Travel with Pets - Is UA flexible on in-cabin kennel sizes?

I recently took an older cat on US Air in a small Bergan kennel which was 16" L x 9" W x 11.5" H (inches). According to United, the largest kennel that can be taken in cabin is: 17" L x 10" W x 10" high.

I find it surprising that they would specify such a small size. Is the under seat space really that small or could you get away with a larger size? My other two cats are larger, and one is the size of a small dog. Can I get away with buying a large Bergan Comfort Carrier which is 19" L x 10" W x 13" H and using it in cabin?

If United's under seat space is really that small, does someone know of another airline with more room under the seat? I'm much less interested in traveling with them in cargo after looking at this (http://www.petflight.com/pet-incidents/airlines) website. :(

Edit:

I found some answers here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-pets/820982-sherpa-bags.html) and here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-pets/820982-sherpa-bags.html), but if someone wants to relate their specific, recent experience on UA, that would be most appreciated.

Ive actually registered because today after calling UA i was wondering the same thing.


Im moving to America in May, flying from LHR to Chicago'o hare. My cat can come in the cabin....but i cant find a cat carrier that meets theur incredibly small size requirments! 17x12x8 inches (43x30x20cm)

can anyone suggest where i might find one? or if they've flown with UA with pets in the cabin?

Edit: i read through the links in the first post and found this:

I've traveled frequently (but US only) with both the Medium and Large sizes of the Sherpa Original Deluxe bags. The check-in counter rep just looks at the bags briefly. The medium bag fits fine under all seats. The large bag is a tighter; we replace the hard bottom of the large bag with one from a medium bag.

So i guess im going to get a medium bag, is there a british version of sherpa?

I recently took an older cat on US Air in a small Bergan kennel which was 16" L x 9" W x 11.5" H (inches). According to United, the largest kennel that can be taken in cabin is: 17" L x 10" W x 10" high.

I find it surprising that they would specify such a small size. Is the under seat space really that small or could you get away with a larger size? My other two cats are larger, and one is the size of a small dog. Can I get away with buying a large Bergan Comfort Carrier which is 19" L x 10" W x 13" H and using it in cabin?

If United's under seat space is really that small, does someone know of another airline with more room under the seat? I'm much less interested in traveling with them in cargo after looking at this (http://www.petflight.com/pet-incidents/airlines) website. :(

Edit:

I found some answers here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-pets/820982-sherpa-bags.html) and here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-pets/820982-sherpa-bags.html), but if someone wants to relate their specific, recent experience on UA, that would be most appreciated.

How big is the cat you are talking about transporting? I think the diminsions they give are the size carrier that will fit comfortably underneath the seat, if you have to get a bigger carrier you are probably going to have to fold down the sides in order to get it to fit. If you cat is a good size is it still going to have enough room to be comfortable under the seat for the entire flight with the sides folded down? How long is the flight you're taking?
You might want to check with weight maximums for a carry on pet, some airlines do have restrictions and I have seen ticket agents actually weigh animals at the check in counter as well as check to see that the animal can stand up and turn around comfortably in the carrier.
Good luck!

We carry on our dogs every year and I'm pretty darn sure our soft-sided carriers are taller than 10"... they fit just fine, although because of a metal bar under the seat, I have to do a sort of wedge-and-lever method of inserting the carrier. I'll try to post real measurements sometime soon, it's just a major pain to dig the bags out of the closet...

How big is the cat you are talking about transporting? I think the diminsions they give are the size carrier that will fit comfortably underneath the seat, if you have to get a bigger carrier you are probably going to have to fold down the sides in order to get it to fit. If you cat is a good size is it still going to have enough room to be comfortable under the seat for the entire flight with the sides folded down? How long is the flight you're taking?
You might want to check with weight maximums for a carry on pet, some airlines do have restrictions and I have seen ticket agents actually weigh animals at the check in counter as well as check to see that the animal can stand up and turn around comfortably in the carrier.
Good luck!

