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I've used United. But I think I'd prefer SW, because United was pretty expensive.
Its wierd they charge you extra. I wouldn't think they'd have to do anything extra since you're just carrying her on with you. I've never flown with a pet before thou.
Usually you need to get the pet some sedatives or something so she'll be calm on the flight. Then it can take a day or so for the pet to "recover". I'd leave my dog with a friend or sitter or ask someone to just check up on my dog at my house. Not so much because of the cost, but because of my dog's stress & I don't like drugging up my pets. How long will you be gone for?
@serabell: About 4 days. We don't really know to many people out here to leave her with.
If you fly Continental, they don't give you any sort of special boarding pass for your pet or mark it on your ticket in any way... personally I think them charging extra for flying with an animal as carry on is a scam.
I think it was my ticket, plus $125, AND they couldn't guarantee that I could bring my pet on that flight. But it ended up being fine.
@TamiN: I agree! We would be spending $150 for her and about $300 for ourselves after taxes etc. It seems crazy to me since she is spending more for her "ticket" and she will be on the floor. smh
@farmgirl2106: That's crazy! You had to pay extra and they couldn't guarantee that she could fly.
My sister flys with her 15lb minpin all the time and there is never an issue. And she NEVER once had to sedate her. She flys routinely so she never is on a consistent airline but the charge is usually $50-75. I think its fair bc its not really a carry on and there is a potential for "accidents" even if in a carry on dog tote. Her last flight, she had her on her lap and no one ever said a thing and she slept all the way. But this 4 yr old dog is quite pampered and has done more traveling in her life than I have in the last 4 yrs!
I want to travel with my dog, because I hate driving long distances to see my parents, and I hate leaving him anywhere. I usually fly Delta and they charge $100 or more each way. So basically... I just drive. Plus my dog is crazy. He barks at every single person, dog, moving being, noise, etc etc. I would need to knock him out completely if I wanted to fly him. But he can go hours upon hours without going to the bathroom, so I'm not worried about it. Maybe one of these days I'll do it, but for now I'm just driving :)
@MissGreen: Good point. I guess I don't like the fact that we are paying more for her to sit on the floor.
@kperry3: We don't like driving home either. We like to fly as much as we can.
In January, I flew Delta internationally (I live in Nicaragua with the foreign service) with my 8 week old boxer puppy! I was picking him up from a breeder and bringing him home. The fee for him to go under my seat was $200 on top of my ticket. In researching airlines before this trip, I found some airlines are more pet friendly than others, especially with breed like boxers, pugs, bulldogs etc. Delta and Continental seemed to be the most accepting.
My puppy did amazing! I recommend freezing a 3oz bowl of water so it does not spill in the crate and bringing puppy pee pads in your carry on. I took my puppy to the ladies room during the layover and got him to pee on the pad in the bathroom stall. Worked pretty well! The breeder recommended bringing children's Benadryl as a mild sedative but I was hesitant to use it and it turned out I didn't need it.
Good luck!
I fly with my 9 lb toy poodle. I fly SW, but I never pay the fee, and I've never had a problem bringing him on. I always leave myself some extra time in case someone gives me a hard time about it because I'd have to get back in the ticket line, but I've never had to so far. None of the security people have ever asked to see a ticket or anything for him, so I think they probably just assume that I've paid. My dog gets really anxious just being in a car, so I do give him Xanax (prescribed by his vet). He isn't knocked out, but it relaxes him, and he's always fine later that day.
Be sure to talk to your vet before giving a sedative. I've been told it can be dangerous because of the altitude (like how poeple react differently to alcohol on a plane sometimes). I flew with my cat several times using Delta until it got too expensive. It's easy, just try not to make the other passengers too aware of your pet (sometimes they don't like it). My cat was a pretty good traveler.
I would avaid putting your pet in the cargo hold if at all possible, I've heard of more animals being injured that way (not temperature controlld like the cabin).
We take our cat home with us for the holidays, but its a short flight (45 min- 1 hr). We usually fly Delta. It's around $125 each way, and you have to call in advance to book it. She goes underneath the set in front of you, but I'd much rather that than have her under the plane like luggage. I am going to disagree though, and say DO NOT give your cat a sedative before the flight unless its medically necessary. It's not safe for the cat (according to our vet), and she could have a bad reaction. So unless you know for sure that she will cause problems on the flight, take chances and do not sedate her. Our cat sits in her carrier fine for the entire flight. Yes, she cries a little bit, but no offense to anyone, I'm not going to drug my cat up so she is quiet on the flight just to keep the people around us happy.
