Frequently Asked Questions

The first step for most clients is a 30-minute Pet Travel Consultation with one of our specialists. For $47, we'll learn about your pet, your travel timeline, and your goals, then recommend the right SPT solution for your specific situation. That $47 applies in full toward whichever service you choose.

Ready to book your consultation? Click here to get started.

Great question, and a fair one. The short answer is that what we offer isn't really a quote. It's a 30-minute, one-on-one conversation with a pet travel specialist who will take the time to understand your pet, your situation, and your goals, then walk you through the right solution for your specific needs.

A generic quote form can't do that. And honestly, pet travel is too important to get wrong based on incomplete information.

The $47 also ensures that the time our specialists spend with you is focused, productive, and fully dedicated to clients who are serious about moving forward. Because of that, we're able to give you the kind of attention your pet deserves.

The best part? Your $47 is applied directly toward whichever service you choose. So it's not a fee, it's your first step.

These are two distinct services and understanding the difference is the most important thing before you book.

With our Pet Transport service, your pet travels under the care of one of our professional Travel Guardians. You stay home. We handle everything from pickup to delivery, including airline booking, health documentation, airport logistics, and real-time updates along the way.

With our Pet Travel Concierge service, you travel with your own pet. Our specialists guide you through the entire planning process, from choosing the right airline and carrier, to preparing health certificates and navigating destination entry requirements, so you feel completely prepared to manage the journey yourself.

Not sure which one is right for your situation? That's exactly what the consultation is for.

Yes, and we have a dedicated path for you. Breeders, handlers, groomers, professional trainers, and other pet industry professionals can access our Pro Services page for a free 20-minute consultation with an SPT specialist. No consultation fee required.

New pet owners who were referred by their breeder for the transport of a new puppy or kitten are also welcome to use the Pro path.

Yes, always. Whether your pet is traveling on a commercial airline, a semi-private flight, or by private ground transport, their dedicated Travel Guardian is with them from the moment of pickup to the moment of delivery. Your pet is never alone, never handed off to a stranger, and never left unattended.

Our Travel Guardians are trained in pet first aid and CPR, and they travel with a fully stocked first aid kit at all times. They also have access to FirstVet, a 24/7 on-call veterinary video consultation service that connects them with a licensed veterinarian in minutes via mobile app.

FirstVet's veterinarians average approximately 14 years of clinical experience and resolve around 65% of cases virtually, without requiring a clinic visit. In rare cases where an in-person visit is needed, FirstVet provides an immediate referral to the nearest emergency animal clinic.

Conditions FirstVet can help manage include vomiting and diarrhea, motion sickness, eye and ear problems, skin and coat issues, coughing and sneezing, injuries, parasites, and behavioral concerns during travel.

On the ground during layovers, our Travel Guardians use every resource available to keep your pet comfortable. If any signs of heat stress or distress are observed, they carry ice packs and portable fans and will respond immediately.

Many pet transport companies exploit airline employees who use their flight benefits to keep costs low. Even though this often means a dramatically cheaper transport for you, it puts your pet at serious risk.

Airline employees are prohibited from making money from their travel privileges. This means your pet could be denied boarding, left stranded, and your plans thrown into chaos. The employee risks losing their travel privileges or their job.

When you book with SPT, we purchase full-fare round trip tickets for our Travel Guardians and confirm your pet on the flights immediately. Your pet and their guardian will not be removed from their scheduled flights.

For ground transport, we vet every Travel Guardian thoroughly and carry full commercial insurance. Some lower-priced ground services operate on a cash basis with unvetted drivers. We never cut corners when it comes to the safety of your pet.

Semi-private flights are operated by smaller carriers out of private terminals, not commercial airports. This means no crowded check-in lines, no stressful security screenings, and a quieter, calmer environment for your pet from start to finish.

Your pet travels in-cabin with their Travel Guardian, either in their own seat or in a large soft-sided carrier. The smaller passenger capacity on these flights means more personalized attention and a far less stressful experience, especially for larger dogs or pets with anxiety.

SPT works with K9Jets, BarkAir, JSX, RetrieveAir, and Aero for semi-private transport.

