General

Which Credit Card Is Best For Cruising, and Everything Else You Need to Know About What to Expect From Payments on Cruise Ships

Published

4 months ago

February 15, 2023

Samara Ben

Which Credit Card Is Best For Cruising, and Everything Else You Need to Know About What to Expect From Payments on Cruise Ships

February 3, 2019 By Alex Curtis

Signing up for credit cards through partner links earns us a commission. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Here’s our full advertising policy: How we make money.

Update: One or more card offers in this post are no longer available. Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers.

Cruises are a special type of vacation.

It is a whole different way to travel, and comes with its own quirks and nuances that you have to master. Having now traveled on many cruises myself now, I always joke that there needs to be a Cruising 101 course offered on cruise ships for first-timers.

One of the often confusing parts of cruising is how payments are handled on the ship. Between specialty dinners, beverage packages, gift shop purchases, excursions, and more, how do cruises in 2019 handle these payments?

Cruises are also a great opportunity for earning bonus points on your favorite credit card. I’ll explain everything you need to know about payments on cruise ships, including which cards are our favorites for using on board.

Cruising Is a Fun Way to Experience the World. But With Cruise Ships Going Cashless, How Do Payments Work, and How Can You Ensure You Get Bonus Travel Points

How Do Credit Card Purchases Work on Board a Cruise Ship?

Cruise ships now are entirely cashless. This means that while they are eager to get you to book a massage at the spa, or purchase a fancy bottle of wine with dinner, they never accept cash for any of these purchases.

In fact, they don’t even take credit cards or debit cards in the traditional sense. Instead, all charges are placed to an “onboard account.”

What Purchases Go On My Onboard Account

Everything other than your initial cruise reservation can be placed on an onboard account. This includes standard fees and taxes that are unavoidable, gratuities, and all other onboard purchases.

All of the following purchases are the types of things you can expect to get charged to your onboard account:

Taxes, fees, and port expenses

Gratuities & tips
Shore excursions
Spa experiences

Specialty dining
Beverage packages and/or individual drink purchases
Casino credits

Gift shop purchases
Internet or phone packages

Basically, everything you do will simply be placed on your onboard account. Most cruise lines will call this a “stateroom account” or “billing it to your stateroom”.

But how does it work exactly?

Setting Up Your Stateroom Account

When you first arrive on the ship, each passenger is checked in and sets up a stateroom account before they go on the ship. You will be asked for a credit or debit card to use for all purchases on board. This will be the default card that all these purchases are charged to.

This whole process is pretty easy. It is often a quick scan of your card to set up your account. After that, you will receive a key card and allowed to board the ship. This key card is really the only thing you need to keep with you while you are on the ship. It will get you into your cabin (your room) like the key card given to you at a hotel. But it is also what everyone will ask for whenever you make a purchase on the ship.

Every Cruise Cabin Will Have a Safe to Keep Valuables In, Like Your Wallet, Which You Won’t Need During Your Cruise.

Some new cruise ships are moving away from key cards in favor of wristbands. But like the key cards, you use the wristband for all purchases and to get into your cabin. So they work exactly the same.

At this point, you can forget about your wallet completely. Lock it into the safe in your cabin and enjoy a cashless experience onboard. The only time you need your wallet is if you go ashore.

Use Your Key Card Like Your Credit Card

Throughout your cruise, any additional purchases that you decide to make will be charged to your stateroom account. These charges are not passed directly onto your credit card, but will be summed up at the end of your trip and charged to the credit card you have on file.

So whether it’s at the gift shop or buying a bottle of wine at dinner, you can always just hand them your key card for anything on board. It’s the only form of payment cruise ships accept now.

Card Pre-Authorizations Add Up Quickly

If there is one part that concerns people during their cruise, it is seeing huge pre-authorization charges on their credit card. Unfortunately, this is just a part of cruising. But if you call up ahead of time, you can learn what to expect for the cruise line you are sailing with to make sure you have a credit limit to sustain the pre-authorizations.

Expect to see a large authorization when you first board the ship. The cruise line does this to ensure that there is a reasonable (in their eyes) available balance on the card. The exact amount varies by cruise line, but it is usually a flat $300 to $500, plus the anticipated amount of “taxes, fees, and port expenses” that was provided before you booked your cruise.

