Last Updated: Dec 27, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Can Bearded Collies Fly in-Cabin?
- Can the Bearded Collie Fly in the Cargo Hold?
- Is It Safe to fly Bearded Collie in-Cargo?
- Bearded Collie Crate Size Calculator
- Flying Your Bearded Collie on Southwest Airlines
- Flying your Bearded Collie on American Airlines
- Flying Your Bearded Collie On Delta Airlines
- Flying Your Bearded Collie On United Airlines
- Flying Your Bearded Collie on Alaska Airlines
- Flying With Bearded Collie that is a Service Animal
- Flying an Emotional Support Bearded Collie on Airplane
Introduction
Flying with your Bearded Collie is more complex than you flying alone.
To add to the complexity, each airline has a different policy regarding flying a dog.
Fortunately, this article will help you simplify planning a flight with your Bearded Collie.
This article will discuss and highlight the important things you need to know on how to fly Bearded Collie on different airlines.
To write this article, we spent tens of hours researching the policies of airlines, as stated on their websites.
Moreover, as part of our research, we made phone calls to some of these airlines so that they could clarify some of the ambiguous policies they have on their websites.
We hope our research will help you to properly prepare for air travel with your Bearded Collie.
Note there are two ways to fly with a dog on an airplane.
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In the cabin: Most Airlines allow you to bring your dog with you inside the plane as a carry-on item if your dog meets the size and behavior requirements. This is the form of dog transport that most dog owners prefer.
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In the cargo hold: Some Airlines allow you to check in your dog as a piece of baggage that would be transported in the plane`s cargo hold (belly). You can consider this option if your dog is too big to fly in the cabin with you.
Below are the factors that determine what rules and restrictions apply to flying with your Bearded Collie on a plane (for both in-cabin and in-cargo transport):
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Your destination
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If the Bearded Collie is not a RESTRICTED BREED on an airplane (applies if you are flying your Bearded Collie in the cargo hold)
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The weather at the time of the year that you are flying with your Bearded Collie (also applies if you are flying your Bearded Collie in the cargo hold)
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The model of the specific aircraft that you will be flying your Bearded Collie on
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Your seat class e.g. are you are flying economy or first class?
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Who you are ( e.g. military officer on active transfer orders flying with a dog, a person with a disability flying with a service animal dog, etc)
We will discuss how some of these factors apply to flying with your Bearded Collie.
Furthermore, this article also goes into the details of the dog transport policies of the following major airlines:
Also, this article includes a calculator that lets you determine the best travel crate/kennel for flying with your Bearded Collie based on the size of your Bearded Collie.
Can Bearded Collies Fly in-Cabin?
Your pet Bearded Collie may NOT be able to fly in-cabin because it is likely that your Bearded Collie`s dimensions (length, height, and width), is outside the limits of what is allowed by most airlines (United, Delta, Southwest, American, Alaska).
According to dimensions.com, the adult average height of the Bearded Collie is 27.0 inches (68.6 cm) and the adult average body length of the Bearded Collie is 34.0 inches (86.4 cm).
The maximum dog height and dog length that the least strict airline allows is 11 inches height by 18 length (27.94 cm x 45.72 cm). Unfortunately, adult Bearded Collies are typically bigger than this allowed dimension.
However, if your Bearded Collie, by some means, happens to be smaller than the typical dimension for the Bearded Collie, then you may be able to fly your Bearded Collie in-cabin. See how HERE.
Otherwise, you will need to transport your Bearded Collie as checked-in baggage in the airplane`s cargo hold/compartment. See how to fly your Bearded Collie in the cargo hold/compartment HERE
However, if your Bearded Collie is a service animal, rather than a pet, then the law allows you to fly your Bearded Collie can fly in the cabin irrespective of its size, as long as your Bearded Collie fits within your personal space on the plane.
See how to fly a service animal Bearded Collie here.
Can the Bearded Collie Fly in the Cargo Hold?
There are two major U.S. air carriers that allow transporting live dogs in a plane`s cargo hold, just like checked-in baggage. These two airlines are American Airlines and Alaska Airlines (This information is current as of July 27, 2022)
If your Bearded Collie is too big to fly with you inside the airplane`s cabin, then you have the option of shipping your Bearded Collie in the airplane`s cargo compartment.
The Bearded Collie is NOT on the restricted/banned dog breed list of American Airlines for cargo transport. Therefore, you can transport your Bearded Collie as airplane cargo on American Airlines.
The Bearded Collie is NOT on the restricted/banned dog breed list of Alaska Airlines for cargo transport. Therefore, you can transport your Bearded Collie as airplane cargo on Alaska Airlines.
Is It Safe to fly Bearded Collie in-Cargo?
If your Bearded Collie is too big to fly in-cabin, then you may consider transporting your Bearded Collie as special baggage that flies in the plane`s cargo hold.
According to The International Air Transport Association (IATA), it is safe to transport a pet in a plane`s cargo hold as special checked-in baggage.
Furthermore, IATA stated that dogs travel because dogs travel better as cargo because a plane`s cargo hold is quieter and darker, compared to an airplane`s cabin. This dark and quiet cargo environment will allow your Bearded Collie to properly rest and be more relaxed on its flight.
