog

Do You Get an Extra Seat for Service Dogs?

Service dogs may get an extra seat on flights, but this varies by airline and whether the flight is international or national.

For example, in Canada and the USA, national flights with a service dog over 75lbs qualifies for a free seat on many airlines – notably Star Alliance.

However, a flight between Canada and the USA does not qualify for a free seat.

For small dogs under 65lbs, there is no free seat policy with any airline.

Do You Get Extra Leg Room for Service Dogs?

Yes, most airlines provide extra leg room at no additional cost for service dogs. Some airlines won’t if it’s a very crowded flight and you have a small dog who fits in a carrier.

But for larger dogs, such as my 3ft long golden retriever, you will always get a free extra legroom seat if you book directly via the airline and follow their procedures before checking in for your flight.

Can You Fly With a Service Dog in Training?

Many airlines do not allow you to fly with an SDIT. It is very much up to the individual airline as to whether or not they will accept these dogs.

To find out if you can fly with your service dog in training, contact the airline’s disability center or accessibility center before booking.

Typically national flights will consider it, but international flights will not allow them.

What paperwork do you need to fly with a service dog?

To fly with a service dog, you need an international health certificate and their training certificate. Airlines will then have you fill in a US DOT form attesting the animal’s health and behaviour, as well as a form saying you have a way for them to sanitarily relieve themselves on flights of 8+ hours.

In addition, you should carry their full vaccine certificate if traveling nationally and your doctor’s note (some countries will ask for this).

Can an airline deny a service dog?

Yes, airlines can deny a service dog if it is too large to be accommodated in cabin, if it poses a threat to the safety of others, if it causes a significant disruption at the gate or on the airplane, if it violates the health requirements of the arrival destination, or if the owner fails to provide the airline the proper forms and certificates prior to boarding.

Can a service dog sit on your lap during a flight?

Yes, your service dog can sit on your lap if it can be done so safely during a flight. For example, small dogs may be allowed during the in air portion of the flight, but must be stowed in their carrier for take off and landing. Large dogs cannot sit on owners’ laps during flights.

What is required to fly with a service dog?

To fly with a service dog, you need an international health certificate and/or proof of vaccines, proof of training, and to fill in the US DOT forms attesting their health, behaviour, and ability to relieve themselves on long flights in a sanitary manner. You may also need your doctor’s note in some countries and additional health paperwork.

Can I buy a seat for my service dog on an airplane?

Yes, you can buy an additional seat for your service dog on an airplane. While this is not possible for pet dogs that are large, it is possible for large service dogs. Contact the accessibility desk of the airline to discuss their processes for this, as you cannot typically buy a seat without a person filling it.

Can a service dog fly on a plane?

Yes, service dogs can fly on planes as long as they are specially trained for owner tasks and have completed the necessary health checks such as having their rabies vaccine.

How can my dog become a service dog for flying?

For dogs to become service dogs for flying, they must become service dogs in full. This means extensive owner training, getting a note from your doctor or psychiatrist, and filling out the us DOT forms attesting their health, behaviour, training, and bathroom relief options for the flight.

Can an airline ask you what your service dog is for?

Yes, airlines are allowed to ask about what your service dog is for if, even after providing all the required material, they are not certain that the animal is truly a service dog. This can include what kind of takss the dog performs and what they are trained to do for you. However, do you not need to provide them with your health history.

Do you need a doctor’s note to fly with a service dog?

In the US, you do not need a doctor’s note to fly with a service dog. Doctors and mental health professionals can recommend you get the service dog, but you do not need this to fly. However, in other countries you do need a doctor’s note – such as in Canada.

Do airlines check service dog papers?

Yes, airlines check service dog papers in terms of their own US DOT service dog forms for behaviour, training, and health. They will likely ask to see proof of training if flying internationally and require health certification.

Can a service dog be in a carrier?

Yes, small service dogs may be in a carrier stowed beneath the seat in front of you on a flight.

Conclusion: Best Tips for Flying with a Service Dog

Flying with a service dog can be an intimidating experience, but it doesn’t have to be.

By following the necessary steps and keeping all of your paperwork up-to-date, you can ensure that both you and your service dog will have a safe and comfortable journey.

Whether you are flying within the US or abroad, always remember to contact the airline’s accessibility desk ahead of time so they know what type of assistance animal is accompanying you on board.

With these best tips for flying with a service dog in mind, we wish you happy travels!

Read More About Service Dogs + Dog Travel

• Service Dog Guide
• 17 Pros and Cons of Service Dogs from an SD Handler
• 19 Tips for Flying With Your Service Dog From an SD Handler
• Flying With a Large Dog in Cabin: How to Guide
• How to get a Dog Passport (Expert Guide)