air travel for dogs???

[markgum]

Does anyone have experience with air travel for dogs? After a LONG 5 day drive to MI, my wife is back in WA and coordinating the move to Detroit. She said she is NOT driving those roads again and she wants to fly. We have 2 American Eskimo dogs each weigh less than 20 lbs. I really don't think the moving company would take them so they are going to fly. Don't think I want to spend the $$ to buy a ticket for them to have a seat, but not sure I want to put them in baggage. They will be traveling early in July. Searching flights for with a short layover or direct flight.
any advice.
thanks.

 

[Russianwolf]

I know there is a new airline specifcally for pet, as well as other companies that will transport them by van. Google pet tranport and you'll get a bunch of hits.

 

[PenMan1]

On Delta, if the pet carrier will fit under the seat, the small animal is just like a "carry on" bag.

Go to your airlines website and look for the section and look for "pet regulations". In most cases that I know about, the pet will be given a "chill pill". That pill doesn't work for all pets. My last trip was in a seat next to man with an angry Schnauzer under his seat.

 

[markgum]

I know there is a new airline specifcally for pet, as well as other companies that will transport them by van. Google pet tranport and you'll get a bunch of hits.

yup. tons of info out there on the web. Hoping to find someone who has some experience.
meanwhile, I'll keep searching and reading.

 

[RMckin5324]

:dog: I've flown dogs dozens of times, it used to be pretty simple but since 9-11 it has become much more complicated. Although you can put some under the seat, it has to fit first off and you have to take into consideration the animal getting upset sitting there, also a concern is if a person next to you or in the area has allergies. That said, I've always used one of the over the counter services, US Air & Delta do it. You give them the animal and they are the last last thing into the cargo hold and the first thing off.

 

[TellicoTurning]

Back in the days that I worked for TWA we flew dogs all the time... they get pretty good care as most people like dogs and watch out for them.... just make sure the kennel is big enough for them to stand up comfortably, to turn around and have plenty of space for them.... talk to your vet about traveling with them... he may recommend a tranquilizer for them or not, depending on the vet, the dog's temperament and such... you will need to make sure you have a health certificate for each dog to present to the airlines... they will either attached the cert to the kennel or the airwaybill.... depending on policy... the cost isn't cheap... don't know now what it costs as I've been gone from the airlines for over 30 years, but in my day, the rates were 150% of normal cargo rates... plus they charge on volume of the kennel, not the weight.... airline charges are weight or volume which ever is greater... volume is calculated by multiplying the length x width x height in inches of the kennel and dividing by a weight factor... it's been a while since I did any calculations, but I think most carriers use 144 as the weight factor... TWA sold the kennels as they couldn't be re-used so that was also another cost....

Not to scare you, but you want to be very sure of the size of the kennel... I have seen some disasters because the dogs didn't like being caged or the kennel was too small. If the origin and destination airports have animal shelters, it's good to work with them so the can ship and receive the animals... less stress on them.

 

[SDB777]

Hope the TSA treats them better then 9 year old little kids!

I couldn't fly my dogs anywhere, I'd have to make the drive.








Scott (touch my dog where?) B

 

[TellicoTurning]

Hope the TSA treats them better then 9 year old little kids!

I couldn't fly my dogs anywhere, I'd have to make the drive.








Scott (touch my dog where?) B

I haven't flown since the new TSA rules have come about... if she cute - which they rarely rarely are - it wouldn't bother me for the pat down... don't particularly think I would like some hair legged, mustachio doing a pat down though... :biggrin:

But if you ever watch Ron White tell the story about his bulldog Sluggo and the trip to the vet... Sluggo fell in love with the vet.... :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::tongue:

 

[Gary Zakian]

weather and flying dogs

Check with whatever airline you use to see if they have weather restrictions. A few years ago when I flew with two (2) dogs the weather in each of the stops had to be suitable for the dogs. If it was too hot or too humid in one of the stops they could prevent the dogs from even being put on the plane at the point of origin. Thankfully the weather along the way cooperated and there were no problems. If you can do non-stop that is the surest way to go.