Again, this is just a pre-authorization, and not an actual charge. If you don’t end up spending anything extra during your cruise, then that amount will be released at the end of your trip.

Guest Services Are Very Accommodating at Helping Solve Inaccurate Charges or Splitting Payments Across Multiple Cards

Every night, any charges you made to your stateroom will be added to that amount as another pre-authorization. The idea is that usually, they are authorizing a few hundred more dollars each night than you have accrued in charges. But only the actual amount you spend will be charged to your card at the end of the trip.

One Card Per Guest (For the Most Part)

In order to keep things simple, the cruise lines usually only allow you to have 1 credit card on file per guest. This makes things easy if you are traveling with someone and you want to keep your individual charges separate. Even for 2 guests in the same cabin, each of your key cards will be linked to their own credit card.

Partners who want to share expenses can let the cruise line know that they wish to allow all guests in a cabin to charge to the same stateroom account and thus, the same card.

If you want to split up your own charges across multiple cards, then this is more complicated. You can only have 1 card linked at a time, so you will need to wait until you reach the desired amount on one card and then visit guest services to settle the amount on your card and switch over to a new card. This is a bit of a pain but could be useful if you wanted to split expenses across multiple cards to prevent hitting credit limits or to spread your point earning (or meet minimum spend!).

What Should You Expect After Your Trip Is Over?

Throughout your cruise, it is a good idea to keep an eye on your stateroom account. You can see all of your current charges by visiting the guest services counter and asking for a printout. A lot of cruise ships even have an automated kiosk that displays all of your current charges. Many cruise lines are now even offering near-instant account management through your stateroom TV or a mobile app available on the ship.

Just like how you watch your credit card statement, keep an eye on your stateroom account. Mistakes are common and are easy to fix, especially if caught early. For example, you might have a beverage package but accidentally got charged for a drink that should have been covered. This happens all the time and the guest services counter is always very accommodating at fixing the charges, especially when you bring it up quickly.

Most Cruise Lines Have Their Own Apps That You Can Use (For Free) Onboard to Manage Your Stateroom Account, Sign Up for Shore Excursions, Reserve Specialty Dining, and More.

At the end of the cruise, you want to do one final check of your account before you disembark. The earlier you can settle everything, the better. That’s because lines at guest services get extremely long during the final night before disembarkation.

Within a few days of your trip ending, you will see the final charge posting to your card on file. This is the sum of all your charges throughout your cruise, offset by any credits you might have gotten onboard.

What Does The Final Charge Look Like?

The final charge will come as one lump sum of all your accrued charges during the voyage, minus any onboard credits you received. The charge usually happens a few days after you disembark.

If you are sailing on an American cruise line, then the charge will always show up as an American charge. So you usually don’t need to worry about notifying your credit card company of any foreign transactions.

This is even true on cruises I have done that start and end in other countries. The charge will always be placed back at where the cruise line is based out of. So even on cruises where we sailed around Asia or Europe, the charge is always an American charge, assuming you were sailing on an American cruise line like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Holland America, Princess, Celebrity, Disney Cruises, and so on.

What is the Best Credit Card to Use While Cruising?

Cruise line charges are considered travel expenses to the credit card companies. Banks have built a special merchant category code just for cruise lines, so the charge is always specifically noted as a cruise line. However looking at the fine print, all major banks consider cruise line purchases to qualify as travel expenses for credit card bonus points.

Within A Few Days of Disembarkation, Your Final Charge Will Bill to the Card You Have on File.

I can personally attest that Chase counts cruise line purchases under their travel category. I know that AMEX does too. I usually put my Chase Sapphire Reserve card on file for all purchases and earn 3X Ultimate Rewards points per $1 spent on cruise ships.

What is cool is that everything you purchase through the cruise line is considered a travel purchase. This includes dinners, entertainment, excursions, and even the port taxes and gratuities. Since it is all charged as a single travel purchase, you earn travel bonus points for everything!

This makes any of our favorite travel cards a good option to use as your credit card with the cruise line:

Chase Sapphire Reserve: Because it earns 3X Ultimate Rewards points on travel
Citi Premier Card: Because it earns 3X ThankYou points on travel

Both of these cards also have no foreign transaction fees, which make them a good option if you decide to go on shore and buy something.

Bottom Line

Cruise Ship purchases can be confusing for newcomers. But once you understand the basics of how it works, it can be a great way to earn a ton of bonus points towards more free travel in the future.

