Blog

Are you a pet parent seeking the best for your pet? You know well that pets are not just companions, but your family members. Safeguarding your furry baby's comfort and safety while is of utmost importance—most notably when travelling. In a world that is now more global than ever, moving with your furry friend can be a significant challenge, requiring clarity on travel protocols to guarantee their well-being.

Recognizing this need, Singapore Airlines has put in place comprehensive policies for pet travel, aimed at ensuring both a smooth and comfortable journey for your pet child. Here are further details about Singapore Airlines' pet travel policies to help you get ready for a seamless travel experience with your beloved pet.

Travelling with Pets

Some of the important guidelines while making your pet’s travel arrangements with Singapore Airlines are:

• Singapore Airlines allows travelling with pets either as checked baggage or in cargo.
• Make sure that all the relevant documents are prepared beforehand. Keep in mind that no pregnant pet is allowed to be carried.
• The airline does not accept pets checking in the cargo hold for Boeing 737-operating flights, as the hold does not have adequate temperature control.
• Also, pets are not accepted on flights SQ21 and SQ23 from Newark and New York to Singapore, respectively, while it is allowed to be on SQ25 from New York to Singapore. 

Check-in Baggage

If you plan to carry your pet as check-in baggage, the below points may help you avoid any hassles for you and your pet during the travel.

• Both cats and dogs are allowed as check-in baggage provided they are 3 months or older. There is a restriction on certain breeds mentioned below in the same blog.
• Departure, destination, and transit countries might apply their restrictions along with the Airline's guidelines.
• If the weight of the pet and the container combined is more than 32kg, the pet is only allowed via cargo.

 In The Cargo

You will have to contact the local office of the Singapore Airlines Cargo Agency to organize pet travel before your flight.

Preparation For The Travel

It is advisable to plan way before travelling, some of the preparations plan include:

• The pet's parents have to contact Singapore Airlines at least two weeks before the flight departure.
• Please inform the airline of the type, breed, gender, name, age, colour, and weight of the pet as well as the weight and dimensions of the container.
• Each country has different criteria so passengers wishing to travel with their pet should verify local standards.

Required Documents

• When booking Singapore Airlines for your pet, be ready with the following documents:
  • Export license;
  • Letter of indemnity;
  • Veterinary health certificate;
  • Letter from the veterinarian;
  • Letter certifying the pet's rabies vaccination;
  • Transhipment license if applicable;
  • If applicable, a pet passport.
• During transit flights, the required documents include:
  • Import license;
  • Transhipment license for 30 days;
  • Letter of indemnity;
  • Veterinary health certificate;
  • If applicable, a pet passport;
  • Letter with proof of pet rabies vaccination;
  • Letter from the vet with vaccination details with the number of homing electronic chip/pass with an identification number;

All the mentioned documents must be transported to the airport during check-in and may vary based on destination or transit country.

Preparing the Pet

Another very important thing is to prepare your pet for the flight, try following the below guidelines for your pet’s comfort.

• To avoid being anxious, pets should be familiarized with their travel kennel weeks before departure.
• A light meal and water two hours before the flight must be given.
• The pet should be taken for a walk before reaching the airport.
• Leashes of the pet should be removed before placing the pet in the container.
• No sedatives or tranquillizers should be administered to pets before the flight.

Restrictions

Dog Breeds

Certain breeds of dogs are not accepted as checked baggage, including:

• Akita
• Boerboel
• Boston Terrier
• Boxer
• Brussels Griffon (Petit Brabancon)
• Bulldogs, including American, French, and English bulldogs
• Chow Chow
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• Japanese Chin (Chin, Japanese Spaniels, Japanese Pug)
• Lhasa Apso
• Mastiffs, including Neapolitan, and Dogue de Bordeaux
• Perro De Presa Canario
• Pit Bull (American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, American Bull Dogs, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers)
• Pugs, including Carlino, Chinese, Mopshond, Mops Hund, and Pekingese
• Shar-Pei
• Shih Tzu
• Brachycephalic Spaniels, including Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, English Toy Spaniel (King Charles Spaniel), and Tibetan Spaniels
• Tosa

Cat Breeds

Certain breeds of cats are not accepted for travel as check-in baggage, like

• British Shorthair
• Burmese
• Exotic Shorthair
• Himalayan
• Persian
• Scottish Fold

Destinations

Specific destinations do not allow pets to be brought in as checked baggage. The list includes Into/Out of Australia

• Into/Out of Brunei
• Into/Out of Denpasar, Bali
• Into/Out of Houston
• Into/Out of Manchester
• Into/Out of New Zealand
• Into/Out of South Africa
• Into Dubai
• Into Hong Kong SAR
• Into London

Pet Container Requirements

The travel kennel requirements include:

• IATA standard-compliant containers are required.
• Containers should not exceed a certain height based on the type of aircraft.
• Containers should be of the appropriate size.
• These should be well-ventilated and should allow the pet to stand and sit and must contain food and water containers.
• The container should be properly closed.
• The "total dimensions" should be based on the actual size of the pet, and each pet is recommended in a single container.
• More than one pet is allowed if these are puppies or kittens of the same litter and if they're three to six months of age and weigh less than 14kg each.

 At the Airport

• Check-in

Check-in should be at least two hours before departure or three hours for U.S. departure. The check-in for pets is on the same passenger counter, and the required documentation should be presented.

• Before Boarding

Pets will be kept in the baggage storage and will be delivered to the aircraft just before the departure to avoid the weather and temperature conditions.

• Inside the Aircraft

Checked-in pets will be placed in the temperature-controlled bulk cargo hold. There are food and water bowls attached to the inside of the container.

• On Arrival

Quarantine and collection procedures vary by airport. Passengers should check with arrival staff for details.

• Interline Carriage

If a passenger is connecting to another airline, the Singapore Airlines pet travel rules will not apply, but the pet must meet the rules set by the specific other airline.

Singapore Airlines takes utmost care of your pet’s safety and comfort. To book your pet’s travel with Singapore Airlines, partner with a reliable pet relocation company like AirPets for smooth and error-free bookings and travel.

Why Choose AirPets?

You cannot trust anyone to take the responsibility of moving your pet family to a different location. You can always rely on AirPets when it comes to moving your pets abroad. The following are the reasons why you can rely on AirPets as your pet relocation company for the safe travel of your pets.

• Years of Experience

“Experience is the teacher of all things” - Julius Caesar.

Surely, there is no better guarantee of credibility than experience. Pets relocation is among the services that AirPets has done for many decades. Therefore, we are seen as the most reliable partner for people moving to distant locations with their furry families. By removing all ambiguity from the process of relocating your pets, we make sure the whole transaction goes well.

• Customized Services

Every pet is unique! AirPets, being aware of the individual needs of each pet, offers tailored services. Our primary concern revolves around choosing the right travel kennel and travelling schedule which will ensure a comfortable journey for your pets.

• Process Driven

AirPets is aware of every step involved in the relocation of your pet. The process adheres to all the rules and regulations that are required to be fulfilled for relocating pets to different locations. We assure you that we shall observe all required procedures to meet your expectations. With our processes-orientated approach, your pet is assured of its safety and welfare during the relocation procedures.

AirPets is a reliable pet relocation partner!

AirPets makes sure that your pet is safe and comfortable throughout its journey. We are well versed with the rules and regulations of Singapore for carrying your pets on their flights. So, if you are planning to relocate your furry friend, consider hiring professional services like AirPets who can ensure the safety and comfort of your pet throughout the process. To get in touch with us, call us at +91-9257-123-123 or write to [email protected] for a professional consultation.