Airline pet transportation
 

Has anyone relocated a pet (dogs) cross country via air transportation? Does anyone have any idea what airlines have the best reputation for getting your pet safely to its destination? Also want to know which airlines to stay away from. I'm not moving yet, I'm just getting info ahead of time.

If you do a search above you will find several threads on this. One of them mentined a new regulatin that will require all airlines to report the number of pets dying annually during transport as cargo.

I can only encourage you to transport your pet in the cabin if possilbe - or if not consider another option besides flying. (But then I would no more ship a pet as cargo than I would a child. It sort of depends on if you regard your pet as disposable or not.)

A lot will depend on the time of year you are traveling.

Most airlines have very strict regulations about temperatures...both for you departure city and your arrival city.

While I agree with the previous poster that the ideal situation would be to have your dog in cabin with you, size of the animal usually prevents most of us from experiencing that comfort.

The ideal situation would be a non-stop flight, with an early AM or late PM departure.

If you could tell us where and when you'll be flying, I can offer some helpful advice.

Marion

From where to where? What time of year? Cats or dogs? If dogs, size of?

Many airlines do not take large pets that must go in the cargo hold in the summer months. Continental is an exception, and in their July inflight magazine, their CEO uses several paragraphs in his column to tout CO's Petsafe program and its safeguards.

Unfortunately, that may have backfired on them. There are at least two superlong threads on Flyertalk.com's Continental forum where pet owners described how their dogs died. [Well, one dog didn't die during transport, but it broke open its carrier's door, ran around in the Houston sun for an hour, bit an airport worker, etc... and later died of heat exhaustion.]

Anyways, my point is that you should really really think twice. Well, make it 3 to 4 times, before transporting dogs on planes in the summer, if they aren't allowed in the cabin.

There was a rather recent thread here about someone losing their dog on a flight -- and it seems like it was on Continental (maybe I'm wrong) despite their claims of their special treatment. I was standing by the luggage carousel once when they brought out a carrier and sat it down with a dog in it which was clearly dead. I got out of there fast.

Drive.

Wow, Patrick that's awful. I can only imagine the scene when the death was discovered by the owner. I would have gotten out fast as well.

I'm facing the same problem in September. While I know I'm driving and my daughter is flying, I'm torn on my little dachsund, Frankie. The thought of 5 days in a car sounds like a lot for him to deal with,so I thought I'd fly him out. Now, between this post and the other much longer post I just read through,I'm terrified to put him on a plane. Continental now charges by the pound if I send him "Quick Pak" I'm looking at 200.00 for what they used to charge 50! Looks like my little Frankie is going to do the trip with me in the car, and I'll have to plan out stops as opposed to just stopping when I was tired to make sure I can get hotels that accept pets.I couldn't live with myself if my 2 year old went to claims to pick him up and he was not 100% OK.

klr, all LaQuintas and Motel 6's allow dogs. That may help with planning a cross country trip. Pick up Holiday Inn and Choice (Comfort Inn/Quality Inn/etc) directories and that will help in planning where to stop. I mark the hotels with dog logos in the directory and it's fairly easy to find a place to stop.

No way would I put a dog on a plane as cargo.

We've been looking at this question for some time in terms of our 2 cats. We had pretty much decided to board them with a friend while we drove across the country, settle into our new home, and then fly back to pick them up. We were adamant that under no circumstances would they travel in cargo, which would have been simpler for us, but they would probably be OK in the cabin. Air Canada would have allowed it, with the right pet carrier and for a fee. However, after flying out to BC and back last month we began to re-think the whole issue. It's so stressful for an animal - you can't explain what's happening and it's probably terrifying to be around so many strange sights and smells and sensations. Dogs can probably tolerate it better than cats, but I guess it depends on the individual animal. Anyway, we've now firmly decided to drive with them in a nice big crate in the back of the car, and we've got a list of cat-friendly hotels all the way across.

