Our team has spent the last two years in a constant state of learn-and-adapt. Luckily, the pet travel industry has always required agility and creativity, so we had the right people for the job when COVID struck and flipped the pet travel industry upside down.
As we head into 2022, what is the state of pet travel now? Are pet travel regulations calming down? Will things ever go “back to normal,” or will pet flights and ground transportation options forever be more limited—and will countries’ pet travel restrictions forever be this complicated?
We posed these questions to a handful of our team members who specialize in different regions of the world and phases of the pet relocation process. Here’s what they think 2022 has in store for pet parents planning to move their furbabies:
“Pet travel was majorly impacted by the COVID pandemic in 2020 and 2021, and we will still see complications with pet travel in 2022 as the pandemic continues. However, just as everyone has had to learn how to operate in this ‘new normal’ within our own lives and industries, so have pet shippers. While the pandemic will continue to play a role in the way pets travel globally in the new year, the whole pet travel industry— including airlines, ground transportation companies, government departments, and our team at PetRelocation—is more prepared to navigate these challenges. Because of this, 2022 is a far better year to be relocating your pet(s) than 2020 and 2021 were, even if the process continues to require more effort and adaptability!” —Allie Parry, Senior Sales Consultant
“The global pandemic shook the pet relocation industry to its core and forced us all to revise our processes, analyze gaps in supply chains, and come out the other side better than ever. To adapt to new and frequently changing pet travel restrictions, which are extremely nuanced country to country, we now share even more detailed information with our clients—educating pet parents on how the routing of pet travel is engineered, and how all pieces of a pet’s relocation need to align with travel regulations. Through this forced revamp, we’ve determined ways that we can share pet travel information with pet owners even more clearly; and of course, knowledge is power! While pet travel will continue to be more complicated in 2022 than it was in a pre-COVID world, our company and partners are better equipped to handle and communicate these complications than we were in 2020 or 2021.” —Kelcey Shafer, Global Client Services Coordinator
“I think it’s important to understand that there are always factors outside a pet relocation company’s control that can cause delays or setbacks. It’s all about being flexible and rolling with the punches. In 2022, I wouldn’t be surprised if we continue to see issues with travel embargoes and new requirements—such as a handful of countries continuing to require COVID testing for cats! These nuanced import requirements are constantly changing and can throw a wrench in plans just before a move. Having the right pet relocation company on your side to create contingency plans or go toe to toe with an airline or government office on your pet's behalf is a worthwhile investment now more than ever, to reduce the stress brought on by last-minute changes.” —Natalie Garinger, Global Vet Support Specialist
“There are many parties at play in a pet’s relocation that require extensive coordination to align: veterinarians, government entities (such as the USDA), airlines, ground carriers, customs clearance, and more. We expect coordination and clarity between these parties to improve slightly in 2022, but the pandemic has made adaptability and flexibility more key than ever for planning a pet relocation—and this will continue to be the case throughout the year ahead. Having a pet relocation company on your side provides creative planning, expert knowledge, and a well-connected team who can assist if challenges arise.” —Garrett Breaux, Global Logistics Coordinator
There you have it! Just as the world at large is forever altered and continuously adjusting, entering into the third year of the global pandemic, pet travel is just the same; things are generally getting better as we all learn more, but we unfortunately can’t expect pet travel to return to what it was before 2020. And it was never simple to begin with!
You can set yourself and your pet up for success in 2022 by:
- Starting the relocation planning process 3-6 months in advance.
- Reading up on the requirements in your destination country.
- Understanding that aligning your pet’s travel timeline with your own may not be possible—especially if you’re moving on a tight timeline or to a far away location. We know it’s hard to be away from your best friend(s) for any length of time, but safety is more important than speed when it comes to pet relocation, and having realistic expectations is key.
If you’re interested in hiring PetRelocation for full-service relocation support in 2022, we recommend reaching out as soon as you know about your pet’s move! Before reaching out, please check out our pricing and use this guide to calculate the cost of your pet relocation. If our Complete Relocation Support feels like a good fit for your budget and needs, feel free to contact us by filling out this request form.
We wish your pet(s) safe and happy travels throughout 2022!