I have two 5 year old male cats, both very active. The slightly older one is about 8-9 pounds I'm guessing. He doesn't feel much heavier than our 18 year old female who is 7 pounds. The "baby" of the family though is probably about 12 pounds at least. He gets a lot of exercise so I don't think it's baby fat. He was really tiny when we got him and now he's the size of a small dog. He's bigger than the average chihuahua.

I ended up buying two Bergan Comfort Carriers in size large, which are 19 x 9 x 10 inches. That's technically over the size limit, but since they are soft sided, I should be able to fit them in. The two cats seem like they're able to stand up if they really have to. Plus they have enough space to turn around and sit down in the cage. One of my male cats has already started sleeping in his. Maybe it's the soft bottom of the carrier he likes, or maybe he just knows that he's going somewhere.

im gonna go with this one from walmart

Pet Voyage Sport (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3663214)

its also a bit bigger then the dimensions given by UA but its soft sided so hopefully i can get it to fit without a problem for the kitty

I have two 5 year old male cats, both very active. The slightly older one is about 8-9 pounds I'm guessing. He doesn't feel much heavier than our 18 year old female who is 7 pounds. The "baby" of the family though is probably about 12 pounds at least. He gets a lot of exercise so I don't think it's baby fat. He was really tiny when we got him and now he's the size of a small dog. He's bigger than the average chihuahua.

I ended up buying two Bergan Comfort Carriers in size large, which are 19 x 9 x 10 inches. That's technically over the size limit, but since they are soft sided, I should be able to fit them in. The two cats seem like they're able to stand up if they really have to. Plus they have enough space to turn around and sit down in the cage. One of my male cats has already started sleeping in his. Maybe it's the soft bottom of the carrier he likes, or maybe he just knows that he's going somewhere.

zitsky,
Doesn't sound like your cats are that big, I was afraid they might be 25 pound Maine Coon cats or something similar. :)
You said that you bought 2 carriers, so I am assuming you are going to be taking 2 cats in the cabin. I am also assuming that you are travelling with someone else since you will need 2 seats to put them under. Do you already have reservations for your kitties? Just wanted to ask because they usually have a limit on the # of pets they will allow per flight i.e. 1 in F and 2 in Y (varies with every airline and usually depends on the type a/c on your route of flight). Some don't allow pets in F, some allow more in Y etc.
It's great that they are getting comfortable with the carriers and sleeping in them, hopefully they will associate the carriers with something fun and not knowing them as transportation to the vet.

My kitty flew comfortably cross-country in a sherpa bag. Not a sound out of her, as she was scared and trying to not be noticed. Remember that in addition to the limitation of the underseat space, you have to take into consideration the space between the seats as the width of the bag has to fit through that space to get to the underseat storage. Also watch out for the vertical seat-mounts that limit the max length of the space. Do ask if you can board with the first group so you can get the kitties settled instead of having them in the middle of the boarding crush and holding people up while you're getting settled.

The most stressful part of the trip was carrying the cat in my arms through the security check so they could xray the empty carrier.

T

you have to take into consideration the space between the seats as the width of the bag has to fit through that space to get to the underseat storage.On United, I would highly recommend Economy Plus for this exact reason. If you are an elite member, you get E+ for free; if you are not, you can buy up to E+ (price depends on flight length and routing). Even if you have to pay for it, I would highly recommend it... the extra few inches make a world of difference not only in getting the carrier under the seat, but also in your comfort throughout the flight.

Do ask if you can board with the first groupUnited does not allow pre-boarding; a GA may make an exception, but usually not.

I may need to travel w/my 2 cats from Philadelphia to Los Angeles next summer. My one cat is a domestic shorthair and 15-16 pounds (he's big) and my other cat is a tiny petite flat faces persian.

I will only travel with them if I can bring them into the cabin w/me. I will be travelling with several other people, so there should be plenty of seats to put them under.

Is the air quality in the cabin okay for a flat (short/smushed nosed) persian? Also is the "under seat space" the same in ALL us airways planes? I wounldn't want to show up with a carrier too large.

I never even thought about the security check-point w/pets until I read the post above where the lady had to take her pets out of their carriers to pass through security. That could be a little nerve-wracking, especially if my cats would panic and be trying to claw their way of of my arms.

