The airport was the part that scared me the most before our first flight with Sami. The actual flying? That seemed manageable. But the airport — the check-in, the weighing, the “will they let us through” uncertainty — that’s what kept me up at night.
After doing it 20+ times, I can tell you: the airport part is completely fine. It’s predictable, it follows a pattern, and once you’ve done it once, every trip after that feels routine. Here’s what actually happens, step by step, so nothing catches you off guard.
Arrive Early — Earlier Than You Think
I recommend getting to the airport at least 3 hours before your flight. Yes, even for a short European flight that you’d normally show up 90 minutes early for.
Here’s why. Most airlines don’t let you check in online when you’re flying with a pet. You have to do it at the counter. And the counter check-in with a dog takes longer than a normal check-in — there are documents to verify, the carrier to inspect, and sometimes a weigh-in. If there’s a queue, that adds time.
But the main reason I go early is for Sami. We use the extra time to walk him around outside the airport, let him do his business, burn off energy. A tired dog is a calm dog on the plane. We usually spend 30-40 minutes just walking around the area near the terminal before we even go inside. This has been one of the single biggest factors in making our flights smooth.
Check-In: What They Actually Do
When you get to the check-in counter, tell the agent you’re traveling with a pet in the cabin. They’ll already have the reservation in the system (you did call ahead to reserve a spot for your dog, right? — if not, do that before every single flight).
The agent will ask for your dog’s documents. In Europe, that’s usually the EU pet passport. For the US, it’s the CDC Dog Import Form and any additional paperwork. Have everything ready in a folder — don’t make the agent wait while you dig through your bag.
They’ll check the microchip number and confirm the rabies vaccine is current. Some airports have a scanner and will scan your dog right there. Others just check the number visually. Either way, it takes about 2 minutes.
Then comes the part that varies by region.
The Europe vs US Difference
This is something I wish I’d known before our first transatlantic flight. Europe and the US handle the check-in completely differently.
In Europe, they care about weight. They will almost always weigh your dog at check-in. The dog goes on the scale — sometimes in the carrier, sometimes out of it — and the number needs to be under the airline’s maximum weight limit. For most European airlines, that’s 8 kg (about 17.5 lbs) including the carrier. This is why I’m very careful about Sami’s weight before every flight. They don’t usually care much about how the dog fits in the bag — in fact, we always check in with Sami outside his carrier in Europe and nobody bats an eye.
In the US, it’s the opposite. In my experience, they don’t weigh the dog at all. What they check is how well your dog fits inside the carrier bag. The dog needs to be in the bag at check-in, and the agent will look at whether the dog appears comfortable and whether the bag can close properly. So if your dog is slightly over the weight limit but fits well in the carrier, you’re probably fine in the US. If your dog looks cramped in the carrier, that’s where you might have a problem — regardless of weight.
Paying the Pet Fee
After the document check and weigh-in (or carrier inspection), you’ll pay the pet fee at the counter. With most airlines, this can’t be done online — it’s paid in person on the day of travel.
The cost varies a lot. Within Europe, we typically pay around €60 per flight for Sami. When we flew from Europe to the US, it was $200 each way. Some budget airlines charge less, some premium airlines charge more. Check the airline’s pet policy when you book — the fee should be listed there.
Walking Through the Airport
Once you’re past check-in, here’s the good news: in most airports, your dog can walk beside you on a leash. You don’t have to keep them in the carrier the whole time.
In Europe, we’ve never had a problem with this. Sami walks on his leash through the terminal, past the shops, past the cafes. People love seeing a dog in the airport — he gets stopped by kids constantly, which honestly helps tire him out even more before the flight.
In the US, it’s slightly different. When we arrived at JFK, they initially told us to keep Sami in his carrier. But we needed to let him stretch his legs after the long flight, so we took him out on his leash and nobody actually said anything. Every other dog we saw in the airport was walking around freely too. It seems to be one of those rules that exists on paper but isn’t really enforced.
My advice: start with your dog on a leash beside you. If anyone asks you to put them in the carrier, do it. If not, let them walk. It’s really case by case.
Use a short leash, not a retractable one. You’re walking through crowds, and the last thing you need is your dog 3 meters ahead of you tripping strangers. Short leash, dog by your side, everybody’s happy.
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Security Screening
Security is quick and straightforward. We have a full guide on going through airport security with your dog, but here’s the short version.
Before you reach the metal detectors, take off your dog’s harness and leash (they have metal parts) and put them in the tray with your other items. Take your dog out of the carrier and carry them in your arms. The empty carrier goes on the belt to be scanned.
Walk through the metal detector holding your dog. That’s it. Sami is always well-behaved during this — the security staff usually smile and sometimes pet him. On the other side, I set him on a table, put his harness and leash back on, grab my stuff, and off we go.
The Airport Vet (International Flights)
If you’re flying internationally, you might need to visit the vet office in the airport. This happens when you arrive in a new country — someone will direct you to a small veterinary checkpoint near the baggage area.
When we flew back from the US to Portugal, we didn’t know about this. We grabbed our bags and headed for the exit, and someone stopped us and asked if we’d been cleared by the vet. They sent us back to a small office near the luggage carousels. The vet checked Sami’s papers, listened to his heart and lungs, looked him over, confirmed he was healthy, and gave us a clearance paper. Took about 10 minutes.
Not every country does this, and not every airport has a vet on duty at all hours. If you’re arriving on a late-night flight, check whether the airport vet has limited hours — you don’t want to be stuck waiting until morning.
Boarding
Some airlines let passengers with pets board early. Others don’t. Check with your airline, and if early boarding is an option, take it. Getting settled with a dog, a carrier, and your carry-on is easier when the plane isn’t full of people trying to shove bags into overhead bins.
Before boarding, put your dog in the carrier. They need to be inside and zipped up when you walk onto the plane. Place the carrier under the seat in front of you — that’s its home for the entire flight. During takeoff and landing, the carrier must be fully under the seat. Once the seatbelt sign is off, you can slide it out a bit or open the top zipper so your dog can poke their head out (just be discreet about it).
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The airport is the part everyone stresses about, and it’s the part that ends up being the least stressful. Arrive early, have your documents ready, let your dog burn off energy, and follow the flow. You’ll be at your gate with time to spare, wondering what you were so worried about.