That thread on here about the dead dog was pretty sad. It certainly made me change my mind about flying dogs.

As the risk of being flamed to death, we flew our cat in the pet cargo area when we moved to Hawaii and again when we moved back to the Mainland (so driving wasn't an option). Every vet we talked to said that they would put their own cat in the pet cargo area rather than the cabin, and we thought it might be better for him to have a good sized carrier rather than being stuffed under a seat for 9 hours. He came through a little scared, but otherwise just fine (quarantine was another story). His food and water weren't even upset or spilled, so I'm going to guess that he was handled very carefully. This was United.

However, if we had to do it again, we'd keep him in the cabin with us. It was stressful not having him in sight.

Has anyone here ever been sitting on a plane on the ground delayed for take off for an hour? Or have you ever waiting 45 minutes or more for your luggage which was sitting on the ground in one of those closed containers while they waited for more ground crew? Imagine your dog in those situations in a non air-conditioned cargo hold or on one of those carts in the sun in 90 % heat and you'll have a good idea of why there are so many pet deaths. It isn't about the flying part.

If your dog is small enough they can fly in the cabin (in a carrier) with you for a small fee.

There's a wonderful herbal product called Rescue Remedy, available at health food stores, that might help Frankie to relax for his car trip.

I think you've made the right decision and wish you a safe trip.

Marion

Maybe anyone planning to fly a pet should check the airline's policies and guidelines. I remember friends had to re-schedule a dog's flight because the predicted temperature at one of the airports was too high. Family recently flew with two cats in cargo on Alaska Airlines in April when they moved back to NH. No problem at all except for trying to hold two cats and a baby while the pet carriers were searched by security. Some airlines won't fly pets in cargo during the summer because of the heat even on northern routes. Their lab rode in the car cross-country but they felt their indoor cats would take one day in a plane better than 5 days in a car. Don't forget, pets can get lost during car travel too. I would not consider flying a pet during the summer and even May can be questionable.

Sharing the risk with MerryTravel...

My dog has traveled as cargo not once or twice, but 4 times. These have all been long trips (6+ hours). The first time, when we got him, he was 12 weeks old. He arrived a little depressed, but got much better after getting out of his carrier. After this, we crate trained him, so he is quite happy to go in his crate every night to sleep. He's very used to it, and feels safe and comfortable in it (or at least, that's what the vet says)

The other times, we've always "shipped" him with a little water and food in the crate's dishes. We can tell that there's never a mess. There have never been any dings or scratches on the crate, and Chester always arrives a bit nervous, but he gets over it very quickly (usually after a quick trip to the 'restroom'.

However, I wouldn't dream about doing this in the summer. If the weather's fair (below 85) at ALL points in the route, then I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Having said that, I always look for non stop flights, good weather and I always fly on American.

By law, pets transported as cargo are tracked separately. The airline MUST be able to provide information on the pet at all times. They usually have a number.

Additionally, the pressure and temperature of the pet cargo area are the same as the main cabin.

I'm sure that there are pets that have died in transit. It would be interesting to find out how many, out of the millions that travel each year.

I have a friend who flies with his pet dachshund in a carrier in the cabin for a small fee, maybe $100. You have to book early as they allow only a limited number of dogs on board.

What a terrible story, Patrick. I would also never put a pet in cargo. I don't know what you'd do if you're going overseas with a large pet, but I'd drive anywhere in the States.

Interesting - these types of threads usually attract lots of posts along the lines of "we fly our pet all the time and never have a problem"

Maybe Patrick's and rkkwans's stories/links scared some of those posters away. Any single anecdotal report that "Our dog did just fine" won't be much help if yours is one that suffers or dies.

Now - kir6773 has options. She can drive or, since the dog is so small, it could go in the cabin.

katolb90: w/o knowing the size of your dog it is hard to advise -- but if it is large enough that it must go in the hold -- DON'T do it.

(BTW I have shipped a Scottie and a cat all the way from London to the West Coast - and they eventually came out of it OK but I would never, ever do it again.)

