Travel with Pets - I want my dog to sit in FIRST class with me!!!

My fiance and I are thinking about adopting a dog. I travel a lot for work/fun, and the idea of bring my dog along get me so excited.

I don't really know that much about the rules, but I have heard from many friends who flew with their dogs in the past. Their dog usually get really scared right after a trip. I do feel bad if my dog has to be in the cargo by himself for 6 hours or more.

I called United GS today and asked them a few question. I got a lovely UA representative who was very helpful.

I asked if I could buy my dog his own First class ticket, and I guess no airline would allow that. I also mentioned that maybe the idea of a dog with his own seat only on TV or on private planes :)

As a near future dog owner, I wonder why there hasn't been an airline that cater to dogs. They would make tons of money. I read a thread on here about that, and I cant wait for it.

I was on a Quantas flight one time in First class. Next to me was a bottle of Shiraz with it owns boarding pass. I was this close to just open it :), and asked the FA if it was complimentary from the airline to me.

If a bottle of wine could has its own first class seat, then why can't my well behave English bull dog ??

your thoughts.

I sincerely doubt there would be enough demand to justify an airline just for dogs.... I rarely see dogs on flights as it is. However, does not mean someone will not try to make it work.

In addition, I would not have the heart to put an animal through all the comotion of flying... I have seen how upset and scared they can get. My desire to have that companion with me is not important enough to override my pet's safety and comfort.

It will be interesting to see if the pet airline survives.... unless they charge outrageous fees... I cannot see it surviving for long.

People complain about $100 fees..... :)

Netjets allows dogs in the cabin without a carrier. They charge you an extra cleaning fee if you have an accident. There might be rules about them being in a carrier for take off and landing, but I can't remember for sure.

Okie dokie, I can see where this thread is headed. Can we PLEASE not turn this into yet another "animals don't belong in the cabin" thread? Airlines do allow pets in a carrier in the cabin, with restrictions on the number allowed per cabin. For United specifically, certain planes allow in-cabin pets in F and/or C, although they still must remain in the carrier and under the seat at all times. Animals too large to fit in a carrier (like an English Bulldog) can't ride in the cabin unless they are service animals.

OP, if your dog is a puppy and will fit in a carrier, you can probably take it in-cabin, but again in a carrier. If the dog is too large for a carrier, you will need to either use a more "private" carrier (ilke NetJets or a charter plane) or send it in cargo, if you choose to fly. Good luck with your adoption!

As a REAL dog lover, the question for me would rather be not if it's fun for ME to travel with my dog, but if it's good or fun FOR THE DOG. The answer to that is most likely no.

Having a dog is a huge responsibility and if the OP's post isn't meant as a joke, I doubt she's ready for it.

Bringing your dog along to business appointments is probably also frowned upon to say the least, but that would depend on your line of business, I guess.

Besides, there is the safety factor. You cannot properly leash in or tie down a big dog, so there is a risk for the dog itself and for everyone else on the aircraft in case of turbulence or a crash.

Thus, simply forget about the silly idea and perhaps start out the animal adventure with a cat or a hamster instead of an English bulldog. :p

Till

As a REAL dog lover, the question for me would rather be not if it's fun for ME to travel with my dog, but if it's good or fun FOR THE DOG. The answer to that is most likely no.

Having a dog is a huge responsibility and if the OP's post isn't meant as a joke, I doubt she's ready for it.

Thus, simply forget about the silly idea and perhaps start out the animal adventure with a cat or a hamster instead of an English bulldog. :p

Till

^^ Well said on all counts - except that starting out with another type of animal will have it's own drawbacks when it comes to travel and arranging for their care.

DD

I would have to agree. Even though I feel it's fun to travel with our dog, I know she gets scared in hotels. The amount of strange smells alone is unimaginable.

Whenever there's a sound, or someone in the hall, she jumps up and sometimes barks (which is rare for a French Bulldog). I'm sure the other hotel guests hate it and it wakes us up all night.

