I need to move to India next year (February - March 2003).  I’ll be
living there for 6-18 months.

Two cats own me and insist that they come along for the journey.  “Hey
Dude” is a 12 pound male.  “Pretty Girl” is a 10 pound female. 
Weights are approximate!  Both of them will be about 8 years old when
we leave on this trip.  Also, I’ll do my best to make sure that they
are healthy and vaccinated and meet all of the requirements for going
through customs in India and their return to the US.

In a perfect world, I would fly from SFO (San Francisco) to Chennai
(Madras), India with only one interim stop.  Both cats would be on
board in the seat next to me:  one cat under the seat, the other cat
strapped into the adjacent seat.  I am willing to pay, up to a maximum
of $3,000 (USD) for 2 seats.

I have spent most of a long day talking to Airlines and Travel agents.
 So far, everyone is telling me that when they do allow more than one
pet on board, they require two, separate, human passengers to ‘handle’
the cats … who will be in crates (kennels).   Unfortunately, none of
my friends can travel during this period.

I am baffled.  I am willing to pay for a second seat on the plane for
my cats.  I am also willing to pay, the airlines, a reasonable amount
for assistance to move the cats between flights.  I very much
understand the issues of air quality and cat allergies.

Do any of you amazing GA people have a solution?  How can I get 2 cats
and me to India, all on board in the same cabin at a reasonable price?

Hmmmm... what you really need then is someone who is ALREADY planning
a trip to India around the same time you need to go.

The riskiest way to do it is wait until the day of the trip then offer
someone in the waiting area big bucks to be the chaperone for cat #2.
Obviously too chancy though.

And it's not like you can ask for a passenger list ahead of time ... 

Another way is to advertise for a cat-chaperone in an area where
people from India are likely to read it. Maybe someone is planning a
return trip to India and would welcome some money to offset the trip
cost. Then you could book yourself on the same flight.

Finally, on many flights there are airline staff who are passengers,
just riding back to their home-city. Maybe there's a way to find out
from the airline if one of those folks would be the extra cat-sitter
you need or if there is a way to advertise directly to those people
... a notice in a lounge or office at the airport?

My other thought is -- and I know I'm going to raise the hackles of a
lot of cat people here, but animal behavior is animal behavior,
whether we like it or not --- is that you might want to think about
innate cat behavior. Whereas dogs get attached to their people, cats
get attached to their space. A dog will happily follow you to the ends
of the earth just to be with you. A cat would really rather live in
the same house for 18 years and just have the people change if
necessary. (Why do you think there are so many stories of cats turning
up at their old houses?)

What I'm saying is, if you are taking the cats because YOU want them,
then that's clearly understandable. I've had cats and dogs all my life
and I truly appreciate the attachment we get to those fuzzy critters.
I miss my pets terribly when I lose them!

But, if you are taking them because you think that THEY are going to
miss you, you might want to rethink your plan.

Good luck with it!

-K~

Hello,

I'm owned by two cats myself, so I can appreciate your situation. I
will post this as a comment rather than an answer because there's no
guarantee that this will work for you.

I suggest that you call Lufthansa. I checked Lufthansa's schedule, and
you can fly from SFO to Frankfurt, and from there to Chennai. But note
that Lufthansa only flies to Chennai on Fri, Sun, Wed from Frankfurt,
so you will want to carefully coordinate your flights.

Lufthansa
http://www.lufthansa-usa.com

I have seen pets in the cabin on Lufthansa flights. And I've seen them
off-loaded from the cargo area. Perhaps one of your critters could fly
cargo if Lufthansa can't accomodate both in the cabin? I've always
found Lufthansa to offer exceptional customer service. I hope you'll
give them a try.

If that option doesn't work, here are two other links that may point
you in a helpful direction.

Airline Regulations on Pet Transport
http://www.animalfriends.info/animal-f-e/airlineframe.htm

Independent Pet & Animal Transportation Association International
http://www.ipata.com/

Best wishes to you and your kitties,

fsw 
Google Answers Researcher

Thank fsw.  I have flown Lufthansa 2 times to India.  They are my
airlines of choice for that route!  Usually only a 3 hours lay over in
Frankfurt + a shower!

My travel agent spoke with them yesterday and they confirmed that they
have the 1 passenger - 1 pet on board pet limit.  They also won't
allow the cats to be switched at the stop over in Frankfurt.

So, I'm still looking for that perfect airline!

Thanks again!

RJP-

Is Lufthansa Cargo a possibility?

fsw

FSW -

"Is Lufthansa Cargo a possibility?"  

Since Lufthansa doesn't allow both cats in the cabin, "Cargo" defeats
my purpose.  As it stands right now, I can bring 1 cat into the cabin
but the other one has to be in the cargo hold.  I was quoted $155 per
cat as excess baggage.  Since I'm willing to pay up to about $1500
each for 2 seats + the excess baggage charge, it doesn't make sense to
me that they won't let both cats on board.

Since I'm going to be on the same flight, I don't need IPATA-type
services.  The only "Cargo" service that I hope I can get is access to
the cat in the cargo hold when we land in Frankfurt, the 1 interim
stop on the flight.

I'm not sure what other "Cargo" services they offer in relationship to
transporting the cat.  Are any people actually in the cargo hold
during a flight?  I understand that its pressurized ... not sure if it
is heated.

My advice is similar to that of knowledge seeker. There are several
newspapers and traveller stores in the bay area that publish personals
for people who are looking for trip-mates. I suggest you'll publish
your ad in one (or all) of these places, and hope for the good.