The fee for traveling roundtrip with your small dog on US Air has risen to $200. This is sometimes more than the ticket for the person traveling! The fee seems excessive to me.

We HAVE shipped our dog overseas and she did well. AND our current cocker came to us all the way from New Zealand and she did well also. It is not uncommon for breeders of lesser known breeds to import dogs from overseas (to improve the breed by widening the gene pool) and the overwhelming majority of them do well also. Show dogs are often shipped by air (many of those champion dogs you see on the Westminster Kennel Club show did not arrive by ground transportation or by flying in the cabin).
Janis, nobody has *scared* me from posting. On our cocker's flight from SF to Paris (in March, when the weather in both cities was neither too cold nor too hot), also flying in cargo were two very old whippets and they also came through well.
However, our experiences were with transatlantic flights and there was NO option of driving. Moreover, I firmly believe some of the internationally flagged carriers (Air France, for example) do a much better job of transporting animals than domestic carriers. If we had a ground option, we would have taken it. But sometimes you don't have that option.

Some considerations: what breed is your dog/cat? Bulldogs, for example, can't handle cargo flights well because they are prone to respiratory distress even in normal circumstances. Ditto for Persion cats. Conversely, collies and borzois also have problems. So they shouldn't be flown in cargo.
Do NOT trank a pet flying in cargo. A pet in the cabin may be given a sedative (remember, sedatives and tranks are not the same thing), but the drug should always be tested in an on the ground trial run well before you fly to make sure there are no adverse reactions.
Pick a direct flight if at all possible. Potential problems increase with every change. Find out how quickly pets are offloaded (with Air France, any animals in cargo are the very FIRST to come off the plane, but that doesn't help you domestically)
Be mindful of the weather at both the departure and arrival areas and any points in between.
Is your pet crate-trained? If not, start crate training NOW. It will also come in handy for an on-land move across country.
If your dog is a purebred, contact several breeders and get their advice on who is trustworthy (and who isn't) and if there are any special considerations for your breed that may have an impact on its ability to travel.

If you can get around shipping your pet in cargo, great, go with that option. If you don't have that option, with careful planning your pet should be fine.

NYtraveler, our cocker is NOT disposable--we have never regarded her as such.

Wow, what a lot of responses. For all who asked, I have two large mix breed dogs, both about 6 yrs. For those who doubt, I love my dogs very much. However, if I want to relocate, I'm certainly NOT going to drop them off at the shelter. I'm in Michigan now. If I relocate east or down south, I can drive or have someone drive me. If it winds up being out west, then thats when I would consider the plane. I've also heard of a ground transport company that I may consider using. But what's worse, 4 stressful hours on a plane or a week or so without me being transported by a service. My little boy is pretty brave and resilient, but my little girl is very dependent on me and the plane ride would be hard on her. I'll keep the heat issue in mind when I decide. I may even decide to drive even if it's out west.

Thanks to all for the advise!I will definately have to look at this new info recommended to me in the next few days.
Unfortunately, my once svelte Frankie is now a bit on the chubby side,thanks to a broken leg a few years ago. Arthritis has set in,and he's just gotten more "sausage like" as opposed to the weiner he once was!Looking at Continental specs, he may not fit comfortably in cabin, and I certainly can't wait until my family is boarding on the plane to find out he can't stay in cabin (I believe that was only $70 versus the "per pound" quick pack charge.) Since the poor little guy already feels like Kaelan took his place in the family when she was born, maybe a good "Mommy-Doggy" car trip is what he needs to get ready for our new state! Incidentally, I do have one of those doggy comfy car seats with the seat belt for him,which he has always sat in proudly like his own little throne! He'll probably sleep through most of the day,anyway.

