Can I Pay Someone to Fly With My Pet? Your Guide to Pet Travel Assistants

You’re staring at a plane ticket, but your sweet dog or cat can’t fly solo—and neither can you. What now? Turns out, you can actually pay someone to fly with your pet. This is called a pet escort or a pet travel companion. People literally make a living escorting animals on flights for owners who can’t make the trip themselves.

Some folks use official pet courier companies, while others hire individuals through pet nanny services or even trusted freelancers. The options have exploded, especially on busy international routes. But there’s a lot to consider: different airlines have different rules, and there’s a big difference between hiring a registered service and just asking your friend to take Fido along.

Not all pets and not all flights are eligible for this, so you’ll want to double-check airline rules and the pet’s health and documents. But if you’re searching for help, you aren’t the only one—hundreds of pets travel this way every week around the globe.

• How Hiring a Pet Travel Companion Works
• Who Offers Pet Escort Services
• Legal and Airline Rules You Need to Know
• Tips for Finding the Right Pet Travel Helper

How Hiring a Pet Travel Companion Works

Here’s how it usually works when you want someone else to travel with your pet. First, you pick a pet travel service (often called a pet escort or pet nanny). These can be full-on companies that do this every day, or they might be trusted individuals found through platforms like CitizenShipper, Airpets International, or even Facebook groups for flying pets. Once you connect with a pet courier, you hammer out details: your pet’s size, breed, age, health, and any travel restrictions set by the airline.

Most escorts fly in the cabin with your animal if the pet is small enough to fit under the seat. For bigger dogs, it might have to be in the cargo hold, which changes the process (and the price). Common routes are between major US cities and places like London, Paris, or Asia, but you can find people for all kinds of routes.

The process usually looks like this:

1. You contact a pet courier service or individual and describe your travel needs.
2. You provide all documents: vet certificates, vaccination records, and travel crates that meet airline standards.
3. The courier picks up your pet before the flight, handles check-in, and stays with them during the journey.
4. On arrival, your pet is handed off at the agreed destination, often right outside arrivals or at your front door.

Many companies offer door-to-door or airport-to-airport service, and some even send photo or text updates along the way. On average, hiring a pet travel companion costs anywhere from $400 to $2000, depending on distance, airline, and animal size. In 2024, about 6,000 pets reportedly traveled with hired companions in the U.S. alone.

It’s not a one-size-fits-all deal, and every pet’s needs are different, but it can be a real life-saver for folks who can’t make the trip but want to be sure their furry friend is safe and cared for the whole way.

Who Offers Pet Escort Services

When you're trying to figure out who actually flies with your pet, you'll run into a handful of options. There are professional companies, personal pet nannies, and sometimes regular travelers offering these gigs. Each has its own pros, rules, and price tags.

Big names in pet travel like PetRelocation, Blue Collar Pet Transport, and Airpets International have legit teams who regularly transport pets worldwide. They're experienced, follow airline and country rules, and handle everything from check-in to customs. Usually, they assign a pet courier (sometimes called a flight nanny) to personally fly with your animal in-cabin, if the airline allows.

Then there’s a more personal lane—pet nannies you can find online. Places like CitizenShipper, Flight Nanny, and even ads on Rover or social media match you with folks who escort pets on domestic or international flights. Sometimes these companions work for companies, but many are independent. Always check reviews, credentials, and insurance before handing over your furry friend.

If you’re looking to save a little and your pet qualifies, some people even post on travel groups or forums when they’re flying and are willing to bring a flying pet along for a fee. This is way less official, and you need to be super careful about paperwork and trust.

Here’s a breakdown of the main types of pet couriers and services folks use, so you know what to look for:

• Professional pet courier companies: Global, regulated, handle every detail.
• Independent flight nannies: Individuals you hire directly, typically pre-vetted by a service.
• Travelers for hire: People already booked on a flight open to flying your pet for a fee—less regulated, usually arranged peer-to-peer.

Costs aren’t one-size-fits-all. A local flight with a personal travel helper might start at $400, while international trips with a professional company can get well over $1,000. Your pet’s size, destination, and the airline’s fee changes the price.

Bottom line: pick a service that fits your budget, checks out on safety, and knows the airline rules inside and out. The right pet travel helper should give you peace of mind, not more headaches.

Legal and Airline Rules You Need to Know

This part gets a little confusing, but if you’re thinking of paying someone to fly with your pet, you’ve got to follow a bunch of rules—both legal and from the airlines. They don’t all play by the same book.

First up, every airline sets its own pet travel policy. Some carriers let small pets ride in the cabin, but only one per person. Some don’t allow pets at all on international flights, or only in the cargo hold. Here’s a simple breakdown:

• Most airlines require a person (the escort) to book the pet as part of their own reservation. Sneaking your pet onto someone else’s ticket is a big no-go.
• Your escort usually has to agree to take responsibility for the pet during the flight—even if they’re a paid stranger.
• Airlines often have paperwork for both the pet and the human escort: IDs, health certificates, vaccination proof, and sometimes import or export paperwork for the pet.

Hiring a stranger off the internet isn’t like shipping a box. Some airlines will only allow either you (the owner) or a close family member to fly with the pet. Professional pet courier companies know these details and jump through the hoops for you, but individuals often won’t get past check-in unless the airline OKs it in advance.

There are legal things too. International trips? You bet customs and border agents will want to talk. Some countries have strict bans on certain breeds, and you can’t get through customs with a pet that doesn’t have the right paperwork. Last year, the USDA reported that dozens of pets were refused entry at the US border each month because of missing documentation or vaccination lapses.

Bottom line: contact the airline before you book anything. Double check if the escort can travel with your pet under their name, what documents you’ll need, and if there’s a pet fee. Try to get everything in writing or email. Otherwise, you could end up at the airport with a sad, confused pet—and nobody wants that.

Tips for Finding the Right Pet Travel Helper

If you’re set on paying someone to fly with your pet, picking the right person can make or break your pet’s journey. Not every pet courier or travel nanny is created equal, and not every service is fully legit or safe. Here’s how to cut through the noise and feel confident about who’s handling your fur kid.

• Check credentials and experience. Stick with people who work through trusted pet travel agencies or companies that are members of groups like the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA). This isn’t just a nice-to-have. IPATA vets their members—only professionals with real track records and proper licensing get in. Freelance nannies should show proof they’ve done this before.
• Get proof of insurance and background checks. Any serious pet courier should have current insurance and a clear background check. Ask to see copies. Don’t be shy: this is about your pet’s safety.
• Read all the reviews. Dig through social media, Google, Yelp, and specific pet travel forums. Look for stories (good and bad) about the people or services you’re considering. Too-good-to-be-true reviews should be a red flag.
• Interview them. Set up a video call with your top picks. See how they interact with your pet onscreen—totally different vibes from just emailing or texting. Ask exactly how they handle bathroom breaks, food, and stress during long flights.
• Confirm understanding of paperwork and airline rules. Cages, vaccines, health certificates—it varies by country and airline. A good travel helper should explain these things before you even ask.

If you’re hiring for an international route, extra paperwork is pretty much guaranteed. Here’s a simple table showing a few document requirements for pets flying to popular spots:

Don’t send payment through sketchy methods. Pay by credit card or through the agency—so it’s all trackable. And get a clear contract outlining responsibilities, refund policies, and emergency contacts.