Pets on Planes -- Advice?

[ArkiStan]

A close friend moved to Cali for a new job a couple months ago. He left his dog here in NYC, planning to come back and get it as his schedule permitted. Now it turns out he's having trouble getting vacations so early at his new job. So he has offered to buy me round-trip plane tickets if I bring his dog to him in California. That way he doesn't have to miss work (saves him a good $1000+) and I get to visit Cali, which I've been planning to do anyway, for free.

So. I'm about to do some research on transporting pets on planes. For now, can anybody give any advice on standard operating procedures to do this? Any preferred airlines?

It's a small yorkshire terrier and I have one of those port-a-cage thingies that he left with me. I'll be flying from NYC to Fresno, CA.

Thanks!

[TofuNinja]

You can use a sherpa carry on bag pending the yorkie inside of the bag will fit under your seat (for take off and landing) you also may want to see the Yorkies vet to get a sedative for the dog as it flies in the cabin with you. Your best bet it to call the airlines up and see what they require for you to take the dog. :)

[ArkiStan]

This dog is quite a timid one. It doesn't even like riding in cars. I'll definitely be looking into those sedatives.

[TofuNinja]

how many pounds is this dog, yorkies can be very tiny, we had a 2.9 pound yorkie in at work today and one that was 3.2 as well :)

[ArkiStan]

It's very tiny. I'm not sure about the exact weight, but I'd say no more than 3 pounds? It's adorable.

[TofuNinja]

yeah don't even worry about the portacrate, just get a good sherpa type pet carrier and find an airline that will allow you to have him in the cabin with you :)

[kgsilvas]

Southwest does NOT allow pets in the cabin. I believe American still does, though there might be a small fee for it.

[Sweetpear]

When i moved to Cali from Canada about 8 years ago I brought my cat with me. she wasnt allowed in the cabin, but they took VERY good care of her. since it was such a long trip and i had to change planes 3 times, each time we stopped an airline worker would wait by the door with her so i could see she was doing well and give her some attention... she was also sedated, got a pill from the vet before i left so she was pretty calm, so I strongly agree with tofuninja on that one. even if the dog is relativly calm most of the time, being on a plane is quite tramatic for them.

[ArkiStan]

When i moved to Cali from Canada about 8 years ago I brought my cat with me. she wasnt allowed in the cabin, but they took VERY good care of her. since it was such a long trip and i had to change planes 3 times, each time we stopped an airline worker would wait by the door with her so i could see she was doing well and give her some attention... she was also sedated, got a pill from the vet before i left so she was pretty calm, so I strongly agree with tofuninja on that one. even if the dog is relativly calm most of the time, being on a plane is quite tramatic for them.

Wow now that's what I call service! Knowing this dog pretty well she's really gonna need a sedative. She barks a lot when she's nervous so I wouldn't feel comfortable taking her into the cabin. For those airlines that don't allow pets in the cabin, would they be storing the crate with the freight? Or would that be inhumane?

[ufcrusher]

The reality is that if the dog barks alot most airlines wont allow them on. They have a special area under the plane which is pressurized and temperaure controlled where they place animals.

As for sedating the dog, benadryl is what our vet told us to give our pup when we initially moved from Philly to San Diego. You need to give them plenty of water before the flight because they tend to get dehydrated, just as you do.

Hopefully, this will help.

[TofuNinja]

Oh yeah again check with the airline, but you may need proof that the dog is in good health by means of a Interstate Health Cert and or proof that vaccines are up to date :)

[ray]

Definitely check with the airlines to see who will allow you to bring pets and whether they can go in the cabin or not.

[Sweetpear]

Wow now that's what I call service! Knowing this dog pretty well she's really gonna need a sedative. She barks a lot when she's nervous so I wouldn't feel comfortable taking her into the cabin. For those airlines that don't allow pets in the cabin, would they be storing the crate with the freight? Or would that be inhumane?

they store them with the luggage...sort of... they usually have a small area set aside for them. the airline is also VERY picky about what kind of crate you use. i had my cat in a brand new one i bought from walmart, cost me $30.00, it was called a "pet taxi"... i couldnt fly her in it, it wasn't approved by the airline to be safe so i had to buy one from them at a 40.00 charge. They wouldnt even just let me use one of theirs , they made me buy it, kinda sucked but oh well, at least i was able to bring her with me.

[Airencracken]

Just don't take any snakes...

[ArkiStan]

they store them with the luggage...sort of... they usually have a small area set aside for them. the airline is also VERY picky about what kind of crate you use. i had my cat in a brand new one i bought from walmart, cost me $30.00, it was called a "pet taxi"... i couldnt fly her in it, it wasn't approved by the airline to be safe so i had to buy one from them at a 40.00 charge. They wouldnt even just let me use one of theirs , they made me buy it, kinda sucked but oh well, at least i was able to bring her with me.

Do you remember which airline you used?

[Houdini]

Just don't take any snakes...


It's time to get these mothereffen snakes off this mothereffen plane! Now I'm going to make a hole! obligatory explosive decompression myth to follow...

Yeah, I saw it. Avoid if possible. Way too many CG snakes. Annoying more than scary.

H

[Sweetpear]

Do you remember which airline you used?

Air Canada
You should just take some time one day and call a few airlines, they will be able to provided you with all the info you need :)
better to be safe than sorry.. airlines change their policies daily it seems, so its best to get up to date information. It would suck to show up with the pooch and have some gum chewing bimbo at the front counter saying " yaaaaaa, sorry, we don't take dogs" lol

[riskykougra]

Air Canada
You should just take some time one day and call a few airlines, they will be able to provided you with all the info you need :)
better to be safe than sorry.. airlines change their policies daily it seems, so its best to get up to date information. It would suck to show up and have some gum chewing bimbo at the front counter saying " yaaaaaa, sorry, we don't take dogs" lol
She's just a lil sensitive cause thats what they said to her when she tried to fly home...:ptlaugh: sorry SP you know Im kidding...:cheers:

[Sweetpear]

[/B]
She's just a lil sensitive cause thats what they said to her when she tried to fly home...:ptlaugh: sorry SP you know Im kidding...:cheers:
:spock:

[ShawnLee]

I love this thread. It's got humor, and Snakes on a Plane references, it's got it all!

[Houdini]

I love this thread. It's got humor, and Snakes on a Plane references, it's got it all!

Heh, me too. Especially because you separated humor and Snakes on a Plane references. ;) It was a damn stupid movie. Only humerous part was that one line.

[Jane83]

Thats It!
Ive Had It With These Mothafcukin Snakes On This Mothafcukin Plane!

[avlena]

i've always wondered about pets flying on a plane. What about other passengers with allergies, especially severe ones?

[riskykougra]

Well I know if I had severe allergies to pets I would chose an airline that did not allow them to travel on the planes. I would be more concerned with people allergic to peanuts though. Do planes still serve peanuts? The last one I was on served some kind of cookie thing but no peanuts that I saw...:shrug:




(No snakes either :P )