<p>So it seems as though, lately, I see more and more pets in airports, obviously traveling with their owners. Of course, they’re small pets, usually dogs I’ve seen. I do know someone who regularly visits Norway with her Norwegian Elkhound, when she visits her parents, and the dog rides ‘underneath’, whatever that means.</p>
<p>Has anyone traveled with dogs on a plane? What does it cost, and what are the requirements?</p>
<p>Every airline has their own pet policy. (Google airline name and pet policy.) For instance, here is United’s:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,51255,00.html[/url]”>http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,51255,00.html</a></p>
<p>and:
<a href=“http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1048,00.html[/url]”>http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1048,00.html</a></p>
<p>It’s mean to put a dog in the cargo hold though. Some do OK, but many a disappointed owner collects their dead dog at their destination. The travel forums are full of very sad stories…</p>
<p>I think the only way I’d fly with a dog was if the dog was small enough to meet the requirements for the airlines that allow dogs in carriers on board. The alternative is too concerning to me, plus I think our current dog would literally die of a heart attack barring other problems. I know that technically many people have gotten through this fine, but from what I’ve heard, the chances are just too much for me to be comfortable with. We haven’t ever boarded our dog either because of his personality. It’s difficult. We have only been able to go places with the whole family we can drive to and make arrangements for him. My dad would like to go on a family cruise I think but I highly doubt that will happen in this dog’s lifetime. When push comes to shove, we’ve never been able to follow through on making kennel arrangements. It’s just too stressful - that’s a lot of trust. This dog means a lot…it isn’t worth the vacation. I know some people will disagree.</p>
<p>Princedog- get recommendations from friends and check out your nearby kennels- our 11 year old Shih Tzu is ecstatic when dropped off at ours- he had a good vacation last month when we had ours.</p>
<p>I guess I should clarify my observation. I meant seeing small dogs taken in the passenger cabin in those small carriers seem to be happening more.</p>
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<p>Well you know, it’s partly the dog and partly the people. But without a doubt the dog does not enjoy leaving the house (well actually he loves the neighborhood on a leash 
But show him a car and you’ve got one unhappy little guy). It’s bad enough taking him with us. On the few occasions he’s been separated (practically surgically) from my mom, they’ve had to drag him away. This is for like ten minutes, although he doesn’t know that so I guess it means nothing to him. Once away he apparently at least functions, but he isn’t a big fan of the whole experience. I predict it would be extremely traumatic. I won’t deny we’re crazy, but my parents did have another dog that was occasionally boarded, this dog is very high maintainence since he was a baby. I’m sure part of it is us, don’t get me wrong - but not all of it. I know a lot of dogs who get too much attention, but he’s very reserved naturally (sheltie). </p>
<p>He just has a very high opinion of schedules and continuity. Which makes him the black sheep of the family, lol, which is partially why I don’t take full responsibility for his oddness. He’s very content to wake up, go in his yard with his mom, come in, lay behind her desk, bark like clockwork at the mailman and then later at UPS. He doesn’t like change.</p>
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<p>I have heard of it. I think they have to be quite small though - they have to fit at your feet, like carry on. Our dog might meet weight guidelines but he is too tall to fit in the kind of acceptable container comfortably. I have only personally encountered cats on flights, but generally that would be the rule of thumb I guess, it would probably have to be a cat sized dog or smaller. The carriers I have seen the cats in are not very big. Like I said I would consider flying with a dog like this but I am not really sure I will ever own just one dog that small. I am not sure if there are extra fees, nowadays I would guess so, they are gonna make you pay extra for anything.</p>
<p>I flew once with my 8-week-old Schnauzer puppy. We had just gotten her and took her with us when my D and I drove her car 1,000 miles from Seattle to CO. I flew home with the puppy after settling D in her house at college. It was such fun going through the airport with that cute little puppy! Everyone was so nice to us–I felt like a celebrity. She slept the whole flight and there were no problems. It cost $50 extra, I think.</p>