I would have to agree. Even though I feel it's fun to travel with our dog, I know she gets scared in hotels.Of course, this really all depends on the dog and its temperament. We travel with our two toy dogs (a Pomeranian and a Chihuahua) all the time - usually on car trips to Tahoe, but also on flights to IAD (at least, before the recent and unreasonable hike in pet fees). They travel extremely well - no barking, no messes, no worries - and in hotels they simply relax and sleep. So, it's not fair to say that it's uncomfortable for the dog, when it really all depends on the dog... some dogs appear to enjoy traveling, and/or travel may be less troublesome to them than staying home without their parent (or being kenneled). That said, if the dog is happier at home, then I agree that he/she should be left at home when possible.

Having a dog is a bit like having a child-sometimes you need to put their needs first. Your "fun" comes second.
Some dogs really hate flying in a carrier so I'd suggest IF you get a dog to try a few local hops first (maybe even close enough to drive back for the first one if it turns out the dog gets disstressed). Dogs like people are all different-you're talking about a dog whose personality you don't even know yet. Personally I'd not transport an animal cargo ever -in a carrier would depend on the individual animal and their personality and temprament.

If this all sounds like too much hassle or too much fuss-then maybe your current lifestyle isn't a doggie positive one ?

A couple of years ago I was in 4F on an AA DFW-BOS flight and had a "celebrity dog" with his trainer in 3A/B. My seatmate and I were chatting with the trainer and she said they were on their way to Vermont to film some scenes for the movie 27 Dresses. It was a large, but very well behaved and quiet Bernese Mountain Dog on a leash.

Unless you have to take the Cat or Dog on the plane like for moving cross country I would NOT continuous FLY with the Pet.

That's why there are Pet Sitters who can give the Cat or Dog teh love and attention they need.

I flew three times with Eddie and my Yaz (now crossed the Rainbow Bridge.) Eddie tends to sleep everyone. Yaz cried most of the flights (I did not know about Pet sitters at the time) I would not do it to them unless I move out of state.

Only "celebrity" dogs are allowed their own f/c seat. Not the dog of a celebrity, but the dog itself needs to be the celebrity.

Only "celebrity" dogs are allowed their own f/c seat. Not the dog of a celebrity, but the dog itself needs to be the celebrity.

are you sure about this?? Because when I called, they said NO DOGS allow to sit in cabin on his/her own seat.

This new airline is for pets only. We have a few dogs but only occasionally take the little one (Shihtzu) onboard with us, in a carrier, and he's not allowed out.

Most dogs are nervous and don't like flying so if your dog is one of them, then he/she is better off at home with a loving petsitter.

Also, tranquilizers are never a good idea for a pet on a commercial airline without medical advice, even with sometimes.;)

This is copied from their website
----------------------------------- (not an advertisement or endorsement from me :)
http://petairways.com/

A Pet-Only Airline Offering First Class Pet Travel
Introductory Fares Only
For A Limited Time Only, Buy Now!
$149 each way
Chicago to Los Angeles
Los Angeles to New York
New York to Chicago

The Pet Airways Promise
We promise to transport your pet with lots of love, care, safety, and comfort in the main cabin.

Pet Airways is the first airline exclusively dedicated to pets - no humans please - and we take the job of providing a comfortable experience for pets very seriously.

We'll do everything in our power to make sure your pets get the best care during their journey because we're committed to taking care of our pet "pawsengers" as if they were our own.

Drop your pet off at our Pet Lounge
1. Drop your pet off at our Pet Lounge, located at the airport. You must check in your pet no later than 2 hours before take off. If you choose, you may check in your pet up to 72 hours before the flight. We’ll be happy to board your pet at our PAWS Lodge until the flight.
Potty Break less than 2 hours before flight
2. Potty Breaks are very important to your pet. With the human airlines, your pet could be made to hold themselves for a very very long time. Pet Airways monitors the last time your pet had a potty break, and makes sure that they get regular potty breaks along the way. This means that it may take us longer to get to where we are going, but the care of our pawsengers is our first priority.
Pets Board The Plane
3. Pets board the plane and our Pet Attendants make sure they’re all comfortable and that they, and their pet carrier, are secure.
Pet Attendant looks after the pets during the flight
4. A Pet Attendant monitors and checks the comfort of all pawsengers every 15 minutes during the flight. After landing, pets will be disembarked, given a potty break, and will be available for pickup at the Pet Lounge.
Pick up your pet and enjoy your family vacation
5. Pick up your pet up at the Pet Lounge at your destination, knowing he or she has traveled comfortably and safely in the main cabin of our plane. If you cannot pick up your pet that day, we will be happy to board your pet overnight at the PAWS Lodge.