Remember that you will need to set up a credit card on file before you board the ship. Every purchase you make onboard will go towards a stateroom account that will ultimately charge your card on file at the conclusion of the trip.

Expect a large pre-authorization charge when your trip starts. Each night, the pre-authorization is expanded to cover additional charges you incurred that day. The final will be summed up (minus any onboard spending credits you might have received) and charged to your card within a few days of disembarkation.

The charges come as an American-based purchase in the travel category. This makes any great travel card a good candidate for using as your onboard credit card, because you can qualify for bonus points within the travel category.

Which card do you put on file while cruising?

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

APPLY NOW

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®

$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel

1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more

Intro APR on purchases

N/A

Regular APR

21.24% – 28.24% Variable

Annual Fee

$550

Balance Transfer Fee

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee $550

Other

Credit Needed Excellent

Issuer Chase

Card Type Visa

MORE INFO

Source link

General

Published

20 hours ago

June 6, 2023

Samara Ben

Flying can be stressful for both people and animals, but especially for dogs. It can be very stressful to check in at a congested airport and board a busy plane. Due to this, many pet owners prefer traveling with their cherished furry friends in the cabin of the aircraft as opposed to the pet cargo compartment. Owners are able to keep their dog company and offer comfort and assurance in this way.

Flying can be an incredibly stressful and overwhelming experience for both people and animals, but especially for dogs. Checking in at a crowded airport and boarding a busy plane can be an intimidating experience for our beloved furry friends. As a result, many pet owners choose to fly with their beloved pets in the cabin of the aircraft, rather than in the pet cargo compartment, so that they can stay close to their dog and provide comfort and assurance. This is a much more preferable option for many pet owners.

A medium-sized dog wearing a red bandana is sitting on the floor at a busy airport, looking up anxiously at its owner. The owner is standing in front of the dog, holding its leash and comforting the animal with a soothing hand on its head. The background features a bustling airport terminal with people and luggage moving around.

General

14 Airlines That Allow Pets in Cabin on International Flights [2023]

Published

21 hours ago

June 6, 2023

Samara Ben

Traveling with our furry companions has become increasingly popular, and many airlines have recognized the importance of accommodating passengers’ beloved pets. Instead of leaving them behind or entrusting them to a pet sitter, more and more pet owners are seeking airlines that allow flying with pets in the cabin on international flights. There are many airlines that allow pets in cabin on international flights.

This article will explore several airlines that go the extra mile to ensure a comfortable and safe journey for both humans and their four-legged friends. From pet policies to cabin requirements for airlines that allow pets in cabin on international flights, let’s dive into the top airlines that warmly welcome dogs and cats on board.

The following airlines allow pets in cabin on international flights:

Aegean Airlines
Air Canada

Air Europa
Air France
Alaska Air

American Airlines
Delta
French Bee

JetBlue
Lufthansa
TAP Air Portugal

TUI Fly
United Airlines
Vueling

Which airlines allow pets in cabin on international flights?

Aegean Airlines Pet Policy.

Maximum weight: 8 kg (including carrier)
Maximum carrier size: 55 x 40 x 23 cm

Cost: 60 EUR (prices differ depending on time of year)

Additional information:

Transportation of dogs and cats to the UK is only permitted for flights to London Heathrow and only to be sent as cargo.

Visit Aegean’s website for more information.

Related post: Flying Pets in Cargo: Will My Pet be Safe?

Air Canada Pet Policy.

Maximum weight: 22 pounds (including carrier)
Maximum carrier size: 27 x 40 x 55 cm (soft-sided crate) & 23 x 40 x 55 cm (hard-sided crate)

Cost: $100-118 CAD

Additional information:

Pets cannot travel with you if you:
- Are an unaccompanied minor
- Are seated in an exit or bulkhead row
- Are travelling in Premium Economy

On flights operated by their Aribus fleet, pets may not travel in the First Class cabin.
On Boeing 789 and 788 aircraft, the pet carrier cannot exceed H20 x W40 x L43 cm
On Boeing 777-300ER and 777-200LR aircraft, the pet carrier cannot exceed H21 x W38 x L43 cm

For more info, visit Air Canada’s website.

Related post: Requirements for Taking Pets to Canada [Pet Passport Guide]

Air Europa Pet Policy.

