Do your research. Be sure to read your airline’s pet policies. Some allow an animal in the cabin if the carrier is compact, while others consign all pets to the baggage compartment below. Many require vaccines and “won’t accept pets during the hottest and coldest months.”
Create a haven. Make the pet’s travel carrier a soothing place by stocking it with toys and a blanket that “smells like the house.”
Don’t sedate your pet. You may think a tranquilizer will help Fido relax, but it could instead make him “more anxious” and cause breathing problems at high altitudes.
Stay calm. If your pet acts out, don’t yell. Most animals will “interpret this as attention, and your anxiety will only worsen the situation.” When your pet settles down, reward it with “praise and treats.”
Source: Every Day With Rachael Ray