I'm a flight attendant and can maybe help you out. If it's a big dog...cargo. For non-stop flights the dog will be underneath and in a temp. controlled environment. Although in the summer months PLEASE be careful. WARNING: about the "dead dog", I could see how that might happen. If you are flying on the flight that the dog is on (and not going separately) BE SURE to let the gate agent know...again...that you have a dog underneath and have them tell the pilot. BE SURE to get a varification (that the dog has been loaded on the plane)from one of the flight attendants before you take off!!! Take it from me. I know first hand that stuff gets left behind. Also, be sure to bring some extra food with you in your CARRY ON BAG...just in case. Delays are not anticipated, but they do, of course, happen. With long (a few hours) delays -while on the ground- either a pilot or ground crew will help if you ask nicely. DO NOT put the extra food/pet medication in your checked baggage. That goes for people meds, too. ATTN: YOU'RE ONLY SCREWING YOURSELF OVER!!!! For a small dog, think about this...if your dog is a yapper would YOU want to sit next to someone else's dog all flight long that never stopped barking? That's what a mild tranquilizer is for. Soft carriers are better than hard ones.Last but not least...pick the flight attendant who "ooohs" over the dog when you board the flight. That's you new friend during the flight. They are the ones who will try their best to help you if you need anything.NEVER BE AN ASS TO US AND EXPECT ANY(!!!!!) SORT OF FAVOR...IT MIGHT JUST BACKFIRE ON YOU! Hope this helps!

I could never fly my dog anywhere. It's just too much of a gamble.

I have only used Northwest Airlines in the cabin to transport my dachshund. They allow one pet per flight and it's about $80 each way. I could never put my dog in cargo. NWA was great on all the trips -- constantly asked how our dog was doing, bringing her water, letting us move to a seat with fewer people, etc. There are many airlines that don't allow pets such as Sun Country or Southwest. Here's a site with a list of carriers that allow pets:

http://www.onofrio.com/jodstwo/tpi/bulletin.html

For the last five years, we just drive and stay at Days Inn or La Quinta with our pet.

SO's 40 lb dog and I drove from Dallas to San Miguel de Allende, MX in late April. The only glitch was the MX's hotel policy excluding animals in the room which is nearly universal.
M

We drove from SW FL to South Dakota last May to pick up an 8 week old Lab pup, because we did not want to have her shipped to us. We took our time driving back, and we stopped about every two hours to let *Dakota* get out and piddle and get a little exercise (us too ;) )

We had made reservations at motels along the way that allowed pets. We had a kennel/crate with us for her to stay in, but since she cried at night, she ended up sleeping in bed with me. We had take out for supper so we wouldn't leave her alone in the motel. We stayed a couple of nights with DH sister in IL(who had a new pup too)then took two more nights to get home to Florida.

We have traveled with our Labs several times and we just stop more, and try to let them have as much of the back seat as possible.

Either the FAA or TSA or the airlines MUST publish animal deaths/injuries now, but I can't remember which site does it. Maybe someone else can find it.

Yesterday US Airways announced that they will no longer be shipping pets in cargo. Do a google news search for more info.

Since there are NO statistics that I am aware of yet - aren't the airlines JUST now being required to track animal deaths? - none of us actually KNOW what the risk is. Everyone here is only citing anecdotes. Is there a risk? Yep. Is there a risk driving a pet? Yep again.

We recently relocated from Ohio to Alaska. Our cat needed to move with us. Our psychotic cat, who is bothered by every little thing. We could have taken her in the car - a 10 day trip - or flown her. Our vet said fly her - a 10 day trip would have been WAY more stressful for her, plus our vet was very concerned about the risk of her potentially escaping somehow during the 10 days. (My sister & her partner are also vets, and they agreed as well that this was the best way to transport our particular cat.)

We flew her up after we arrived. Yes, I was worried the whole day. Yes, she arrived fine.

Every situation and animal is unique, and there is risk in re-location, no matter what method you choose. I did verify the weather on the day we flew her, I did track her progress (via phone calls to the airline) during the trip, and I had spent a lot of time talking on the phone to the pet/customer service people prior to shipping her. Does this guarantee anything? Of course not, but I did what I could.