Maximum weight: 8kg (10kg including carrier) or 6kg on flights operated by ATR
Maximum carrier size: 55 x 35 x 25 cm

Cost: 27-55 USD within Europe and 165 USD long-haul

Additional information:

Prices subjects to possible surcharges for taxes in certain countries.

Dogs must be at least 3 months old to travel on medium and long haul flights.
Passengers are not permitted to bring pets in the Business cabin.
Pets in the cabin may not fly in an emergency or XL seat.

Visit Air Europa’s website for more information.

Related post: How to get an EU Pet Passport

Alaska Air Pet Policy.

Maximum weight: 9kg / 20 pounds (including carrier)
Maximum carrier size: 43 x 28 x 24 cm (soft) / 43 x 28 x 19 cm (hard)

Cost: 100 USD each way

Additional information:

You may not occupy an emergency exit row, or any seat with an airbag safety belt.

On flights operated by their Aribus fleet, pets may not travel in the First Class cabin.

Visit Alaska Air’s website for more information.

American Airlines Pet Policy.

Maximum weight: 9 kg / 20 pounds (including carrier)

Maximum carrier size: depends on flight (call the airline for specific restrictions)
Cost: 125 USD each way

Additional information:

Pets are not permitted to fly in cabin on international flights over 12 hours, or transatlantic flights.
Due to the lack of under-seat storage space, carry-on dogs are not permitted in First or Business on the following Boeing planes:
- 777-200
- 777-300
- 787-8
- 787-9

For more info on additional restrictions, visit AA’s website.

Related post: How to get a US Pet Passport

Air France Pet Policy.

Maximum weight: 8 kg / 17 pounds (including carrier)
Maximum carrier size: 46 x 28 x 24 cm (soft carriers recommended)

Cost: 30-125 EUR international

Additional information:

Pets are not permitted to fly in cabin on international intercontinental flights.

Pets are not permitted to fly in cabin in business on international flights.
Each passenger may travel with only 1 pet.

For more info, visit Air France’s website.

Delta Pet Policy.

Maximum weight: No limit, but pets must fit comfortably in carrier under seat
Maximum carrier size: depends on flight (check the under-seat dimensions on your aircraft here)
Cost: 125 USD within North America, 200 USD international and 75 USD to Brazil

Additional Information:

The following age restrictions apply:
- Pets must be at least 16 weeks old for travel to/from the U.S.
- Pets must be at least 15 weeks old for travel to/from the EU.
For any travel to or from the following destinations, pets are not permitted in the cabin:
- Australia
- Barbados
- Dubai
- Hong Kong
- Iceland
- Jamaica
- New Zealand
- Republic of Ireland
- South Africa
- United Kingdom
- United Arab Emirates

For more info on additional restrictions, visit Delta’s website.

Related post: How to get a US Pet Passport

French Bee Pet Policy.

Maximum weight: 8 kg / 17 pounds (including carrier)

Maximum carrier size:43x35x20cm
Cost: 50€ each way

Additional information:

Sub-nosed animals are not permitted on their flights
- Breeds include: pugs, bulldogs, boxers, Pekinese and shih tsus
Category 1 (attack dogs) and Category 2 dogs (guard and defence dogs) are not permitted to be taken by any one under the age of 18, or by adults subject to guardianship.
- For more information on category 1 and 2 dogs check the French Bee website here.

For more info, head to French Bee’s website.

JetBlue Pet Policy.

Maximum weight: 9 kg / 20 pounds (including carrier)

Maximum carrier size: 17″L x 12.5″W x 8.5″H
Cost: 125 USD each way

Additional information:

For any travel to or from the following destinations, pets are not permitted in the cabin:
- London
- Jamaica
- Barbados
- Trinidad & Tobago
- St. Lucia
- Cayman Islands

For more info, head to JetBlue’s website.

Related post: How to get a US Pet Passport

Lufthansa Pet Policy.

Maximum weight: 8 kg / 17.6 pounds (including carrier)

Maximum carrier size: 55 x 40 x 23 cm
Cost: 60 EUR international within Europe and 80-110 EUR international outside Europe

Additional information:

You must complete this form before boarding your flight.
You are not able to fly into the UK with a pet.

Visit Lufthansa’s website for more information.

TAP Air Portugal Pet Policy.