On JSX and Aero flights, well-behaved dogs up to 79 lbs are welcome.

On K9Jets, BarkAir, and RetrieveAir, there are no size or weight restrictions. Even your 140 lb Great Dane is welcome.

Cats are welcome on all semi-private partner flights.

Yes. On K9Jets, two cats or two dogs 50 lbs and under can travel with one Travel Guardian.

For other semi-private operators, arrangements vary. Your SPT specialist will confirm the right setup for your pets during the consultation.

Semi-private routes cover most of the continental U.S. and select international destinations including London, Paris, Lisbon, Frankfurt, Dublin, Milan, Dubai, and more. Route availability depends on the specific operator. Your SPT specialist will match your route to the best available option during your consultation.

Pet Travel Concierge is our done-for-you planning service for pet owners who want to travel alongside their own pet. Rather than sending your pet with one of our Travel Guardians, you stay with your pet throughout the journey and our team handles everything behind the scenes to make that possible.

Every concierge engagement is completely bespoke. No two situations are alike, and our proposals reflect that. Depending on what you need, concierge services can include flight research and booking recommendations, airline and carrier guidance specific to your pet, destination entry requirement research, health certificate coordination and done-for-you travel document preparation, step-by-step travel day support, and ongoing communication with your team throughout the planning process.

If you are not sure whether you need transport (your pet travels with a Travel Guardian) or concierge (you travel with your pet), that is exactly what your consultation is for. We will help you figure out the right fit.

There are two ways in, depending on how complex your situation is.

For most clients, the 30-minute Pet Travel Consultation ($47) is the right starting point. In that call, we will assess your pet, your travel plans, and your goals. If concierge services are the right fit, we will create a bespoke proposal tailored to your specific needs. Your $47 consultation fee is applied in full toward your concierge service.

For more complex travel situations, particularly international moves, multi-leg itineraries, or pets with special documentation requirements, we recommend starting with the one-hour Signature Pet Travel Planning Session ($197). This deeper session allows us to go further into the details, answer every question thoroughly, and build a truly comprehensive travel plan for you. If you proceed with a concierge service package after the planning session, the $197 is credited toward your service.

Once we have completed your consultation or planning session, our team builds a personalized proposal that outlines exactly what your pet's journey will require and what we will handle on your behalf. This may include a recommended flight itinerary with airline-specific guidance for your pet, a complete documentation checklist with deadlines, done-for-you health certificate and travel document preparation coordinated with your veterinarian, carrier recommendations specific to your pet's size and the airline's requirements, and destination entry requirements clearly explained.

You review the proposal, ask any final questions, and once you accept, our team springs into action. From that point forward, we are managing the details so you can focus on preparing for your move.

Travel documents for pets, especially for international travel, can be one of the most stressful parts of the planning process. The requirements vary by country, change frequently, and involve coordination between your veterinarian, the USDA, and sometimes foreign government agencies.

Our done-for-you document preparation service takes that burden completely off your plate. We work directly with your veterinarian to make sure every form is filled out correctly, submitted on time, and endorsed by the appropriate authorities. You will not have to decode USDA requirements or worry about whether your health certificate will be accepted at your destination. We handle it.

This service is available as part of a full concierge package or, in some cases, as a standalone add-on. Ask your SPT specialist during your consultation if this applies to your situation.

For domestic travel, a minimum of four to six weeks in advance is recommended to allow time for health certificates and any airline coordination.

For international travel, we strongly recommend starting the process three to six months before your intended travel date. International pet travel documentation, particularly for destinations with strict biosecurity requirements like the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii, can take months to complete properly. Starting early gives you the best possible options and eliminates the risk of costly last-minute complications.

Yes. Some clients start with a concierge consultation and discover that having a Travel Guardian accompany their pet is actually the better solution for their situation, or vice versa. Our consultation process is designed to surface the right answer for your specific needs, not to steer you toward any one service.

Some clients also choose a hybrid approach, for example, having SPT handle all documentation and planning while they travel alongside their pet with a clear, expert-built itinerary in hand. We build every proposal to fit the client, not the other way around.