Travel with Pets - MIA pet check-in counter?

Hi all,

In the past I've traveled 2-3 times a year with my two small dogs (each 15 lbs each). My route is on AA, MIA-STX or STX-MIA. The last time I flew out of MIA with the dogs, Mr. Stxjawa and I had to check in at a new "pet check in counter". The lady looked at my dogs, tried to get them to turn around and stand up (neither was interested in doing this, although they can turn around and stand up enough to walk out of their bags), and then said they couldn't fly. Which is silly since my dogs love their bags and sleep in them whenever they get an opportunity--so they are quite comfortable. So I made a big fuss and they eventually let us get our BP's.

Anyway, has anyone else experienced difficulties with ticket agents in MIA?

Since I am PLT now with AA, do you think next time (December) I'll be able to check in at PriorityAAceess counter instead of the pet counter? I'd rather not go through the "big fuss" again since it was quite stressful. I've traveled in F before with one dog and the F check in agent never batted an eyelid at the dog in his carrier?

Or, perhaps I should just fly out of FLL to STT (and then take a puddlejumper) on another airline? Does anyone have any knowledge about other airlines or FLL airport staff being more lenient than MIA?

I already sent a complaint to AA about this. I have traveled multiple times with my dog, just 9 lbs. I wasn't sent to a "pet" check in, but they did send me straight to the first class line for some unknown reason (so maybe the priority thing won't work). There was a woman checking me in, blonde with a pony tail (wish I got the name) who was exceedingly rude about the whole thing. Similar thing, she asked me to put the bag on the floor, and leaned OVER the bag, being all brisk and ornery. She insisted my bag was too small. My dog curled up in the corner and shook like a leaf, she was scared with the airport commotion and stranger leaning over her. Then my dog TURNED AROUND like 3 times. Then the agent insisted again the bag was too small, that I was being "cruel to animals," and AFTER charging me the pet fee, wasn't allowing me to complete check in.

I asked for the manager, who was on the fence. I kept telling him that I had flown with her multiple times on this airline, and this was my return flight with my dog...she had flown just several days earlier. I also told him my vet had approved the bag (I wish I was carrying a letter or something). He made me buy a new bag (a $12 gem), which didn't fit under the seat, and basically collapsed on the dog mid flight. The strap also broke while deplaning, and my dog fell.

Needless to say, this was not the only negative staff interaction at MIA that day, and it wasn't all about the dog. But, I do get the sense that the agents at MIA are inconsistent with any other airport I have traveled to/from with respect to the pet issue. My plan is to bring a letter from our vet on our next trip, which states that my pet is approved for travel in the cabin in her bag, which is very comfortable for her, etc etc. I hear this helps.

I would be interested in hearing if anyone else has had a bad experience at MIA - maybe I will just plan on flying from FLL from now on.

I encourage you to write a letter or e-mail to the company - they should be aware that their gate agents are being odd about pets there and that it is inconveniencing their paying customers, especially those with status it seems.

I'm glad I'm not the only one experiencing this. I fly next time with the dogs in December out of MIA, but will definitely try all that I can to check in at the first class counter (since I have elite status, I should be able to). I can't believe they made you buy another bag...just ridiculous. And I will try getting a letter from their vet saying that their bags are perfectly fine!