When it comes time to transport a pet across county, state or even country borders — be it for adoption or relocation reasons — pet owners typically have two options: buy a ticket for the pet to ride alongside them in the plane’s cabin or arrange for them to be in a crate at the bottom of a aircraft. For most folks (and for all of the pet owners and pros we interviewed), the latter option tends to be the least ideal.
But what if you can’t be with your pet during transport for whatever reason? That’s where a flight nanny can come into help, explains Dr. Iram Sharma, a veterinarian and writer at HappyWhisker.com. “A flight nanny is a person that flies with a pet to a particular destination,” she notes. “Their job is to pick up the pet at an arranged meeting place, go to the airport, fly with the pet and deliver them to the new owners.”
Sharma adds that a flight nanny can offer peace-of-mind for pet owners (or prospective owners) worried about their fur babies being mishandled or neglected in cargo. “Having a flight nanny puts the future owner’s mind at ease, knowing that their pet is being taken care of,” she adds. “Flight nannies will provide the pet with food, water, and toys and meet their hygienic needs.”
Naturally, this type of service is hardly uniform when it comes to particulars — from the ways in which a flight nanny operates their service to (importantly) the cost. Here, pet owners who have used flight nannies, as well as flight nannies themselves, breakdown what you can expect to pay for the service — and what exactly that service entails.
What does a flight nanny do?
Flight nannies are responsible for facilitating the transport of a pet from one location to another. For Dr. Sabrina Kong, a veterinarian, a dog trainer and veterinary consultant at WeLoveDoodles, she tends to see flight nannies used most among her clients when the family is moving to a new home — and maybe can’t give their pet their total attention with so much else happening. She adds that participation in dog and cat shows, or even getting a pet care in a different state, are also common reasons for folks using a flight nanny service.
As for the particulars of the job itself, that often depends, says Amanda McGee, a professional flight nanny and owner of PurplePup LLC. She notes that the pet is usually either brought to her at the airport or she arranges to pick it up at someone’s home — and that’s usually contingent upon the pet having a health certificate that verifies they’re healthy and fit for travel.
Here are a few other things a flight nanny might do on the job, according to McGee, Brenda Saltarelli Walker, a flight nanny, and Simmi Jones, a flight nanny and owner of the blog Cat Food Point:
- Ensure the pet has their food, water, medications, hygiene items and other necessities
- Move through security with the pet, which usually entails the flight nanny removing the pet from the carrier to walk through the metal detectors (Walker says that having TSA pre-check is important for this)
- Send frequent updates and pictures to the client
- Keep the pet occupied in the airport (which sometimes involves finding a quiet corner for play or pets)
- Deliver the pet to its new home (or to whatever event is occurring)
How to hire a flight nanny
As Jones reiterates, the flight nanny world has its fair share of scammers. That’s why she tries to go above and beyond when it comes to earning her clients’ trust. “People often think it’s a dream job because I love animals, but constantly proving the authenticity of my job is difficult,” she notes. “I understand that there are a lot of scammers in this field.”
There are a few ways to avoid getting scammed, our pet owners and pros say. Here are some of the safest, most credible routes to find the right flight nanny:
Use a flight nanny service.
Dr. Amanda Takiguchi, veterinarian and founder of TrendingBreeds.com, warns that not all flight nanny services are legitimate. Here are a few credible services worth noting:
Get referrals from social media or other pet owners.
If you can find a flight nanny who has been employed by a friend or family member, that’s typically the best option, the folks we interviewed for this piece agreed. If you don’t know someone directly, Jones recommends looking for Facebook groups specific to a breed and your city.
Run a background check and look for certifications.
“When choosing a flight nanny, I recommend someone who is USDA-registered and flies confirmed flights,” McGee recommends. “If they are flying standby, it means they are airline employees using their benefits illegally.”
In addition, McGee notes that a prospective flight nanny should have a social media presence with public reviews. “They should be willing to schedule a phone call or FaceTime to discuss their services,” she adds.
“I would plan to take the hourly rate of the flight nanny service you are hiring and multiply it by the amount of hours you need service, add the cost of the plane ticket for the flight nanny, and add the cost of the airline fee for the animal.”
