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Federal regulations impose strict guidelines on airlines that carry pets. Generally, you may carry a smaller animal in an approved pet carrier aboard the plane as carry-on luggage. However, many airlines do not allow more than one carried-on pet for each flight, so you must tell the travel agent or airline agent about your pet when you reserve your flight. Pets traveling as checked baggage (on the same flights as their owners) or as cargo (without their owners) fall under the Animal Welfare Act. The pet must be at least eight weeks old, fully weaned, and kept in an approved carrier or kennel that meets size, sanitation, ventilation, and capacity standards. The airline must provide water at least once every twelve hours and food every twenty-four hours. You must provide the airline with written instructions on feeding, watering, and a medications (along with written assurance that you fed and give water to you pet during the flight). Many airlines have their own pet policies beyond the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act. For example, you may be asked to provide an updated certificate of health for your pet. Also, airlines are not required to guarantee that your pet will travel on the same flights that you do, as some smaller airplanes have limited pressurized cargo space and cannot accommodate animals. If you are traveling with a pet, TSA screeners will conduct a visual inspection of the pet in its carrier. They may ask you to walk through the metal detector with your pet while its carrier is sent through the x-ray machine. Your pet should never be sent through the x-ray machine.
In 2003, the major airlines continued wrangling with the federal government, fighting proposed changes in the rules governing pets on airplanes. Check with your travel agent or the airline for the latest regulations.

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