The IATA stated that despite all the fears about airline pet cargo travel, millions of animals are transported safely in the cargo hold every year.
Another source to find out if it is safe to fly your Bearded Collie as cargo is the US Department of Transportation (DOT).
Furthermore, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) requires airlines to report any incidents involving the death, injury, or loss of an animal during air transport
The DOT compiles these Animal Incident reports in Air Travel Consumer Reports. These reports are available to the public.
Importantly, the DOT provides the public with the specifics of what led to each Animal Incident during air travel.
We can take a look at the DOT data to see how safe it is to fly with a dog. The data covers both in-cabin and in-cargo transport.
For example, in 2017, domestic airlines transported 506,994 animals. Of these animals 24 died, 15 were injured, and one was lost. That puts the incident rate at roughly one for every 12,674 animals transported.
Note that airlines are not the only ones at fault for these incidents. Incidents like these also happen due to pet owner recklessness.
The table below shows more recent (2021) animal incident statistics for all U.S. air carriers that recorded incidents, for the year 2021. Note that these are the statistics for all animals, all dog breeds included, for the year 2021.
Also, note that hundreds of thousands of pets are transported by these airlines every year.
| Airline | Death | Injury | Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| American Airlines | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | 7 | 14 | 0 |
Calculator to Find Out The Right Kennel Size For Flying Your Bearded Collie in Cargo
It is important for you to choose the right-sized travel crate for transporting your Bearded Collie in the plane`s cargo.
The travel crate must comfortably accommodate your Bearded Collie.
Furthermore, the travel crate should meet the airline`s standards.
Use the calculator below to find the right airline-approved travel crate for your Bearded Collie based on its size.
The calculator uses the algorithm specified by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for determining the right-sized travel kennel for a dog.
Enter the overall length (A), elbow length (B), width (C), and height (D) of your Bearded Collie in the calculator to see the right-size crate for transporting your Bearded Collie in the cargo hold.
See how to measure the dimensions of your dog in the picture below.
Bearded Collie Crate Size Calculator
How to Prepare Your Bearded Collie for an in-Cargo flight
If you are checking in your Bearded Collie as baggage that will travel in the plane`s cargo hold, below is how to prepare your Bearded Collie for cargo transport:
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Make sure your Bearded Collie is healthy to fly. You may take your Bearded Collie to a vet for a checkup before the flight.
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Make sure that the flight that you plan to book allows cargo transport of dogs. Check with the airline first before booking a flight.
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Book early, days ahead of your flight to secure a spot for your Bearded Collie.
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Make sure that the forecast ground temperatures at the origin, destination, or connecting airports are safe for your pet to fly. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, dogs must not be exposed to air temperatures above 85 °F (29.5 °C) or below 45 °F (7.2 °C) for more than 4 hours. In fact, if the temperature is unsafe, airlines will refuse to transport your Bearded Collie in cargo.
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Pick the right-sized kennel that will make your dog feel very comfortable. Use our CALCULATOR to find which kennel to use based on your Bearded Collie size.
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Buy your travel crate early, and train your Bearded Collie to enjoy staying in their travel crate many days before the flight.
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Do not forget to put soft cushioning materials inside the travel crate to make your Bearded Collie feel comfortable during its flight.
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Also, make sure you put food and water dishes inside the travel crate. You should attach these dishes securely to the crate.
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Arrive at the airport at least four hours before your flight to allow you to properly check your Bearded Collie in.
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Have your Bearded Collie`s health certificate and documentation needed to fly your pet handy. You can find the documentation you need to fly your Bearded Collie as cargo on American Airlines here. You can find the documentation you need to fly your Bearded Collie as cargo on Alaska Airlines here.
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Give your pet the time to do its business before the flight.
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Do not tranquilize or sedate your Bearded Collie for a flight.
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Do not put toys and treats inside your Bearded Collie`s travel crate. Airlines do not allow toys and dog treats in the travel crate.
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Watch this helpful video to learn how to prepare your Bearded Collie for in-cargo travel.
Flying Your Bearded Collie on Southwest Airlines
Let us discuss what you need to know when flying your Bearded Collie on Southwest airlines.
Southwest Airlines allow the transport of animals only in the cabin. To fly on SouthWest Airlines, your Bearded Collie should be small enough to fit under the airplane seat.
Southwest will also allow your Bearded Collie to fly in-cabin if it is a service animal, even if your Bearded Collie is too big to fit under the aircraft seat.
If your Bearded Collie is too big for the cabin and if your Bearded Collie is not a service animal, then you have to find another airline that allows cargo hold transport of large dogs.
Flying your Bearded Collie on American Airlines
Below are the important things you need to know to fly your Bearded Collie on American Airlines
American Airlines allow the transport of pets both in the cabin and in the cargo hold. Therefore, dog breeds that are too big to fly in-cabin can be shipped in the American Airlines cargo compartment, if that breed is not a restricted breed on American Airlines.
Flying Your Bearded Collie In-Cargo on American Airlines
If your Bearded Collie is too big to fly in-cabin, then you can fly your Bearded Collie in the cargo hold of American Airline planes
You can find American Airlines policy on how to fly your Bearded Collie in cargo here.