Is the air quality in the cabin okay for a flat (short/smushed nosed) persian?Yes, it's fine. The problem with short-nosed breeds is that if it's too hot, they can't adequately cool themselves, which is why those breeds are prohibited from traveling in cargo during the summer months. Inside the cabin, as long as the A/C is working, the cat should be just fine.

Also is the "under seat space" the same in ALL us airways planes?The one and only time I transported a pet in-cabin on US was 8 years ago, but at that time, no: some seats appeared an inch or two higher in terms of ground clearance. I haven't been on US since that time; that question might be better posed in the US forum, since this thread (and forum) is specific to UA.

Edit: Oops, I just realized this was in the Pets forum, not the UA forum. The thread may be UA-specific, but the forum certainly is not! Oops!

I wounldn't want to show up with a carrier too large.Make sure your carrier is soft-sided, so that it can squish if necessary. Then, you should be OK.

That could be a little nerve-wracking, especially if my cats would panic and be trying to claw their way of of my arms.Yeah, but it's doable. You may consider wrapping the cat in a towel or coat while going through the metal detector, to prevent it from struggling (or clawing you) as much. When we flew with my unusually-skittish cat 8 years ago, she was so nervous from just being out that she didn't even try to struggle in the security area.

Welcome to FT!

Hey Cepheid,

Thanks for the info. I will def. use a soft sided cat carrier. I will also hope that they'll be too nervous to try and get away at the security check...lol

I may need to travel w/my 2 cats from Philadelphia to Los Angeles next summer. My one cat is a domestic shorthair and 15-16 pounds (he's big) and my other cat is a tiny petite flat faces persian.

I will only travel with them if I can bring them into the cabin w/me. I will be travelling with several other people, so there should be plenty of seats to put them under.

Is the air quality in the cabin okay for a flat (short/smushed nosed) persian? Also is the "under seat space" the same in ALL us airways planes? I wounldn't want to show up with a carrier too large.

I never even thought about the security check-point w/pets until I read the post above where the lady had to take her pets out of their carriers to pass through security. That could be a little nerve-wracking, especially if my cats would panic and be trying to claw their way of of my arms.

Hi westsidegirl!
You should be fine with underseat storage for your kitty cats. Most of the transcons from LAX to PHL are on Airbus a/c.
A few things to note with the pet policy on US. If you are planning to travel with 2 cats you will need to make your pet reservations as soon as possible as there are limits to the number of cabin pets allowed. They allow 1 in f/c and 2 in Y per flight. Since you are travelling with 2 you will also need to ask one of your travelling companions to make one of the pet reservations on their ticket as you are only allowed one pet carrier per person (unless you plan to buy an extra seat). When getting your seat assignments you aren't allowed to sit in a bulkhead seat or the emergency exit row. One last thing, your pet carrier will be counted in the carry-on allowance for you and the friend taking the other cat. US's carry-on policy is one suitcase and one personal item.
Hope this info helps and hope you all have a great trip cross country. :)

Thanks GalleyWench! I didn't know that another person had to list my other cat with their reservation. So the only things I can carry into the cabin is one of my cat carriers and my purse - no carry on bag also?

Thanks GalleyWench! I didn't know that another person had to list my other cat with their reservation. So the only things I can carry into the cabin is one of my cat carriers and my purse - no carry on bag also?

You can check with US, but I'm pretty sure they will only allow you to put one pet reservation tacked onto yours. They will let one person carry on 2 cabin pets, but they have to buy 2 seats in order to do it. Since you're travelling with a group it would probably be easier and much cheaper to put the other pet reservation onto one of their tickets. I think the current price for an in cabin pet is $100 each way.
You are allowed one carry on and one personal item. Personal item is defined as a purse, briefcase, computer case, small backpack etc. If your purse is small enough you can pack it into your regular carry on and then have the pet as your personal item since the pet carriers aren't that big. I carry a pretty big purse (as do many of the women going on trips) and there's no way it would fit into my suitcase. :)

I think the current price for an in cabin pet is $100 each way.Yup, one of the only ways US beats UA, who now charge $175 (!!!) each way.

