Holiday Pet Travel 101: The top mistakes pet parents make (and how to avoid them)

Heather Kent
Dec 15, 2025
3 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

1. Outdated or unverified microchip/ID details

If your travel involves a plane ride, a microchip isn’t just helpful — it’s often required before your pet can even board. And for car or ferry travel across borders, accurate identification matters just as much. The common mistake isn’t having no microchip — it’s not checking that the information is up to date and correctly registered. If your pet gets lost in a new environment, outdated or mismatched details can make reunion nearly impossible.

PadsPass helps prevent that. We won’t green-light your pet for travel without confirming that the microchip number matches your documents and that your contact details are current. We remind you when updates are needed, store the information securely, and flag destinations where microchip validation is required before your pet can travel.

2. Overlooking or misunderstanding travel documentation rules

Whether it’s a drive across borders, an international flight, or checking into a pet-friendly hotel, many people assume the requirements are “the same everywhere.” In reality, the rules vary dramatically by destination, transport type, and even airline route.

PadsPass prevents that. It identifies the exact requirements for your specific trip — whether it’s by ferry, car, or plane — and gives you a clear checklist of what your pet needs for that destination and route. No guessing, no conflicting information, no 15 open browser tabs.

3. Using the wrong or inadequate carrier or travel crate

For air travel, many people choose carriers that are too small, don’t have proper ventilation, or don’t allow the pet to stand up and turn around. Airlines have strict size limits — often around 18" × 11" × 11" for in-cabin carriers — and if the carrier doesn’t meet those dimensions, you can be turned away at check-in even if every document is perfect.

To avoid this:

Measure your pet (nose-to-tail base and shoulder-to-floor height) and compare against internal carrier dimensions
Double-check the airline’s pet policy when booking — aircraft and seating class sometimes change size allowances
Make sure the carrier provides ventilation on multiple sides and has secure closures
Confirm the weight + size + carrier type requirements — never assume they’re universal

PadsPass makes this easier by flagging size/ventilation requirements for your specific airline and route, and recommending compliant carriers (including Roverlund, which meets airline standards). Use our code PETPASSPORTJAN at checkout www.roverlund.com

Check out our favorites: https://www.padspass.com/shop

4. Not preparing your pet for the carrier before travel

Don’t wait until the week you’re to travel to introduce your pet to the carrier. For cats and dogs, suddenly being closed into an unfamiliar space can trigger stress — including meowing or barking, scratching, or outright refusal to enter — which makes travel harder for everyone.

To prevent this, start early and build comfort:

Leave the carrier open at home and let your pet explore it voluntarily
Make it cozy with familiar bedding or a blanket that smells like home
Offer treats or meals inside to create positive associations
Reward calm presence with praise, treats, or quiet affection
Close the door briefly, starting at 5–10 seconds and slowly increasing
Move the carrier gently around the home or take a short drive to normalize movement
Never use the carrier for punishment

With just a few weeks of gentle exposure, the carrier becomes familiar and maybe even comforting, which will improve the travel experience for both you and your pet.

5. Not planning vet visits early enough before travel

Many pet parents assume a regular vet check or vaccination is enough. But travel — especially international or across borders — typically requires recent health certificates, up-to-date vaccinations, and documentation issued within a tight timeframe. Leaving vet visits too late often means paperwork becomes invalid, or you get caught without required forms.

How PadsPass helps:

PadsPass tracks the required health paperwork and vaccination deadlines for your exact route and destination.
It stores all relevant records securely in one place — health certificates, vaccination data, microchip info — so nothing gets lost.
That way, you don’t have to juggle dates, documents, or last-minute panic: PadsPass gives you a clear pre-travel roadmap.

Ready to simplify your pet's next trip?

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