Before booking an in-cargo flight for your Bearded Collie, make sure you call the cargo department of American Airlines first. Their phone number is 1-800-227-4622
Your Bearded Collie must be at least 8 weeks old to fly in cargo.
Use this calculator to find the right-sized travel crate for flying your Bearded Collie in the cargo hold of American Airlines.
You can make an in-cargo transport reservation for your Bearded Collie within a time window of a minimum of 24 hours and a maximum of 10 days prior to travel.
The flight you book cannot be more than 12 hours long.
You can find the documentation that you need to fly your Bearded Collie on American Airlines here.
Flying Your Bearded Collie On Delta Airlines
Below is what you need to know when flying your Bearded Collie on Delta Airlines
Delta Airlines only allow small dogs to fly with their owners in the airplane`s cabin.
Flying Your Bearded Collie In-Cargo on Delta Airlines
On April 1, 2020, Delta Airlines temporarily paused its in-cargo transport of pets until further notice. (last updated August 1, 2022).
If your Bearded Collie is too big to fly in-cabin, then you will need to find another airline that is different from Delta to transport your Bearded Collie in-cargo
Flying Your Bearded Collie On United Airlines
Here are the important things that you need to know when planning to fly your Bearded Collie on United Airlines.
United Airlines only allow in-cabin transport of pet dogs on its airline. Only pet dogs that are small enough to fit under the airplane seat can fly in-cabin.
Flying Your Bearded Collie In-Cargo on United Airlines
United Airlines temporarily paused its in-cargo transport of pets until further notice. (last updated August 6, 2022).
If your Bearded Collie is too big to fly in-cabin, then you will need to find another airline that is different from United Airlines to transport your Bearded Collie in-cargo
Flying Your Bearded Collie on Alaska Airlines
Here are the important things that you need to know when planning to fly your Bearded Collie on Alaska Airlines.
Alaska Airlines allow you to fly your dog in the cabin with you or in the cargo hold as checked baggage. Alaska Airlines transports dogs that are too big to fly in the cabin in the cargo hold (checked baggage).
Flying Your Bearded Collie In-Cargo on Alaska Airlines
If your Bearded Collie is too big to fly in-cabin, then you can fly your Bearded Collie in the cargo hold of Alaska Airlines planes
You can find Alaska Airlines policy on how to fly your Bearded Collie in cargo here.
Use this calculator to find the right-sized travel crate for flying your Bearded Collie in the cargo hold of Alaska Airlines.
Before booking an in-cargo flight for your Bearded Collie, make sure you call the cargo department of Alaska Airlines first. Their phone number is 1-800-225-2752
You can make an in-cargo transport reservation for your Bearded Collie on Alaska Airlines within a time window of a minimum of 24 hours and a maximum of 30 days prior to travel
Flying With Bearded Collie that is a Service Animal
The Air Carrier Access Act mandates airlines to allow service animals on airplanes.
The only animal species that are allowed to be service animals are dogs.
A service animal is defined as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.
To qualify as a service dog, your Bearded Collie should be fully trained to perform tasks that help you with physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. These disabilities include but are not limited to: Visual impairments, Deafness, Seizures, Mobility impairments, Post-traumatic stress disorder, etc.
Airline Policies on Flying Service Bearded Collie
To mention a few airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines allow passengers to transport their Service Animal Bearded Collie
Your service animal Bearded Collie can fly with you in-cabin if your Bearded Collie can fit in the floor space in front of your assigned seat or on your lap.
Airlines will not charge you a fee for flying your service animal Bearded Collie.
Most Airlines allow you to bring up to 2 service animals with you on a flight.
Also, some airlines allow service animal trainers to bring a Bearded Collie that is in service animal training on a plane if they provide documentation that the Bearded Collie is in training.
Note that it is a federal crime to make false or fraudulent statements/claims to fly your Bearded Collie in an airplane cabin as a service animal when your dog is not a service animal.
Can Bearded Collie be a Service Animal?
Yes, the Bearded Collie can be a service dog. In fact, any dog breed, including the Bearded Collie can be a service animal provided the dog has been individually trained to assist an individual with a disability with specific tasks. Importantly, the dog also has to be a well-behaved dog.
Flying an Emotional Support Bearded Collie on Airplane
On Wednesday, December 2, 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation today announced that it has revised its Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) regulation on the transportation of service animals and this revision stated that emotional support animals are no longer considered service animals.
Emotional support animals no longer have special privileges that allow them to fly in-cabin with their owners even if they are too big for an in-cabin flight.
Therefore, the rules and restrictions that apply to flying pet Bearded Collie similarly apply to emotional support Bearded Collie.
Traveling With a Therapy Animal Bearded Collie on an Airplane
Therapy animals are pets that have been trained and registered by a therapy organization in order to visit nursing homes, hospitals, schools, and other facilities. Therapy animals are not considered to be service animals.
Airlines do not give therapy animals special treatments like they give service animals.
The same rules and restrictions that apply to flying with a pet Bearded Collie apply to flying with a therapy Bearded Collie.
