seeking small dog airplane advice

lnelson

i'm not taking any specific trip, but just for future reference -
anyone here ever bring their small dog on a plane ride? did you have to pay extra, or get an extra seat? more importantly, how did you keep them quiet and calm? any recommendations? my little guy is definitely small enough to ride with me in the cabin and fit in one of those airline-approved sherpa things, but i doubt he'd like it and be silent the whole time.

stacey

Subject: Re: seeking small dog airplane advice

lnelson wrote: i'm not taking any specific trip, but just for future reference -
anyone here ever bring their small dog on a plane ride? did you have to pay extra, or get an extra seat? more importantly, how did you keep them quiet and calm? any recommendations? my little guy is definitely small enough to ride with me in the cabin and fit in one of those airline-approved sherpa things, but i doubt he'd like it and be silent the whole time.

My mom had a shitzu and she traveled with her all the time. She traveled Jet Blue and Continental mostly but she did pay extra (I think it was like $60). She never gave my mom a hard time. She would usually sleep the whole time. I know she made sure that she walked the dog before she got on the plane and she never had an accident. She used to get really excited when she saw her little carrier.

I have been on a couple flights where I did not even realize there were dogs on the flight until I saw their heads poking up out of bags when we landed. Maybe it actually has a calming effect on them?

toadette

Most airlines charge a fee, I think. I'd guess the average is around $50 or $100 each way. The fact that they charge so much annoys me, especially since I tend to buy tickets that aren't much more than that...

Here is a chart of airline fees, though I think it isn't terribly current, so all the fees are probably higher now. http://www.dogfriendly.com/server/travel/airtravel/airpettravel.shtml

I share your worry about my dog not being calm on the plane. I just took mine for her first long car trip and she was doing a quiet whine/cry most of the trip.

chaplin'smom

I travel with my 15lb shih tzu nearly every time I fly. I believe the rules are that if they are under 20lbs they can fly with you in the cabin under your seat. Prices used to be around $50-$80 per flight but recently they've gone up to $100-$120 (my dog isn't the only one who'se growling...)

On the very first trip he was happy in his bag until the flight attendant realized he was there and that she had a dog exactly like him so she moved us to the back and let him out stay out of the bag and on my lap for the flight.

Henceforth, now, every time i put him in the bag he is NOT happy as he thinks he should be able to be on my lap.

As he was NOT the calm, sweet natured happy pup he generally is when he was in the bag, i went to the vets and got some 'tranquilizers' (sounds worse then it actually is) prescribed just for him that I give him right before we leave for the airport and he is alert but sleeps during the flight.

Makes for a happy flight for all.
(And he gets it in turkey so he thinks it's a big treat.)

Good luck and bon voyage!

bohuma

Southwest Airlines website has a table of fee comparisons that includes the fee for traveling with your pet. Southwest does not accept pets on their aircraft, service animals only.