If your purse is small enough you can pack it into your regular carry on and then have the pet as your personal item since the pet carriers aren't that big.I'll disagree with that one... pet carriers are much bigger than any "personal item" would be. Mine are barely smaller than my rollaboard. Also, USAir's website says that pet carriers count towards the carry-on allowance... they do not state that it counts as a personal item, nor would I expect them to.

You might get away with the carrier as a personal item, but I wouldn't count on it or risk it; you're safer just checking your luggage and taking a purse. It will also be more convenient because lugging both a carrier and a carry-on is a major pain. (I know from experience.)

Yup, one of the only ways US beats UA, who now charge $175 (!!!) each way.

I'll disagree with that one... pet carriers are much bigger than any "personal item" would be. Mine are barely smaller than my rollaboard. Also, USAir's website says that pet carriers count towards the carry-on allowance... they do not state that it counts as a personal item, nor would I expect them to.

You might get away with the carrier as a personal item, but I wouldn't count on it or risk it; you're safer just checking your luggage and taking a purse. It will also be more convenient because lugging both a carrier and a carry-on is a major pain. (I know from experience.)

I'm just judging from combinations of bags that I've seen getting on the airplanes. I also stated US's carry on allowance in my previous post that the carrier would count towards it; however, US doesn't state that it is classified as your main carry on (with max dimensions of 45") or your personal item. The idea behind the carry on policy is that you will put your larger carry on in the overhead and your personal item under the seat. Since the pet carrier does fit under the seat I personally think they would count it as your personal item. Several of the "personal items" that come down the jetway are at least the size of a pet carrier if not bigger. Carry on baggage has gotten way out of hand, but that's a whole new thread in itself. ;) If I see someone with a rollerboard and a pet carrier I will usually cut them some slack because they've already paid pet fees and I don't feel like they should be slapped with additional baggage fees on top of it.
I again suggest that the OP check with US directly to see if there is any distinction and as always, YMMV.

You can check with US, but I'm pretty sure they will only allow you to put one pet reservation tacked onto yours. They will let one person carry on 2 cabin pets, but they have to buy 2 seats in order to do it. Since you're travelling with a group it would probably be easier and much cheaper to put the other pet reservation onto one of their tickets. I think the current price for an in cabin pet is $100 each way.
You are allowed one carry on and one personal item. Personal item is defined as a purse, briefcase, computer case, small backpack etc. If your purse is small enough you can pack it into your regular carry on and then have the pet as your personal item since the pet carriers aren't that big. I carry a pretty big purse (as do many of the women going on trips) and there's no way it would fit into my suitcase. :)

I totally disagree with you as I don't know of a single major carrier that will count a carryon pet bag as a personal item. They all consider it a carryon bag.

Westsidegirl,
I guess you should play it safe and go with the advice of others on here, they seem to be much better informed about US policy than me. Hope you have a great trip with your kitty cats.

My husband and I, my sister, and one of my employees all fly with in-cabin dogs fairly frequently, on United, Alaska, and Delta. All of us travel with a wheeled carry-on (either a rollaboard or rolling computer bag) and a Sherpa bag. None of us have ever had a problem at security or getting on the plane. We've never had a discussion of which item was the carry-on and which was the personal item. The only problem has been trying to have three carry-on items (rollaboard, Sherpa Bag, purse) -- sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't.

There is no way I could lug the Sherpa Bag around airports without putting it on a wheeled bag.

We use the over the handle Sherpa bag accessories (I guess they don't sell these anymore), stuff the back pocket quite full, and sometimes even put a purse into the main compartment with the dog. We're all usually combining dog travel with business travel so we're carrying laptops and meeting materials. Plus, we've been stuck at airports overnight with and without the dogs, so we make sure to carry emergency clothing and dog supplies.

We have essentially the same carry-on items when we travel without the dogs except that the Sherpa bag is replaced by a similar-sized tote or duffel. We've never been questioned about these carry-ons either.