I'm kind of insulted by the implication that people who ship their pets don't love them - my cat is getting older and has had some medical problems recently - I have just spent over $1,000 in vet bills for her, so don't tell me I don't love her just because I was willing to let her *gasp* fly cargo!

KMK -

There are always other options. And I know different people have different attitudes towards pets. Some are fond of them and will take good care of them - but - in the end feel that they are just animals.

Other people are as attached to a pet as they would be to another family member. If you are in the latter group - you simply would not fly the pet cargo.

(In your case it would have been simple enough to leave the pet with a neighbor or the vet while you moved to wherever - then when you were settled fly back and bring the cat up with you in the cabin. That;s what I would have done. A few $ more - but much less anxiety and danger to the cat. But - it depends on your attitude towards the pet - I repeat - I would no more fly a pet cargo than I would a child.)

"If you are in the latter group - you simply would not fly the pet cargo. "

NYtraveler, who made you judge and jury on this issue? We fall into you "latter" group and our cocker has flown cargo. I would bet we give our cocker a better life than many people who say they'd never let their pet fly cargo.

You are making a lot of assumptions and jumping to conclusions that simply aren't true.

I haven't read all the responses here, but I just read today that USAir just announced that they will no longer allow pets. I think the only exception is as a carry-on?

Also, unaccompanied minors will also not be allowed anymore on flights with a connection.

As other posters have noted, the airlines are now required to notify the Dept. of Transporation about deaths of animals transported in the cargo hold of their planes. DOT has now collected two months of information which is available at:

http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/atcr05.htm

There is another thread on this same subject that started a few days ago.

NYtraveler made more sweeping generalizations there, with a particular attack on "breeders".

I think NYtraveler may have a strong PETA connection. But even if I'm wrong on that one, I think the judgements/generalizations are way out of line.

There are circumstances where driving is not an option, unless you can drive on water.

Goodlivin made some very valid points. Most people love animals and airline personnel is no exception. No one is cavalier about about any passenger, whether thay have two legs or four. All hope for a safe journey and a happy landing.

Marion

nytraveler -

The suggestion of flying the cat in the cabin is valid. Valid, but not appropriate in our situation. You see, our cat is TERRIFIED of people she does not know. The cabin would have been MUCH more traumatic for her, hearing people's voices for that whole time. I could have actually gotten her up here CHEAPER by flying her in the cabin - our friends (who the cat was staying with, some of the few people other than us that the cat likes) were flying up shortly after we arrived at our new home. They were willing, actually even BEGGING, to bring the cat up with them. We flew her cargo for HER - as the LEAST traumatic option - and as the COSTLIEST (costlier than driving her or taking her in the cabin).

But, whatever. You are obviously the TRUE arbitrar of who loves their pets and who doesn't, and what the 'right' answer is!

I would never fly my pets cargo. There was a time I would have considered it but after hearing stories of pets escaping from cages and running loose on the airport grounds, pets dying from heat prostration or freezing to death from the cold, I could never subject my animals to this. I don't think of them as my children or anything like that, but thinking of any living creature dying alone and scared, not knowing what's happening and being locked up with no escape from heat or cold or whatever's killing them, that is something I couldn't live with on my conscience.

I don't want to sound flip about this, my concern for animals has already been made clear, but antlori, would you consider letting your children fly in an airplane? or other loved ones? I can assure you that this month alone far, far more humans will die in airline crashes than pets. There are risks in flying, and I'm not sure after reading some of those reports on the website mentioned by dsquared, where one pet out of thousands being flown had a problem, that the odds are really that bad.

I also don't think flying cargo is any more dangerous than a lot of things pets encounter in their own home. My sister is actually an emergency clinic vet, and the sad and tragic things that happen to pets in the safety of their own homes are just heartbreaking - and, no, many (most) times the owner didn't do a darn thing wrong - stuff happens.