Don't Forget
Each time pets move anywhere, from the Pet Lounge to the pet limo or from the pet limo to the plane, we track and record their progress, which means you can monitor your pet’s journey every step of the way online at Pet Airways Pet Tracker.

I would like to remind everyone that the topic at hand is whether a large dog can fly in the cabin and occupy a seat alongside their owner as opposed to being forced to be in the cargo hold which is the usual method of travel for them. Any posts made regarding allergies and whether or not pets should be allowed in the cabin will be considered "off topic" and deleted by the moderators.

RSSrsvp - Moderator

My dog travels in FC with me all the time. Direct flights only, nothing more than 3 hours in the air. She is a tiny dog and actually seems to love it. Never barks, loves strutting in and out of the hotels to get attention, functions just fine if we sacrifice a bit and keep things on her time schedule regardless of time zone, and it saves me a lot of money on pet sitters.

My real beef is that the airline I fly requires a pet reservation and $150.00 each way. They have a limit of two pets per class (FC and coach = 4 on the plane). Fortunately, they don't charge at the time the reservation is made; you're supposed to pay at the ticket counter or the gate. We often forget to do this and take her on in her carrier covered up by a coat. Once on board the FA's really don't seem to care about whether you have a validated pass for the pet.

My rationale is this: my dog never disturbs anyone by barking, never makes a mess, never needs anything from the flight crew in terms of food or water, and never needs to come out. So why am I charged $150.00 when folks traveling with infants cannot say the same?

Anyway, it all likely depends on the breed, size and actual animal. We started traveling with ours when she was six months old so she's kind of grown up in the carrier (which she absolutely loves to be in) and in new (and exciting for her b/c of the smells) hotel rooms. We tend to travel with her about six times per year and if we keep her on her meal and potty times by her body clock she is just fine.

We often forget to do this and take her on in her carrier covered up by a coat.So by "forget" you mean "deliberately fail," right? I hate the pet fee, too, enough so that I probably won't be taking my pet with me on-board anymore... but I personally wouldn't take the chance of getting denied boarding due to failure to pay, not to mention that it's technically a crime (theft of services) and UA could choose to press charges.

That said, every time I fly with my pet, the TSA checker specifically looks for the pet receipt when they see the pet carrier. I don't think I could get away with not paying, were I to even try.

So why am I charged $150.00 when folks traveling with infants cannot say the same?(1) The most important reason: because they can charge you, they do. (2) Enough people pay it for them to think it's warranted to charge for it. (3) The airline does take on increased liability with animals that they do not with infants, e.g. allergies and having to reaccommodate passengers because of said problems.

I agree that the in-cabin fee should be a lot less than $150, and should even be less than the in-cargo fee because there's no additional handling required... but that doesn't mean it should necessarily be free, nor that there should be no limits on the number or type of animals allowed in the cabin.

I would have to agree. Even though I feel it's fun to travel with our dog, I know she gets scared in hotels. The amount of strange smells alone is unimaginable. Every once in awhile I see a service dog on the floor of F or Y. They are incredibly docile, serene and well-trained dogs with major self-control -- I've seen them get through a transcon without needing (apparently) to go to the bathroom, and they will lie patiently for hours while squished into a very small space. But I think they are most unusual dogs. For a regular-caliber pet the stress of flying must be terrible, and given the smells, motion, lack of visual reference points, etc. I can't imagine being in cabin would be that much better than being confined to a familiar carrier-box in the hold.

Thanks for the reply.

I don't fly UA...US. We have been 'caught' and have feigned ignorance, afterall we did make a reservation on the phone at the same time we booked our tickets so we assumed we were charged. Dishonest? Guilty and I do feel bad about it but not bad enough to stop.

When the fee was $75 each way only 18 months ago we paid it. The doubling of the fee over 18 months made me call b.s. and stop caring too much. You're right, they charge because they can.

Not to make light of allergy problems, but my 4.5 pound dog farts and smells far less than the guy usually sitting across the aisle from me!