Travel with Pets - 1 (checked) carrier, 2 cats, 3 hour layover in MSP

I will be flying solo BWI-MSP-DSM on DL on Thanksgiving and need to relocate my two cats to DSM at that time. Given that I have the luxury of three airports to choose from, I realize that the direct DCA-DSM flight would have been preferable, but at the time I made the booking I didn't know the cats would be joining me. Re-booking at this late date really isn't an option.

One of the cats is on the large size (13 lbs) and although the two of them stick together like glue, I can't see squishing them together in a carrier small enough to fit under the seat. That leaves checking them as baggage in one large carrier, as much as I hate to do it.

I am aware of the potential cold temperature restrictions (this being MSP after all), but if average temperatures hold for this time of year, there shouldn't be a problem. What is unclear to me (and the phone agents I've spoken with) is what happens to them during the 3-hour layover in MSP. Are they brought inside for that period of time, or are they sitting outside on a bag cart for all or most of the layover? While the temperature may not be sub-sub-freezing, it will still be cold and may be windy and/or snowy.

Any experiences/information/advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

DL does not have a stellar record handling pets, so I would extremely cautious about trusting them.

Can you gate check the cats, and have them given back to you on the jetway? I honestly don't know if that is possible, but I'd sure try that before blindly trusting DL with my cats.

Other thought: is anyone traveling with you that could take one cat as their personal item? Then you could have 2 cats in 2 carriers in the cabin. My 17 lb cat can fit in an awfully small space when he wants to*, and I'm rather have the cat a little cramped than frozen.


*this morning said 17 lb cat opened the small drawer in the bathroom vanity, removed the contents with his paw, and then decided to nap in that narrow, little drawer. cats!

Are you sure that the airline will allow 2 cats together in one carrier?

Have you looked into the airline that only transports pets?

I would be very nervous checking my cats when there is a flight change. I would do everything possible to keep them in the cabin with me or use the pet-only airline.

Yeah, cats... The fat one likes to cram herself into impossibly small boxes, and the two of them make a habit of sleeping on top of one another, so it's not that either of them would necessarily be miserable, but as far as Delta's definition of "fitting comfortably" and being able to stand and turn around, the two of them in one small carrier just isn't going to cut it.

I'm traveling alone, and with it being Thanksgiving, I can't convince anyone to take an all-expense paid trip with me to carry a second carrier.

Delta does allow two "compatible" animals of the same species in one carrier:

"Exception: Two pets of the same type may be allowed in one kennel, for example two dogs or two cats. They must be small enough to fit in one kennel provided they are compatible and must be of the same species and size, and they must meet the requirements of acceptance. They will be charged as one pet."

I'm keeping an eye on the direct DCA-DSM flight, hoping for a miracle fare reduction but not expecting anything. Given the feedback, I may postpone the great cat transport to another weekend, when I can snag two 25K award tickets (pretty easy to come by WAS-DSM) and take someone with me to be a cat courier.

Thanks for your input.