Maximum weight: 8kg / 17.6 pounds (including pets and carrier)
Maximum carrier size: 40 x 33 x 17cm
Cost: cost varies – check here

Aircraft Restrictions:

Pets are not permitted to be carried in Executive Class on long haul flights.
You are not able to fly into the UK with a pet.

Visit TAP Air’s website for more info.

TUI Pet Policy.

Maximum weight: 8kg / 17.6 pounds (excluding carrier)
Maximum carrier size: 55 x 40 x 20 cm (soft-sided crates only)

Cost: 50 EUR

Additional information:

On all long-haul international flights, pets are not allowed in the cabin.

On all non-European destinations in combination with Antwerp, dogs or cats are not allowed

Visit TUI’s website for more information.

United Airlines Pet Policy.

Maximum weight: No limit, but must fit comfortably in carrier under seat

Maximum carrier size: 46 x 28 x 28 cm (soft-sided) / 44 x 30 x 19 cm (hard-sided)
Cost: 125 USD (+ 125 USD service charge for each stopover of more than four hours within the U.S. or more than 24 hours outside the U.S)

Additional information:

Pets are not permitted in cabin on the following aircrafts:
- Boeing 757-200
- Boeing 767
- Boeing 777
- Boeing 778
United doesn’t allow pets to fly in-cabin on international flights to and from:
- Australia
- Cuba
- Guam
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Hawaii
- Hong Kong
- India
- Ireland
- Marshall Islands
- New Zealand
- Palau
- Panama
- Philippines
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Tahiti
- Trinidad and Tobago
- UK

Visit United’s website for more info.

Related post: How to get a US Pet Passport

Vueling Pet Policy.

Maximum weight: 10 kg (including carrier) or 8kg on flights operated by Iberia
Maximum carrier size: 45 x 39 x 21 cm (soft-sided crates only)
Cost: 50 EUR international

Additional information:

Vueling doesn’t allow dogs to fly in-cabin on flights to and from:
- UK
- Ireland

Visit Vueling’s website for more information.

Prepare for flying with a pet in cabin on international flights.

1. Select an appropriate, cabin-approved travel carrier.

As mentioned above, different airlines and aircrafts have different size restrictions for carriers. Be sure to check the restrictions for your specific airline, and aircraft.

For example, Delta recommends a soft-sided kennel with maximum dimensions of 18” x 11” x 11” since this fits most aircraft types.

We would recommend using a soft sided carrier as they usually give your pet more space.

2. Get your pet used to it’s travel carrier.

When flying with a pet in cabin, they will need to stay in its travel carrier for the duration of the journey. So, it’s very important that you spend some time to get your dog used to its travel carrier.

When first introducing your pet to its carrier, take it slow. Lure your dog into their carrier with plenty of treats, and let him/her play and sleep in there as much as possible. You want to avoid forcing your pet into the carrier as this may stress him or her out and may cause a negative association to the carrier.

3. Train your pet to stay calm.

Your pet will need to be calm and well behaved when flying in cabin. If they show disruptive behaviour, they risk being sent into the cargo area of the plane.

4. Exhaust your pet before the flight.

5. Limit access to food and water before the flight.

When flying with a pet in cabin, your pet won’t be able to go potty. So, it’s a good idea to limit your pet’s access to food before the flight. Additionally, some animals may experience motion sickness if they eat just before a flight. If you are flying in the morning, then feed them the night before. Air Canada suggest feeding your dog four to six hours prior to departure, as a full stomach may cause discomfort during travel.

Line the bottom of your pet’s travel carrier with a pee pad, just incase they do have an accident.

6. Familiarise yourself with the airport that you are departing from and arriving to.

Most airports will have a dedicated area for pets and service animals to rest. It is actually a legal requirement that all U.S. airports have pet-relief areas available for working animals and pets to rest. Take some photos of the airport maps, so you don’t have to wander around on the day trying to find a resting place.

7. Bring along your pet’s favourite comforts.

To maximise comfort and minimise stress, pop your pet’s favourite blanket or toy in the travel carrier with them. If your pet suffers from separation anxiety, you could even pop one of your t-shirts in the carrier.

Which dog and cat breeds are not allowed in cabin on international flights?

Unfortunately, some airlines have restrictions on the dog and cat breeds they permit on their flights.

