Hi gonzalez6653,
When I was younger I frequently flew with my Afgan Hound from Chicago
to Pittsburgh. More often than not she slept through the long flight.
With preparation traveling by air with your pet can be a pleasant
experience both for you and your dog.
Most of the large airlines such as American, Continental, Delta,
Northwest, Pan Am, TWA, United, and US Airways allow animals to travel
accompanied by. If you wish to travel using a local Florida Airline
company, you'll want to phone and ask if they allow travel with small
dogs.
No matter who you travel with, call the airline and ask what the cost
will be which varies amongst the different companies, and ask what the
rules, regulations and procedures are. Then call again. And again!
Try to get a flight that is direct from city to city, non-stop.
Flying with Fido and Fluffy - the extremely furry passengers
http://www.emcoinc.com/travel/html/petravel/petsFly.htm
"Rule of thumb (or paw): book as early as possible. Most airlines
limit the number of animals
allowed per flight - especially for preferred in-cabin spot.
Unfortunately, some owners won't have a choice about where their pets
sit in-flight. Unless the animal is small enough to fit completely
under the passenger's seat, he or she will have to be checked as
baggage, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which
regulates the transport of animals by air.
Airline rules
Various airlines also have their own rules beyond USDA standards. But
while there are definitely species that are not allowed in the cabin,
most domestic airlines (except for Southwest) do allow small dogs and
cats within their cabins when accompanied by a ticket-holding
passenger."
[edit]
"And no matter where animals travel - upfront with humans or below
with the baggage - they must be placed in kennels that fit strong
criteria. According to USDA, each kennel may contain only one adult
dog or cat. Up to two puppies or kittens can travel together - but
they must be younger than six months and their combined weight must
total less than 20 pounds.
There are still more guidelines on kennels: they should be sturdy,
properly ventilated on at
least three sides so the animal can breathe, and large enough so that
the animal can comfortably stand, turn around and lie down. Usually,
wire kennels are not acceptable because they pose a risk to the animal
during turbulance. The kennel must close securely, but require no
special tools to open or close. US Airways and Delta also require that
kennels have handles or handholds for easy maneuvering.
While most of the airlines sell kennels at the airport, they all
suggest using a kennel to which animal is accustomed. Up until a few
years ago, the only acceptable kennels were hard plastic ones, but now
animals can fly in soft-sided bags similar to tote bags."
[edit]
Health Certificate
"Beside the kennel, the only other requirement that an owner with a
pet must bring to the airport is a health certificate issued by a
veterinarian no more than 10 days before the day of departure. Some of
the airlines will also require recertification if more then 30 days
elapse before the return flight. Even with the certificate, some
animals may be refused if they appear sick or violent. Most of the
airlines also require a rabies certificate for dogs, which must be
dated within one year of travel.
The bottom of kennel should be lined with absorbent material or
bedding. Airlines recommend
walking dogs just before departure - but not attaching or including
the leash in the kennel since it's a strangulation hazard. All kennels
must be clearly marked on the top and on one side as carrying "a live
animal". The letters must be at least one inch high. The top of kennel
must be indicated with arrows or the worlds this end up The pet
owner's name and address should be marked on a kennel. While not
neccessary, it is a good idea to also list a phone number and the
animal's name, particularly if the animal is traveling unaccompanied.
Owner should also include the animal's feeding and watering schedule
with a kennel. Although the USDA requires a signature stating that the
animal was fed and watered within four hours, some airlines suggest
witholding food and water for six hours prior to departure and feeding
the animal just before boarding the plane or checking the animal
through.
The animals food and water dishes, which must be accessible from
outside, should be empty.
Preferrably, the dishes should be built into the kennel to prevent
spillage. US Airways allows frozen water for the animals to lap. Food
should be securely attached to the outside of the kennel.
The USDA does not recommend sedating pets. The final decision,
however, should be made by pet
owner and veterinarian. If a tranqulizer is used, Nortwest suggests
that the type and dose be
documented.
While it is not always feasible, the USDA suggests that animals be
booked on nonstop flights
only. Most of the airlines will not transfer animals on connecting
flights if another airline
and, thus, different rules are involved. The exception is of animals
traveling as cargo. Extra time, therefore may be needed to pick up and
recheck the animal.
Airlines advise travelers to avoid holidays and weekends travel if at
all possible. Only a
handful of carriers will check an animal more then four hours prior to
departure. On the other hand, most airlines prefer travelers check in
their pets at least 45 minutes before boarding."
[edit]
"All airlines have strict guidelines concerning weather conditions
under which pets may fly. If the temperature onboard drops below 45
degrees Fahrenheit, a veterinarin's certificate stating that the
animal can withstand such a drop will be require. If the temperature
will rise above 85 degrees Fahrenheit, all animals are prohibited. To
further safegurad pets against temperature extremes, morning and
evening flights should be booked in the summer, while afternoon
flights are best in the winter."
Plan Ahead
"Most of the airlines require 24-hour notice when an animal will be
traveling with them..."
"As much notice as possible, however, should be given since the
airlines allow only a limited number of animals per flight."
===============================================================================
Excellent information at this site - Flying with Your Dog
http://www.dogpatch.org/agility/FAQs/faqmis09.html
Some good advice:
"In summer always fly at night; in winter always fly during the day.
Flying at night in summer is probably the single best way to make sure
that your dog will be safe from the heat.
Call the airline at least 4 - 5 times and talk to at least that many
people about EXACTLY what they require from you and what you expect
from them. Get names. Write it all down. Keep calling until they're
all telling you the same story and they all know your voice or pretty
close to."
[edit]
"Sherpa bags" are widely accepted & recognized by airline personnel,
so they are best *IF* your dog is small enough to fit. But since it is
semi-rigid, and only about 11" high, a lot of small/medium dogs are
left out. "Le Pet bag by DoggiDuds" (largest size) is a few inches
bigger, but (more importantly), it is very flexible (like a nylon gym
bag with ventilation & a solid bottom). So it adjusts for a tall,
skinny, standing dog, or for a longer dog to sprawl a little while
lying down (like scrunching around inside a sleeping bag). So your dog
*can* stand up, turn around, & lie down. Almost any "mini" (under 16"
shoulder) should definitely fit. A slightly larger dog might be able
to fit, but it will be very snug (so much for "turn around").
TWA specifies that Sherpa and DoggiDuds are the only approved
soft-sided carriers. They only allow 2 pets in the cabin per flight;
make sure the pet has a reservation well in advance! Due to recent
renovations to allow a few inches more passenger leg room, they also
have an incredibly spacious amount of room under the seats! Wide,
tall, & long (and no stupid metal bar 8" up like most other airlines'
planes seem to have).
American actually allows FIVE pets in the coach cabin (and another 2
in first class). Their rules exempt "soft-sided carriers" from the
underseat size requirements (specifically the 8" high), and do not
mention brand names.
Other airlines: Some don't allow any pets in the cabin, some only
allow Sherpa (for soft-sided). Most don't seem to know their own
rules!! Try to get hardcopy printout of the airline's policies, so you
can show them their own rules in writing if they have a problem with
it. Make them quote their rules *verbatim* not their garbled
interpretation of misremembered rules."
Google Search:
plane travel small dog, airline travel dog, air travel cabin dog
Best regards,
tlspiegel |