— LAURI PARTANIO, OWNER OF PROFESSIONAL PETS FLORIDA
What you can expect to pay for a flight nanny
As McGee explains, expect to pay for all of the expenses associated with a trip — plus the flight nanny’s time.
“We offer the customer a total price that will cover the cost of round-trip airfare, airline pet fees, a new pet carrier with a few small items like a blanket and water dish, a small fee to cover general business expenses and our nanny fee for our time,” she says.
As for what that comes down to dollar-wise, McGee says that puts a same-day pet delivery at roughly $800 to $2,000. “Typically this is for airport pickup and delivery, but many times we can offer to rent a car and pickup from the breeder or offer hand delivery to the customer’s home.”
Lauri Partanio, owner of Professional Pets Florida, says that the cost for her services can vary greatly. “I would plan to take the hourly rate of the flight nanny service you are hiring and multiply it by the amount of hours you need service, add the cost of the plane ticket for the flight nanny, and add the cost of the airline fee for the animal,” she notes. “It varies from airline to airline.”
Here is what it costs to use a flight nanny service for a few pet owners we interviewed for this article:
- Stuart Lewis, business owner and frequent user of flight nannies: $500 to $1,000. “Recently, I engaged the services of a pet nanny for an overseas flight,” he explains. “Not only did she provide exceptional care for my pet during the trip, but she also imparted valuable knowledge and insights on traveling with a pet. It was undoubtedly the most effortless and enjoyable journey I have ever had with my dog.”
- Vivianne Hulsey, breeder of French bulldogs: $300 to $1,000 for in-state transport and upwards of $1,500 for out-of-country transport. “The price will usually depend more on the route than the dog’s age,” Hulsey notes. “Frenchies are pretty portable, so it’s more of a matter of where the nanny is located and how long it will take to complete their route and get back home.”
- Iram Sharma, veterinarian: $450 to $2,000. “If you want your pet flown to you, you’ll have to pay the price of the flight nanny’s plane tickets plus a nanny fee,” Sharma notes. “The service price depends on several factors, most notably the length of travel. As you can guess, a transport service that involves two short flights and a transport service that requires two long flights, with long layovers or even spending a night in a hotel, will have drastically different prices.”
“If I were negotiating with a new flight nanny, the main thing would be looking at references from other people that have used them successfully.”
— VIVIANNE HUSLEY, BREEDER OF FRENCH BULLDOGS
How to discuss pay with a flight nanny you’re hiring
1. Check for (and thoroughly vet) references
For Hulsey, this is priority number-one when hiring a flight nanny — and it should come long before any pay is discussed. “If I were negotiating with a new flight nanny, the main thing would be looking at references from other people that have used them successfully,” she explains. “Flights can change at a moment’s notice and unforeseen layovers and overnight stays have happened before, so the professional has to come highly recommended.”
And while it might be tempting to try a cheaper flight nanny (with maybe few to no references), heed caution, Hulsey warns. “I’d rather not save and get someone responsible versus saving a couple hundred bucks and regretting my choice!”
A lack of verifiable experience doesn’t necessarily mean a flight nanny won’t do a good job, but you could be taking a risk. Consider additional interviews or securing some type of collateral prior to agreeing to hire.
2. Have your travel details ready to share
Be sure to have firmly decided what days you’ll need transport (and specifically which airport) — and how much those fares cost, plus the cost of a pet’s ticket. Also, if the airport the pet and flight nanny are arriving at is remote, or far from the final destination, don’t forget to factor in additional transport fees.
3. Ask the flight nanny for their service fee (and what that entails)
“Usually the nanny will quote you a price upon booking, depending on how long it will take them, what flights are available and how many flights it will be,” explains Hulsey. What this means: If you’re transporting a pet from Los Angeles to New York City, expect to pay more than a trip from Los Angeles to San Diego.
In addition to the transport, some nannies might also include different rates for different packages. “All the nannies I have worked with throughout the years provided their own transportation bag,” she adds.
What’s more, Hulsey says that she requires constant communication from her flight nannies — so it’s important that they include that in their service. “As long as the nanny keeps both parties informed with texts, pictures and videos, then I’m happy.”
For Walker, the pet’s breed, age and weight factor in. Bottom line: If your animal might require extra or unusual care, expect to pay more.
