Got Pet Travel Questions? We’ve Got You (and Your Pet) Covered.
Planning pet travel can bring a lot of questions — and we’re here to answer them. Whether you’re moving, adopting, or navigating airline rules, this page covers the most common things pet parents ask us.
We don’t outsource. We don’t hand off. We personally escort every pet we transport — by air or road — and treat them like family. If your question isn’t listed here, just reach out. You’ll hear directly from one of us.
Still have questions, or ready to start planning your pet’s trip?
Click below to request a custom quote — we’ll review your info and be in touch directly.
About Cabin Companions
Cabin Companions Pet Travel is a premium, hands-on pet transport service. Unlike traditional shipping companies, we personally escort your pet by air or road to ensure comfort, safety, and peace of mind. Whether it’s across the country or around the world, your pet travels with a dedicated, experienced companion — never as cargo, and never handed off to strangers.
We’re not a broker or dispatcher — we’re the people who will actually travel with your pet. Every trip is handled by one of the owners (Gabe or Monica), both of whom have decades of experience in animal care and transportation. No contractors. No third parties. You’ll speak directly with the person caring for your pet, and you’ll receive real-time updates throughout their journey.
- Personal Escort: Your pet travels with us in-cabin whenever possible — always supervised, never alone.
- Real Experience: We bring 30+ years in animal welfare, including international transport, rescue, and shelter care.
- Specialized Care: We’re trained to handle medications, shy pets, seniors, and animals with special needs.
- Emergency Ready: We have access to 24/7 veterinary support, just in case.
- Direct Communication: No apps or auto-updates — you’ll get real-time texts and photos directly from us.
How Pet Travel Works
A flight nanny is a professional who personally escorts your pet during air travel — either in the cabin or in the airline’s approved, climate-controlled pet area (often called “cargo”). At Cabin Companions, we accompany your pet the entire way, regardless of where they’re seated. Whether they’re small enough to fly in-cabin or require cargo travel due to size or airline rules, we’re on the same flight to ensure constant supervision, comfort, and peace of mind.
Whether you’re relocating, adopting a new pet, or traveling for vacation, a professional pet transport service ensures your animal is safe, comfortable, and cared for every step of the way. We help when:
• You’re moving long distance or internationally
• You’re adopting a pet from another city or state
• Airline rules prevent you from flying with more than one pet
• Your schedule doesn’t allow you to escort your pet personally
Most traditional services ship pets like packages — alone, in cargo, or passed between strangers. Cabin Companions does it differently. We escort your pet the entire way, either in-cabin or as their personal escort on a cargo-approved flight. You’ll know exactly who’s with your pet and get real-time updates, not just tracking codes.
Some countries or airlines do have restrictions — due to breed, species, or local regulations. While we do everything possible to make your trip work, we’ll also help you navigate complicated rules and offer alternatives if needed. Even if we can’t escort your pet ourselves, we’ll help you find a trusted solution.
No problem at all. We offer personalized ground transportation for pets who are unable to fly, who aren’t comfortable in air travel settings, or whose families simply prefer a road-based option. One of us will drive your pet directly to their destination, providing the same level of hands-on care, comfort breaks, and communication as we do on flights. Whether it’s a cross-state journey or cross-country road trip, we’re happy to make it happen safely and stress-free.
Our Services & Special Accommodations
Anywhere we’re legally allowed to travel. We offer fully flexible, door-to-door service across the U.S. and internationally. Whether your pet is flying out of a major airport like LAX or JFK or needs pickup from a rural home or small shelter, we’ll come to them — and deliver them safely wherever they need to go.
We specialize in cats and dogs, but we’re open to transporting other small companion animals on a case-by-case basis. If you have a rabbit, ferret, or other pet with specific needs, just reach out and we’ll talk it through.
Absolutely. If your pets are bonded or need to travel together, we’ll do our best to keep them side by side. We can also develop custom travel plans for pets with different sizes or needs, ensuring everyone is safe, comfortable, and well cared for.
Yes — we’re proud to support animal rescue organizations. Whether it’s helping an adopted pet get home, transporting to foster care, or assisting with out-of-state placements, we’re honored to be part of the journey. Let us know how we can help your organization.
Absolutely. We have years of experience caring for pets with medical conditions, anxiety, mobility challenges, and other special needs. We’re trained in medication administration and are happy to coordinate with your vet to follow any required protocols. Your pet’s health, comfort, and emotional well-being are always our top priorities.
Travel Logistics & Policies
It depends on your pet’s size and airline policies. Whenever possible, we fly with pets in the cabin. If your pet is too large for in-cabin travel (typically over 20 lbs), we fly on the same plane and accompany them in the airline’s climate-controlled pet cargo area. In both cases, your pet is never alone — we’re with them the entire journey.
We monitor every trip closely and are ready for changes. If your pet’s flight is delayed or canceled, we’ll stay with them, keep them calm and comfortable, and adjust travel plans as needed. You’ll receive updates in real time, and your pet will never be left alone or unattended.
No problem — we offer personalized ground transportation as well. Whether your pet is medically unable to fly or you simply prefer a road trip, we’ll drive with them directly to their destination. As always, your pet stays with us the entire time and receives attentive, personalized care.
Yes — this is a common scenario we help with. Most airlines only allow one pet per passenger, so if you’re traveling with multiple pets, we can fly alongside you and accompany your second (or third) pet on the same flight. We’ll coordinate closely with your itinerary to make sure your pets arrive safely and together.
Pricing & Scheduling
Pricing depends on the distance, location, travel mode, and level of care required. Our services typically range from $500 for regional road trips to $1,500–$4,000+ for long-distance or international travel. Every quote is customized to your pet’s needs, and includes full personal escort, travel planning, and constant communication.
All quotes include:
- Personalized travel planning
- One-on-one companionship for your pet
- Regular updates via text/photo
- Airport check-in and coordination
- Airline or travel-related fees (if applicable)
- Tracking via Airtag
We’ll always outline what’s included in your estimate so there are no surprises.
We recommend booking 3–6 weeks in advance whenever possible to ensure ideal routing and availability. That said, we regularly accommodate last-minute travel — including emergency transports — so don’t hesitate to reach out, even if your timeline is tight.
Other Common Questions
It depends on your destination, travel method, and your pet’s species. Most trips require a valid health certificate, rabies vaccination, and possibly additional paperwork — especially for international travel. Don’t worry, we’ll walk you through every requirement and help you gather the right documents in time for departure.
We’ll give you a custom packing checklist, but generally we recommend sending:
- Your pet’s regular food
- Any medications
- A favorite toy or blanket
- Feeding instructions
- A comfort item with your scent (like a t-shirt)
We’ll review all of this with you ahead of time to make sure your pet has everything they need.
We recommend booking 3–6 weeks in advance whenever possible to ensure ideal routing and availability. That said, we regularly accommodate last-minute travel — including emergency transports — so don’t hesitate to reach out, even if your timeline is tight.
Still Have Questions?
Still have questions after reading our Pet Travel FAQ?
We’re happy to help! Whether you’re figuring out next steps, need help planning a trip, or just want more info about our in-cabin pet travel services, drop us a line. We’ll make the process easy, safe, and stress-free.
