March 15, 2026, 5:01 a.m. ET
- A pet nanny is a professional who travels with your pet, typically on a plane, when you cannot.
- Pet nannies are generally for small animals like cats and dogs that can fit in a carrier under an airplane seat.
- It is important to prepare your pet for travel by ensuring their documents are in order and they are comfortable in their carrier.
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Whether you’re taking them or leaving them, pets always factor into vacation planning.
In the case that you do want to take your four-legged friend with you, but aren’t able to bring them with you directly, there’s an easy solution: a pet nanny.
A pet nanny is a professional caretaker who will travel with your furry friend on your behalf, usually on an airplane, but possibly on some other mode of transportation as well.
“A typical example would be: a parent is moving from New York to LA and they are like, ‘we don’t want to drive our little doggy across the country,’” Kevin Kinyon, co-founder of PetWorks, an online pet care booking platform, told USA TODAY.
The theoretical cross-country mover could hire a pet flight nanny to fly their pet to the other coast instead, saving the pooch a long road trip and the pet owners an added stress during their travels.
According to Kinyon, around 780,000 pets are transported by plane every year, and flight nannies for pets are becoming an increasingly popular option.
“We launched it two or three years ago now,” he said. “We’ve since enlisted about 100 flight nannies now who do this type of service.”
Here’s what to know about finding and working with a pet flight nanny.
What is a flight nanny for your pets?
Pet nannies are essentially a chaperone for your pet during travel. They’ll help you get your pet – specifically small dogs or cats, which are allowed in airplane cabins – to where you’re trying to go.
“(Pet owners) basically pay that person to take the pet on the plane,” Kinyon said. “They need to follow the guidelines and rules of the airline, but they fly it in the seat, it’s not in the cargo hold.”
There’s also a concierge aspect, because pet nannies are typically responsible for finding and booking the flights they’ll travel on with your pet, although the pet owner usually has to cover the cost of the ticket.
“A lot of what the pet nanny individual themselves is doing, is they are finding an airline and a route that will allow the pet to be connected to their ticket,” Giulia Gebhardt, senior vice president of client relations at WorldCare Pet Transport, told USA TODAY.
It’s important to keep in mind that pet nannies are generally only for animals small enough to travel in the cabin, meaning those whose carrier can fit under the seat in front. Larger animals typically have to fly as cargo, and that’s a whole separate process. Pet nannies aren’t eligible to travel in the cargo hold, although some horse shipping containers have space for a caretaker.
How do pet nannies work?
For qualifying pets, nannies will fly with them, including getting them to the airport and making sure to connect with you on the other side. Generally, a nanny can fly with a cat or dog, but some airlines also accept other animals, such as rabbits, for pet transport. Your nanny or the airline will know best. If there’s a time gap between your own journey and your pet’s, the nanny may also be hired to look after the pet until you’re able to connect.
“That pet nanny will be collecting them from your home, bringing your pet to the airport, going through all of the check-in processes, keeping you updated,” Gebhardt said. “You have a professional pet handler by someone who has been vetted by us. That person is with your pet at all times.”
Kinyon also highlighted the importance of communication for pet nannies, which gives pet owners peace of mind.
“One of the big things these days is communication and tracking,” he said. “Any good flight nanny or transporter would have no excuse not to give you as many updates as possible.
How much do pet nannies cost?
The cost of hiring a pet nanny varies based on your pet’s specific needs and your itinerary, but it’s typically the cost of an airline ticket plus a fee for the service. For example, Kinyon said that most pet owners pay $175-$225 to get their pet’s health documents in order for a trip, plus an additional $900-$1,250 to cover expenses such as airfare and the pet nanny’s daily fee.
In comparison, services like Bark Air, a boutique airline that allows pet owners to fly with their pets on essentially private jets, are much more expensive. That same New York-to-Los Angeles trip on July 22 would cost $6,725 per person (including their pet).
“With a pet nanny specifically, what you are arranging is having a dedicated individual fly on a commercial airline that is pet-friendly with your pet,” Gebhardt said.
If your pet requires special attention, such as medication or other specific services during the trip, that could also affect the cost of hiring a nanny.
“Every pet is different, so you have to be really clear about your pet’s specific needs or idiosyncrasies,” Kinyon said.
He added that the earlier you book, the more likely it is you’ll be able to get a good deal, because the cost of a pet nanny is typically at least partly dependent on available airfares. At a minimum, Kinyon said, you should plan to book your pet nanny 2-3 weeks before departure.
How to get your pet ready for travel
Whether you’re flying with your pet yourself or sending them off with a chaperone, it’s important to prepare in advance for the trip.
That includes making sure they have any documentation they may need upon arrival; getting in touch with your vet to make sure their vaccines are up to date; and being prepared to verify with the airline that they are actually registered to fly with you.
“Pet owners should also make sure they have a care package to go along with their pets. Having a collapsible water dish with them, making sure they buy a water bottle while they’re behind security so they can bring that with them, and making sure there’s always water available for their pets,” Gebhardt said.
She added that you’ll want to make sure your pet is familiar and comfortable with its carrier well in advance of a trip, before they ever meet the nanny or gets to the airport with you.
It’s also a good idea to plan your pet’s meals strategically before you fly.
According to a spokesperson for dog food brand Years, it’s important to feed your pet a simple, familiar meal before travel.
“Flying is unfamiliar for dogs, changes in pressure, temperature and routine can all affect digestion. The goal is to keep the gut calm, stable and predictable before travel,” Years said in an email statement.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York, and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.
