Can French Bulldogs Fly?

When’s the last time you took your furry friend on a trip with you, only to find out that the airline is causing issues and making it a hassle for you? Thousands of dog lovers worldwide try to make sure that their dogs receive the best care when they’re traveling with them, and a common question is “can French bulldogs fly?”.

Flying with a French bulldog is a decision that requires lots of preplanning and care, and this article will help guide you through the procedure and steps to ensure that you and your Frenchie enjoy a wonderful traveling experience! But it is not impossible. Sure, you’ve heard of the ironic saying,” pigs might fly,” but can French bulldogs fly? Yes, they can!

This article will tell you about the different airlines that allow snub-nosed dogs, Frenchies, along with the best way of flying with a French bulldog. So, let’s start!

What are the airlines that allow French Bulldogs?

French Bulldogs fall into the brachycephalic breed of dogs, which are more prone to respiratory issues and can become unable to breathe properly in areas with low air pressure, like planes.

Unfortunately, this means many airlines have started to ban brachycephalic due to their history of passing away during flights. However, many airlines still allow French bulldogs to fly on planes in a cabin, and here is a list of said airlines:

• Delta Airlines
• Lufthansa Airlines
• Jetblue
• KLM
• Qantas
• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• United Airlines
• Virgin America
• Southwest Airlines
• Frontier Airlines
• Hawaiian Air
• Qatar
• Iberia
• Air Canada

Aside from this, the following airlines allow French bulldogs to fly in cargo, but we’d honestly suggest that you never let your Frenchie ride in cargo. There have been several reports of the poor pups passing away in cargo during flights.

• Amerijet
• British Airways
• Etihad
• Gulf Air
• Copa

What is the proper procedure of flying with a French Bulldog?

When you’re planning to travel with a French Bulldog, you need to follow this step-by-step guide to ensure the smoothest travel experience.

Choose & book in advance

Check online for airlines that allow French Bulldogs to fly in a cabin. Depending on the airline, you’ll need to check for extra fees, which can be $100-$200 more.

You’ll need to contact the airline representatives as well and ask them whether there have been any recent updates regarding bans on French bulldogs and book in advance. Airlines only allow a certain number of animals on board, so you need to book well in advance in order to avoid any inconvenience.

Try booking flights that are scheduled for early morning or evening, or night flights. We say this because that time is generally much colder than afternoon flights, meaning that the cabin doesn’t overheat and make your pet uncomfortable.

Choosing the right flight

Whenever you’re booking longer flights, make sure to book the one with the smallest number of flight changes. It’s best if you get a non-stop flight since this might make your French Bulldog extremely weary from different flight changes.

Picking the right seat!

Whenever you book online or via phone, make sure to ask or book seats closer to the plane’s exits. Once the plane lands, air conditioning is usually shut off quickly, and it makes the inside of the plane extremely hot!

This can be harmful for your poor Frenchie, who might face respiratory issues or might become anxious.

Getting a certificate of good health for your French Bulldog

 

 

In order to get an animal onto a flight, you need to show a certificate that proves that your animal is in perfect health. This is especially important when you’re flying with a French bulldog.

The certificate has information regarding your pet’s vaccinations and confirmation that they’re free from any sort of infectious diseases.

You can read more about the individual requirements of the health certificate at the United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service page, which can be found here.

Taking your pet outside of the United States is also a complicated process, but the USDA website is very helpful and gives relevant advice and information regarding the procedure for exporting your pet.

Finding a proper vet for your pet upon landing

Try to make sure that you locate a veterinarian or an emergency clinic in the city you’re going to. On the off chance that your French Bulldog feels sick or has a medical emergency during landing, it’s better to rely on a clinic you already know of instead of searching for one at the last time.

Getting a perfect carrier for your French Bulldog

You need to make sure that you get a carrier that is both comfortable and well ventilated for your pet. Since French Bulldogs have a tough time breathing, you need to make sure that your carrier has the following qualities:

• The carrier should be compliant with airline requirements.

Most airlines let you know about their carrier requirements if you call and ask their representatives.

• Comfortable and spacious

Your carrier should be big enough that the pet can easily turn around, sit down, lay down, and rest.

• Must be well ventilated

The carrier should have nets on all sides in order to be extremely well ventilated and be able to have air flowing freely through it.

Can French Bulldogs Fly – General Tips

Remember to keep these things in mind when you’re going to be flying with a French bulldog.

Keep your pet passport and documents close

Remember to get a separate document that has all your pet’s documents. This includes your pet passport, all its medical documents, and vaccination forms.

Make sure your pet gets its exercise

Try getting your French Bulldog to follow an exercise regimen and stay healthy. This will reduce the chances of it feeling sick when it’s traveling with you on longer trips.

 

Keep a bag of treats and toys

Make sure your pet stays entertained by having a bag of its favorite toys and treats ready! This will help keep them entertained and prevent them from getting worried or anxious.

Arrive early at the airport

Always arrive early at the airport to make sure your pet gets accustomed to the new surroundings and doesn’t make boarding a hassle.

Conclusion

Now all this might seem a bit too confusing, but don’t worry. Make a checklist of all these tasks, and make sure to buy everything you need in advance. This will help make the whole process much easier and anxiety-free for you and your precious Frenchie.

Well, that’s it for this article! We hope it helps in your traveling and makes the experience easier for your furry friend!