Flying with pets

[Mainers1stime]

Is this done anymore? I know if you have a very small dog that will fit under your seat, they are allowed. What about a dog that's a bit bigger? Can you purchase a seat for the dog and keep it in a crate in the seat? Strange questions I know, but I really don't want to drive from Maine to Orlando either and I can't leave my baby home or in a kennel. Any suggestions on how to travel with a pet would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mdhkitten]

It depends on the airline as to whether you can fly or not. Southwest, for instance, only allows service animals to fly. Some other airlines do fly, but unless they're small enough to fit into a small crate under the seat, they have to fly in the pressurized area of the cargo hold. I've never heard of them allowing a person to purchase a seat for a pet. Have you considered speaking with your vet and having them recommend someone that could live at your house with your pet while you're gone? I used to have this type business and lived at people's homes all of the time that couldn't bear the thought of boarding their pets. They loved the fact that they didn't have to worry while they were gone. Just a thought!

 

[beccasmom]

From my one experience flying with a dog (a little one who was small enough to travel in the cabin), most airlines only allow so many pets per flight. I don't believe that any airline allows a larger dog to travel in the cabin unless it is for service purposes. Reservations are required ahead of time; I think I paid about $75.00 dollar one way for my dog; she was under 20 pounds and able to fit in a Sherpa bag under the seat in front of me. I was flying American at the time and that was in 2000.

Here are a couple of links to do some more research.

http://www.dogfriendly.com/
http://www.petswelcome.com/
http://www.peoplewithpets.com/travel.asp
http://www.delta.com/planning_reser...avel_information/pet_travel_options/index.jsp
http://www.takeyourpet.com/pages/air.htm

 

[goofy4tink]

Most airlines will allow service animals to fly, uncaged. But, nothing else. If a dog/cat fits in a carrier that will fit underneath the seat, they are allowed. But, as someone said, only so many per flight, and at a cost. I flew my ds's cat down to Orlando for him since I was heading there anyway. He drove over from Tampa to pick up the cat and drop me at BWV. Delta had me get a vet certificate, then had to go to a separate checkin counter (nothing fast about it!!!), then the cat had to come out of the carrier to go through security (that was something to see!).
I'm curious...why does the dog have to go with you? Are you transferring, moving, that sort of thing? Or is it just a short vacation? If it's a short vacation, I don't think I would subject my pet to the rigors of flying. My ds's poor cat traveled reasonable well, made little noise, but when we landed the poor thing was frothing at the mouth, curled up, in abject terror, in a corner of her carrier.
We have 3 cats and a golden retriever. The dog does not kennel well at all. But, I'm very lucky because my eldest dd, 32, loves to come over and house sit when we're gone. Otherwise, the dog would be incarcerated in the kennel, despite his not liking it.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Keep in mind that unless it's a service animal you may get bumped off of your flight if someone with allergies complains. I've had to have people flying with dogs bumped off of flights that my dd is going on. We carry a letter from her allergist and present it when needed. She has a life threatening allergy to dogs.The captain has always made the decision and it has always been in our favor.

 

[mdhkitten]

Keep in mind that unless it's a service animal you may get bumped off of your flight if someone with allergies complains. I've had to have people flying with dogs bumped off of flights that my dd is going on. We carry a letter from her allergist and present it when needed. She has a life threatening allergy to dogs.The captain has always made the decision and it has always been in our favor.

Just curious.............you say that "unless it's a service dog, you may get bumped off your flight if someone with allergies complains." What would happen if you were supposed to be on a flight that did have a service dog? Do they board whomever checked in first? I'm sorry to hear that you daughter has that type of allergy. It must be really hard. I'm scared that my daughter may develop an allergy to animals as she gets older, since her dad did. (She already has gotten his horrible allergy to laundry detergents) He was fine as a child, but once in his teenage years, is extremely allergic and the sad thing is that he's an animal lover. I would be so sad (yet accepting) since animals are a big part of both of our lives.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Just curious.............you say that "unless it's a service dog, you may get bumped off your flight if someone with allergies complains." What would happen if you were supposed to be on a flight that did have a service dog? Do they board whomever checked in first? I'm sorry to hear that you daughter has that type of allergy. It must be really hard. I'm scared that my daughter may develop an allergy to animals as she gets older, since her dad did. (She already has gotten his horrible allergy to laundry detergents) He was fine as a child, but once in his teenage years, is extremely allergic and the sad thing is that he's an animal lover. I would be so sad (yet accepting) since animals are a big part of both of our lives.

If it's a service dog we would take the bump out of courtesy but it never has been. It's always been a dog in a carrier and we are at the gate early & I notice these things giving the gate agent plenty of warning. I also have to move my dd out of the area while the dog is there. We also have the laundry detergent allergy and others.

 

[mdhkitten]

If it's a service dog we would take the bump out of courtesy but it never has been. It's always been a dog in a carrier and we are at the gate early & I notice these things giving the gate agent plenty of warning. I also have to move my dd out of the area while the dog is there. We also have the laundry detergent allergy and others.

Along with the laundry detergent allergy, she's also extremely allergic to amoxicillin which we found out when she was 4 months old. Now it's expensive antibiotics if she ever needs them (which fortunately has only ever been a couple of times). I hope that she doesn't develop other allergies (she's recently turned 3), but will take it as it comes.

 

[CarolA]

Note that some airlines will not transport pets in the cargo hold during the hot months of the year. Delta I know won't transport your pet during the summer.....

 

[buzz5985]

If it's a service dog we would take the bump out of courtesy but it never has been. It's always been a dog in a carrier and we are at the gate early & I notice these things giving the gate agent plenty of warning. I also have to move my dd out of the area while the dog is there. We also have the laundry detergent allergy and others.

The person with the dog is covered under the persons with disability act - the person with the allergy is not. There is no courtesy involved.

 

[goofy4tink]

When I traveled with the cat, I booked seats as far removed for anyone else as possible. Then, on the day I left, I doublechecked the seat chart for my flight. I saw that they had, for some reason known only to God and Delta, assigned all the seats around me, leaving a huge number of seats open elsewhere on the plane. Go figure. So, when I got to the gate, pretty early, I asked if I could change my seat assignment to one with no people around me. Now, I had the cat carrier in my hand, so it was pretty obvious that I had an animal, and I would have thought it would be noted someplace for the gate attendents to see. But, the gate personnel asked me if I had a problem being seated near people, and if not, why would I want to change my seat. I had to explain that I was flying with a cat (already paid extra for and duly noted I would have thought) and had orignally chosen a seat near the rear of the plane with few passengers in order to decrease the chances of bothering anyone with the cat. Thought that made sense. But, they did move me to an area that had no one beside me or across the aisle from me, or behind me. There was an older couple in front of me, but I asked them if they had any 'cat' issues and they said no, so I figured I was good to go.
I would have hated that the cat would have impacted anyone on the plane and did my best to avoid that. Now, if someone had come along, with a severe allergy, I would have expected to get bumped.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

The person with the dog is covered under the persons with disability act - the person with the allergy is not. There is no courtesy involved.

As far as I'm concerened it is a courtesy on my part since I would simply ask that I be bumped to another flight rather than make a big stink like some dog owners have made when they are informed of the issue. I also inform the airlines when I'm booking of the issue. I fully understand that a guide dog is a nessecity since my cousin uses one a personal pet is not.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The OP really needs to check with her/his airline. Start with the website, and if you still have questions call the airline.