05/20/2026
For a summer pet move, the airport question is not just “what’s closest?”
It is “what route is actually safest and most realistic for the pet?”
During the hotter months, many airlines have temperature restrictions for pets traveling in the hold or as cargo. If temperatures are too high at the departure city, connection point, or arrival airport, your pet may not be accepted for travel that day.
That is why heat embargoes need to be considered before choosing an arrival airport.
For example, El Paso may be the final destination, but it is not typically where you would book an international live animal arrival. A larger U.S. entry point like LAX or Denver may be more realistic, depending on the airline, aircraft, route, and onward travel plan.
From there, the priority is building a route that helps reduce heat risk, including looking at later arrival times when temperatures are lower and planning safe ground transport to the final destination.
The biggest takeaway: do not book the human itinerary first and figure out the pet logistics after.
For summer travel, the pet’s route needs to be planned first, with airline rules, heat restrictions, aircraft details, and entry requirements reviewed before anything is finalized.
