Travel with Pets - Delta can't provide proof of pet reservation?

Hi all and thanks in advance -

We have never flown with our cats before but are relocating from MN to OR. We have purchased seats for both my husband and myself in first class and were told that our cats are guaranteed/confirmed as carry on pets. However, that information is not on our reservation but the delta medallion line states it is in the system. They also state we can't pay in advance (which I want to as then we would have proof) or at online checkin, only in person at the airport when checking in.

Is this normal? After searching this forum, it seems like this is the case on at least one other airline.

Also, should we go to the airport a day early to pay their fees? or is that not necessary as the cats are "confirmed?"

I just don't want the cats to get bumped from the flight!

Thanks sooooo much!!

Sarah

First, how many cats are we talking about? I have read some airlines only allow 1 pet in F per flight, but I'm not sure if that was DL or another carrier. I know DL only allows one pet per person in the cabin.

It does seem to be standard practice for airlines to require pet payment on the day of the flight. I've heard various reasons for that, including they want to see how big the pet actually is, they want see if the pet is healthy, they want to count noses in the carrier and make sure you're not bringing onboard too many pets, and finally they want to make sure the pet actually arrives for the flight. Your guess is as good as mine as to what the real reason is.

But the Medallion line should at least be able to email or fax you some of confirmation of their reservation, even if it is only a screen print of however they log it in.

Thanks for the reply!!

We're talking two cats total- one for my husband and one which I'll carry-on. The Delta website states 2 pets total may fly in first and the agent said it was fine.

The various reasons you listed, like seeing how many pets are there makes sense. I would just feel better if I had proof - the screenshot idea is a good one.

As a sidenote, Delta states that no documentation is needed for domestic flights.
Is that accurate? We have their records and immunization certificates. Would it be prudent to get them certified by our vet just in case??

I don't think a formal health certificate is required, but I would carry their vaccination records with you. When I've had the cats with us in hotels, about 1 in 8 stays I get asked for those.

There is some good info in this forum on getting cats through security, you might want to look for those threads. My felines never leave home without their harnesses on - much easier and safer to grab a panicked cat by the harness than the collar, and you will have to take them out of the carriers for security. Also make sure their tags (they do have ID tags, right? :)) have a phone number where you can be reached in transit, like your cell, in case they get lost. If they don't currently have tags, PetCo or PetSmart can make them for about $5.

Yep, we have the immunizations records, Id tags with both cell numbers, and harnesses & leashes. Thanks for the advice and tips!

DL does not give you a written confirmation for your carryon pets. It is listed on your reservation. Arrive early to the airport the day of departure as you have to wait on the ticket counter line to pay for the carryon pet fees. I believe that CO is the only domestic carrier that allows you to book and pay for your carryon pets online when you buy your tickets.

Make sure that you don't have the bulkhead seats as you won't be allowed to place the pet bags on the floor in front of you!

Arrive early to the airport the day of departure as you have to wait on the ticket counter line to pay for the carryon pet fees...
Make sure that you don't have the bulkhead seats as you won't be allowed to place the pet bags on the floor in front of you!

Ticket counter? Like where people can buy tickets? I was assuming that we could use the kiosks or elite check in and pay at the counter when the agent checks our ids, etc. But are you saying we need to go to a different counter before the check in counter?

And yes we have 2a, 2b.

Thanks!!!

Ticket counter? Like where people can buy tickets? I was assuming that we could use the kiosks or elite check in and pay at the counter when the agent checks our ids, etc. But are you saying we need to go to a different counter before the check in counter?

And yes we have 2a, 2b.

Thanks!!!I think "ticket counter" is just one of a variety of terms for the place where you check in and drop off bags. In the olden days, airports actually sold tickets ;) and assigned seats at these counters.

Pets do have to check in with a live airline employee for nose count, assess pet size, or whatever they do. I don't know of any airline that allows pets to check in via kiosk. If you're flying F, I'm sure the cats count as elite flyers, too, and you can use that line. :)

You can use the kiosk to check in and DL will know that you have the cats - the info is in your record. The process is quite easy. Yes, you do have to pay the day of departure. The process will take 5 minutes. If your cats are super cute, it may take longer because all the agents will want to see the cats.

I traveled with my Scottish Fold from BDL-LCA (international) in June and it was a piece of cake. DL asked for no health records, just my credit card, although I had the records available. They put a special tag on the carrier (in-cabin) and off I went.

Trishka, my cat, got to experience the Sky Club too. She was very quiet and well-behaved and enjoyed the Tillamook cheese in the Sky Club. She was quite grateful that DL thought to have cheese for her. She was good on the flights too. She did not, however, like the airplane noise whne we had to disembark at JFK. She prefers using the jetway - it is much quieter.