This is because of their anatomical abnormalities, short-nosed breeds may be more vulnerable to changes in air quality and temperature in the cargo hold of a plane.

Only certain airlines have these breed restrictions, so while you may not be able to fly with one airline, you may be able to fly with another. However, it’s important that you are confident your pet is healthy enough to fly.

The following brachycephalic and snub-nosed dog breeds are often not allowed in the cabin on international flights:

Affenpinscher
American Staffordshire Terrier
Boston Terriers
Boxers
Brussels Griffon
Bulldogs (all breeds)
Cane Corso
Chow Chow
Dogue De Bordeaux
English Toy Spaniel
Japanese Chin
Lhasa Apso
Mastiff (all breeds)
Pekingese
Pitbulls
Presa Canario
Pug
Shar Pei
Shih Tzu
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Tibetan Spaniel

Related post: 21 Dog Breeds That Can Fly in Cabin

The following brachycephalic and snub-nosed cat breeds are often not allowed in the cabin on international flights:

Burmese Cat
Exotic Shorthair Cat
Himalayan Cat
Persian Cat

Documents required for taking pets in cabin on international flights.

The documents required when flying with a pet in cabin will vary depending on which airline you are flying with, and where you are flying from and to.

You will need more paperwork when traveling internationally, in most cases you will usually require the following:

Microchip certificate
Rabies vaccination certificate
Animal health certificate
Additional vaccination certificates
Rabies titer test results
Parasite treatment certificate

a) Microchip.

Many airlines require microchip documents when flying with a dog or cat in cabin. Not only is it usually a requirement, it is in your best interest. If your pet was to go missing whilst abroad, then you are far more likely to be reunited with a microchip.

Your pet can get microchipped at your local vet or a charity, such as RSPCA.

b) Rabies vaccinations.

If you want your take dog or cat on flights, it is likely that he/she requires a valid rabies vaccination. Particularly when you are taking your pet on an international flight as this is a requirement for entering most countries.

Most countries require dogs and cats to have their rabies vaccination between 30 days and 12 months prior to importing.

Related post: How Often Does a Dog Need a Rabies Shot?

c) Animal health certificate.

Most airlines will require an official animal health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian when flying with pets in cabin.

In most cases, your health certificate will also need to be endorsed by the country’s authority responsible for the import and export of animals. For example, if you are traveling from the US, you will need your documents endorsed by the USDA. If you are traveling from Canada, you will need to have your documents endorsed by CFIA.

They are normally valid for 10 days.

d) Additional vaccinations.

Depending on where you are flying to, your pet may also require additional vaccinations or treatments.

For example, Turkey requires that all dogs are vaccinated against parainfluenza, leptospirosis, parvovirus, bordetella, hepatitis and distemper before being allowed into the country.

e) Rabies titer test.

Some countries require pets to have a rabies titer test before entering. This is usually the case when you are traveling from a country that is considered high risk for rabies.

If your pet requires a titer test the process is as follows:

Your pet will have a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination.
Your vet will then send the blood sample to an approved blood testing laboratory.
Your pet’s blood test results must show a rabies antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml.
You must wait 3 months from the date the blood sample was taken before you travel.
The vet will give you a copy of the test results.

f) Parasite treatment.

To enter many countries, dogs are required to be treated against internal and/or external parasites before entering. This includes treatment for tapeworm, fleas, ticks, nematodes and cestodes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I have to pay extra to fly with my dog in cabin?

You will yes. The amount you pay however, will differ between airlines as they charge different amounts. The charge also depends on where you are flying to and from. International flights usually cost more.

Can I fly with my pet in cabin on international flights?

You may be able to, depending on which airline you are flying with, and where you are flying to and from. Some airlines allow dogs and cats in cabin on international flights, such as Aegean Air. Southwest, however, do not let pets in cabin on international flights.

Can I fly with my puppy or kitten in cabin?

This depends on how old your puppy is, and which airline you are flying with. Different airlines have different restrictions on the age of pets that can fly in cabin. Some require puppies and kittens to be at least 8 weeks old, where others require them to be 16 weeks old.

Can I fly with a large dog in the cabin?

Unfortunately, unless your dog is an official service dog, only small dogs are permitted. Most airlines require that pets and travel carriers must have a combined weight of no more than 8kg. There are however some semi-private airlines that will allow large dogs in cabin.

