There are two basic options to transport your pet:
•  Accompanied Baggage (AB), there your pet travels and is checked in at the same time you check in, and are loaded on the same plane.
•  Unaccompanied Baggage (UB), where your pets flight is different from yours, and they travel alone.

AB allows your pet to travel on the same flight, but in a special pressurized area of the plane. Most air carriers do not allow pets in the passenger cabin, as the pet and cage must be able to fit under the seat. Upon arrival at your destination, your pet is returned to you, and you carry the pet through destination customs as part of your baggage. Entry is still allowed only under the specific countries importation and health rules.

UB requires your pet to be handled like “freight”, although the pet is kept in a special pressurized area of the plane during the flight. This normally requires export customs inspections, delivery to the cargo terminal, and related handling by the air carriers’ ground crew. Upon arrival at destination, the reverse process is completed, with the added examination by the destination customs, processing for entry to the destination country, and allowed entry under the specific countries importation and health rules. There is then ground transportation arranged for transport to the final destination, normally your home or temporary residence.

The difference in these options is the amount of processes and handling, as well as transit time. AB is faster, as the pet is cleared through customs just as you are and is out of the airport in a short time. Flight times are also the same as your flight time. UB is longer, as there is a preparation of the documents, issuance of Air Way Bill for flights, ground handling at origin and destination, plane transfer if applicable, and the clearance process upon arrival. The clearance process can take upwards of 2 to 6 hours, depending upon the airport of destination and the amount of other “clearances” that are being performed. Thus the AB option reduces the time your pet is in its cage, and in transit. Please note that in the majority of transports, the pets are not taken out of their cage, but remain in them for the duration of their transit. Only specific airport facilities have pet “transit lounges” where the pet is removed from the cage for exercise and watering. There is also a great difference in costs between the two options, with UB being the most expensive, due to the amount and frequency of handling and paperwork required.