<p>awwww… bookiemom - we have a miniature schnauzer, too. But at 12 years old, she’s closer to 17 pounds, so she would never fit in one of those carry-ons. Frankly, $50 is a lot less than what it would cost to board a dog. But an 8-week old schnauzer is completely doable. </p>
<p>We had never taken our dog with us on trips until last December. We took her with us to pick up our daughter at school, 700 miles away. She actually traveled really well with us in the car. However, all those rumble strips traumatized her!</p>
<p>I often wonder whether I’ll get another dog when this one is gone, and have always oohed and aaahed when I saw people in airports with their little ones.</p>
<p>Our miniature Dachshund flew with us when we were moving cross-country. It cost $100( in 2003) and we had to get the paperwork done at our vet’s. She doesn’t like car trips( gets car-sick) but with some Dramamine( on vet’s recommendation) she survived the 5-hour flight very well(was asleep for most of the trip in her little carrier at my feet) .</p>
<p>It would be hard traveling with some dogs though (the ones who get nervous and shake). I handled a little terrier at an adoption once that kept trying to hide in the back of the shelves. I don’t know how I would have gotten that guy through an airport. He had noise issues. We fostered quite a nice pom mix overnight who was very versatile although I wonder if she wouldn’t escape through a crevice to steal a crumb from elsewhere on a plane I guess somewhere between the two. If I was looking for a travel companion, I’d probably try to find a somewhat older dog of at least 1 or 2 who is known to be fairly calm and portable. I mean if you’re talking once in awhile I suppose any dog would be okay, but as a regular thing without the right dog I think it would be a pain. I get very stressed out when I have an inconsolable dog on my hands which then turns into a nasty cycle. Although at any rate I bet Rescue Remedy would help an anxious dog.</p>
<p>I know a LOT of people who fly with their dogs. Those with dogs that weigh less than 15 pounds and are less than 15" at the shoulder always make an effort to take them on the plane (those are the requirements that satisfy most airlines). Many of them have their dogs certified as service dogs so that they be sure they’ll go in the cabin with them. I know several people who got small dogs specifically so they can go in the cabin.</p>
<p>The ones with larger dogs get good airline crates (Vari-Kennel), use cable ties to reinforce weak spots, and try to make sure they get non-stop, overnight flights in the summer (less heat stress on the tarmac). They ask the flight attendant to verify that the dog is on the plane before takeoff. </p>
<p>Yes, dogs occasionally die during airplane flights, but it is rare, and the airlines do their best to prevent it.</p>
<p>Years ago, when we were newlyweds (YEARS ago!), h and I had a medium-sized dog who DID travel with us. We lived in Michigan and traveled “home” to Florida and Alabama for holidays. We bought a good travel kenel and she never had any problems. She was too large to go in the cabin, obviously.</p>
<p>I think my beagle/fox hound mix is quite sturdy, but I seriously think he would either be insane (truly) or dead if I put him “below” for a coast to coast flight.</p>
<p>I did used to travel with my cat in the car. He liked the car and would sit on the passenger seat, all curled up, and just be there.</p>
<p>I couldn’t imagine making an animal fly more than once in their lifetime.</p>
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<p>What kind of certification does the dog need? I mean, can a certified therapy dog go in the cabin? Just wondering, hadn’t considered what the guidelines there would be. I mean obviously seeing eye dogs can, but I don’t know that many people who have them, so I wasn’t sure if by the wording of your post you mean there is some range of certification that is acceptable? I’m assuming that the dog has to be certified as a service dog for the person bringing it on to the plane, but I’d be intrigued if that wasn’t the case.</p>
<p>The people I know who have “service dogs” that go onto the plane with them use it to get past the limits on the numbers of dogs in the cabin. Not sure how it works.</p>
<p>The whole service dog thing is a little shakey. There are very legit service dogs out there, don’t get me wrong. BUT … I have run into some people who label their pet as an “emotional therapy service dog” so that they can have the dog with them at all times. The dog has no training (and neither does the owner) and really should not qualify.</p>
<p>But in terms of flying in the cabin: The basic requirements are that the pet be in an enclosed carrier that will fit under the seat. While “under the seat” varies all over the lot, that’s still a pretty small carrier. And in fact, there are no “magic carriers” that will enable a stocky 15 lb dog to fit into it and go under the seat. If it doesn’t look like the dog will fit – it won’t!</p>
<p>I run into this all the time. “My dog meets the weight requirement, where’s the carrier he’ll fit in?”</p>