Conclusion

Traveling with your pet is a wonderful opportunity to create lasting memories. Thankfully, several airlines have recognized the importance of allowing pets in the cabin on international flights and have established comprehensive pet policies to accommodate furry travellers. Whether you choose Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, or JetBlue Airways, you can rest assured that your dog will be treated with care and enjoy a safe and comfortable journey by your side.

Related posts:

Source link

General

4 Things to Know About Pet Travel Insurance

Published

2 days ago

June 5, 2023

Samara Ben

Traveling with your pet can be so rewarding; but it can also be a huge hassle. Between ever-changing airline policies regarding emotional support animals, to needing to shell out a few hundred dollars for a round-trip flight for your furry friend, traveling can get complicated (and costly) fast.

And that’s if everything goes according to plan. If your pet gets sick or injured while traveling or you have to cancel a trip for an unexpected surgery, things can get really hairy. So it pays to make sure that not only you and your trip are covered by travel insurance, but your pet is, too. Here are four things to know about pet travel insurance.

1. Pet travel insurance vs. pet health insurance

First things first, is pet travel insurance different from pet health insurance? In short, yes. Pet health insurance covers your furry companion’s healthcare needs, whereas pet travel insurance is offered by businesses hired to relocate your pet and only applies to what happens between the beginning and end of a trip.

Pet health insurance covers needs like vet visits, surgery, injuries and dental work. Like your own health insurance, you will pay a monthly or annual premium and can expect deductibles of varying amounts depending on your level of coverage.

Pet travel insurance, on the other hand, only covers your pet during a set period of time. This is usually from point to point and when your pet is traveling unaccompanied, like when you are hiring a service to relocate your pet. The most important distinction is only businesses can buy pet travel insurance, not the pet owner.

🤓Nerdy Tip

“Pet flight insurance” doesn’t exist.

Fortunately, many pet health insurance policies may cover some travel cancellation and health care costs for your pet if your trip gets interrupted because your pet gets sick or injured. To find out if that’s the case, be sure to read your individual policy for details.

» Learn more: How to make traveling with your pet affordable

2. Pets aren’t covered under most normal travel insurance and trip cancellation policies

Travel insurance and trip cancellation insurance is a handy thing to have when the unexpected happens, as it can help reimburse travel costs if you have to cancel a trip or call it short due to an emergency. Unfortunately, travel insurance and trip cancellation coverage don’t typically cover pets, only human travelers.

In fact, trip cancellation insurance rarely considers pet emergencies, deaths or overbooked pet reservations on an airline as valid reasons for cancellation — though there may be exceptions made in the case of registered service animals.

That said, if you still want the option to cancel travel plans and get reimbursed for your investment in the case of a pet emergency, there may be a way: You can select a travel insurance policy with “Cancel For Any Reason” coverage, which would include pet emergencies.

» Learn more: The most pet-friendly airlines

3. Some pet insurance only covers your pet in the U.S.

While there are some pet health insurance companies that offer cat and dog travel insurance coverage in the form of health care treatment when you’re away from home, not all provide coverage in all places. Some may only cover health issues and care within the U.S. and Canada, while others may reimburse you for services abroad, too (though they may be limited to certain countries).

So before you pick a plan, make sure to read the fine print to know if your pet is covered wherever you plan on traveling together, especially if you’re headed overseas.

» Learn more: How to fly with a dog

4. Pets may require additional info to fly

Do pets need insurance to fly? Generally no, though depending on the airline, you may be required to bring other information and documentation with you when you travel with an animal. Check with your specific airline before booking to ensure you’re following protocol and you don’t miss your flight for lack of appropriate paperwork.

If you’re traveling internationally with your pet and your destination country allows four-legged visitors (not all do), you’ll need an international health certificate and will be required to adhere to any specific requirements set forth by that country.

You can check the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service site from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for regulations by country.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

Pet travel insurance considerations, recapped

Traveling with a pet can be complicated and costly, but pet insurance can bring peace of mind whether you’re road tripping across the country or flying around the world.

Just make sure before you head off on your adventure to check and make sure that your pet’s health insurance policy covers veterinary treatment where you’re headed, find out whether your travel insurance offers coverage for trip cancellation or interruptions insurance because of sick pets, and consider getting a “Cancel For Any Reason” policy so you can change your plans for any and all pet-related reasons.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for: