Plan Properly To Take Pet On Plane

Q. We have taken our dog, Tiffany, to Europe, and she doesn’t seem to mind spending up to nine hours in the plane’s cargo compartment. But we would like to know the conditions in which pets travel. What can you tell us about temperatures, pressurization, oxygen level and air circulation?

A. Tiffany should continue to experience safe and reasonably comfortable flights, say major U.S. airlines flying the Atlantic. The cargo hold in which she is placed will be pressurized and temperature-controlled - at much the same level as the cabin in which you are seated. And air circulation should be fine - although the oxygen level in a cargo hold is lower for fire safety reasons. Typically, animals are loaded last on the plane (and removed first) to assure that air vents in their kennels are not blocked.

But there are risks involved, and the Humane Society of the United States recommends that you not transport your pet by air “unless absolutely necessary.” A problem could occur, for example, if your flight is delayed substantially on the runway. During this waiting period, air circulation could be reduced. In this situation, ask a flight attendant to remind the pilot that a pet is being carried in the hold. Also, the stress of travel may be too much for an older dog.

Taking a dog along on a flight as check-in baggage requires plenty of advance work. You must reserve a place for Tiffany, since airlines limit the number of pets they will carry on a specific flight because of the limited oxygen. You must have the necessary pet health documentation from the veterinarian (the airline will tell you what’s needed). And you must provide a proper shipping kennel - one in which your pet can stand and turn around easily. Again, check with the airline. Remember, some countries may require that your pet be quarantined.

Introduce your pet to the kennel as far in advance as possible, perhaps leaving the carrier open in the house with a familiar plaything inside. You should feed your pet and provide water within four hours of departure, but do not put food and water in the kennel because it will spill. And choose a nonstop flight to avoid any snags that might arise from a missed connection.

More tips can be obtained by contacting the following: the Air Transport Association, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 1100, Washington, D.C. 20004, (202) 626-4000; the Humane Society of the United States (enclosed a stamped, self-addressed envelope), 2100 L St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037, (202) 452-1100; and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Public Information Department, 424 E. 92nd St., New York, N.Y. 10128, (212) 876-7700, ext. 4650).

Q. My fiancee and I have signed on to a Carnival cruise this winter. I know all the meals and on-board activities are included in the cruise price. But I’m clueless about how much money we should budget for the extras.

A. The typical extras include tips, drinks and wine, gambling, spa treatments, shore excursions and shopping. On most of these you can spend as little or as much as you want.

For tips, budget about $15 daily for a couple, divided as follows: $3 per person for the room steward; $3 per person for your waiter and $1.50 for the bus boy. These are Carnival’s suggested rates.

On Carnival, bar drinks begin at about $2.50; soft drinks are between $1 and $2 and a bottle of wine with dinner begins at about $16.

You can skip the casino or limit yourself, as I do, to a maximum loss of $20 daily. If you pamper yourself with a spa treatment, expect to pay from $25 to $80.

Shore excursions tend to range from $18 per person for a city tour to perhaps $75 for a scuba excursion. But generally you can explore on your own for no more than the cost of a taxi ride. The tab for souvenirs and gifts is whatever you determine you want to spend.