Another option is to look for a place that boards pets. Last year we went on vacation for a week and we took our cat to a cat only kennel. Or, look on craig's list for a pet sitter, or driving instead. It will probably cost you a lot less in the long run if you have to pay $150 for her tickets.
@trugem: Well my dog's carrier looks like a normal duffle bag (black with some net on the sides), and when I check in, I just don't tell anyone that I have a dog. Like I said, when I go through security, no one ever asks to see a ticket for him, so I just take him out of his carrier and carry him through like normal. And no one checks when you get on the plane to see if you have an animal under your seat, so it's actually really easy. My friend actually told me not to pay because she had travelled with her toy poodle a lot and realized that no one ever checked to see if she paid, so one time she tried not paying and didn't have any problems. We've both done in a bunch of times since then. Like I said, I always leave myself extra time (like 45 minutes) in case someone decides to check one time, but it hasn't happened yet. I figure if it does happen, I'd just play dumb and go pay.
Thanks! I have been reading since before my wedding in 2009 but just started posting :)
@Boston Bee: Oh okay! Thanks!
@Fayette: I don't think she needs a sedative. I know SW only allows pets in the cabin.
@Krises: We will be staying at one of our parents houses, so we don't have to worry about a hotel. There is a pet sitting company in our area that either comes to your house, or you can leave the pet with them.
Thanks everyone!
We've flown with JetBlue and they charge $100 per flight for the pet, I know American and Delta each charge $125 each way...It is annoying bc our tickets are often cheaper than our dog's and she's not even getting a seat!!!! I think it's highway robbery but what can you do? We've always given our dog a sedative, prescribed by the vet. I believe you're also supposed to have a statement from the vet or history of vaccines with you too.
I'm very impressed by Boston Bee's way around the fee but I'd be too chicken to try it in case I got caught and then had to miss my flight or something!
I flew across the country on Delta with my Dachshund (now deceased- sniff!) They were great about it.
Cdog has flown a lot of times. When she was a puppy she had to be under the seat because (she was technically too big, but I got her on there anyway) it was too cold for her to fly with the cargo through the midwest at Christmas. (Northwest only went through Minneapolis). It was a nightmare. I got her doggie-sedation from the vet before I left and she was screaming anyway. I tried to comfort her and she bit me. People were rude. One lady would let me have her aisle seat and it was a struggle to get the dog under the inner seat. It was stressful, but good luck. I much prefer to have cdog under the plane with the cargo.
I've never flown with my pets but honestly I'd only consider it if I was able to bring them into the cabin. I've heard way too many horror stories about pets traveling by air...everything from poorly controlled temps in cargo holds, long exposure to heat/cold on the tarmac, and just crappy treatment by airline employees. The temp thing is something to keep in mind especially for certain breeds- esp brachycephalic pets like bulldogs, bostons, etc. They are much more sensitive.
Also, when it comes to sedating your pets for air travel: many vets will not approve prescriptions for this anymore. If your dog or cat has a reaction in the air there is no recourse. Talk to your doctor and have an exam done prior to the trip.. a lot really depends on your doctor though.
Oh and last thing! Most airlines require a health certificate issued by your vet within 7-10 days of your flight. I've heard from some clients who travel regularly that the airline employees only ask for it half the time, but you never know...if they do ask, and you don't have one, they will turn you away. So check online AND call the airline..but most likely they'll want it.
@eeniebeans: Sorry to hear about your dog.
@cbee: I don't think they allow dogs to be in cargo anymore. At least SW doesn't.
@twentyeleven: SW states that pets do not need a health certificate or any other documentation.
Thanks everyone!
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Do any of you fly with your pets? We may be flying with Fancy if she isn't too big the next time we go home (or we may bring her to a dog sitter). Which airline do you fly with? We are flying with SW. They charge $75 each way and she would have to ride under the seat. This means that her plane ticket will cost $12 more than mine. lol We were able to find flights for $69 each way for us.