Flying with cats to SFO
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 391
Flying with cats to SFO
Hello,
we are a couple, flying to SFO from TLV with 2 cats. We have a few options and related questions:
1) Option 1: flying with the cats with us in cabin (both are less than 8 kg with bag). There are 3 airlines we saw that are recommended: United, Lufthansa and Swiss. Is that true? what do we do during the connection (security check) - can we leave them in their cage? if not, is there a closed room they can be examined in (we are afraid they will run away)?
via FRA there is a flight with a short connection (less than 1.30 hours) so I guess it is too short. The following flight (4 hours connection) has a LH number but is flown on a United plane. Is that a problem? or is it better to wait for the following LH flight (4 more hours)
2) option 2: Fly in hold (cargo) on same flights as us - what is the minimal connection time that is enough for the airline to safely transfer the animal? Where do we pick them up (if it is cargo, do we need to wait the few hours it takes to clear cargo through customs)?
3) option 3: Use a cargo company that takes care of everything, but is much more expensive and cats will not arrive on the same flight as we.
Thank you very much,
we are a couple, flying to SFO from TLV with 2 cats. We have a few options and related questions:
1) Option 1: flying with the cats with us in cabin (both are less than 8 kg with bag). There are 3 airlines we saw that are recommended: United, Lufthansa and Swiss. Is that true? what do we do during the connection (security check) - can we leave them in their cage? if not, is there a closed room they can be examined in (we are afraid they will run away)?
via FRA there is a flight with a short connection (less than 1.30 hours) so I guess it is too short. The following flight (4 hours connection) has a LH number but is flown on a United plane. Is that a problem? or is it better to wait for the following LH flight (4 more hours)
2) option 2: Fly in hold (cargo) on same flights as us - what is the minimal connection time that is enough for the airline to safely transfer the animal? Where do we pick them up (if it is cargo, do we need to wait the few hours it takes to clear cargo through customs)?
3) option 3: Use a cargo company that takes care of everything, but is much more expensive and cats will not arrive on the same flight as we.
Thank you very much,
#2
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: BSL
Programs: AA (EXP); among others :)
Posts: 2,520
By all means, go with option 1 and take the cats with you in the cabin. Much preferred over checking them as baggage.
The one-hour-40-minute connection in FRA connecting from LH 691 to LH 454 is ideal and exactly what I would choose. Assuming the TLV-FRA flight will be on time, you'll easily make the connection. Remember, your cats are carry-on baggage and you just take them with you all the time. While there is no terminal change and you only need to go through security, due to the sheer size of T1 and the multitude of concourses there might be a good deal of walking involved, though.
As to what happens at security, that is up to the staff on duty. Standard procedure is that the cats will be screened while inside their carriers, but there's a chance the officer wants to have a closer look.
The United flight is on an old 747-400 (I assume you'll be flying economy), whereas the LH flight is on an A380, which provides for a superior flight experience. I'd only consider the UA flight if you have status on United and could sit in Economy plus. With the pet carrier taking up most of the space underneath the seat in front where your legs and feet would normally go, those extra legroom seats will be appreciated.
The one-hour-40-minute connection in FRA connecting from LH 691 to LH 454 is ideal and exactly what I would choose. Assuming the TLV-FRA flight will be on time, you'll easily make the connection. Remember, your cats are carry-on baggage and you just take them with you all the time. While there is no terminal change and you only need to go through security, due to the sheer size of T1 and the multitude of concourses there might be a good deal of walking involved, though.
As to what happens at security, that is up to the staff on duty. Standard procedure is that the cats will be screened while inside their carriers, but there's a chance the officer wants to have a closer look.
The United flight is on an old 747-400 (I assume you'll be flying economy), whereas the LH flight is on an A380, which provides for a superior flight experience. I'd only consider the UA flight if you have status on United and could sit in Economy plus. With the pet carrier taking up most of the space underneath the seat in front where your legs and feet would normally go, those extra legroom seats will be appreciated.
#4
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Happily living in Frenaros Cyprus having escaped the near-death experience called Sofia Bulgaria
Programs: Etihad Guest Gold, DL FO and 1MM, and a bunch of others at a low level
Posts: 2,052
I have traveled internationally with my cats and can offer the following advise:
Take flights where you can have the cats in the cabin with you - this is the safest option for them. You must make arrangements in advance so contact the airline(s) before you purchase your tickets. Usually, the process is to contact the airline to see if you can have your cats on the flights you want then you buy the ticket and then you immediately call the airline back to inform them that you will have the cats and they will put the info in your record. You pay the extra fees for the cats at the airport.
Put harnesses on your cats prior to leaving home. When you get to security in the airport, connect the leash the harness and carry your cat through the metal detector. The carrier will go through the x-ray machine. Then you put your cat back into the carrier. I have found this to be relatively painless and the security personnel seem to understand that the animal might be frightened.
If you have plane changes and layovers, find a quiet place in the airport - noisy areas will frighten them.
During layovers when I had my cats with me, I would go find a "family" toilet so that I could let the cat out of the carrier. I brought a small bag of litter with me and a small litter box and set this all up in the family toilet but my cats never used them. I did line their carriers with "puppy papers" (like pampers) in case of any accident, but they never had an accident.
Don't feed or water your cats at least 4 hours before you leave the house for the airport. Don't sedate them unless you absolutely have to. My cats are good little travelers and were really only scared when we had to deplane from a commuter flight at JFK where we did not exit through a jetway but actually left the plane and walked from the plane to the terminal (there was a lot of airplane noise and that really scared them).
I'm sure you have already researched the veterinary requirements for travel to other countries with pets.
Take flights where you can have the cats in the cabin with you - this is the safest option for them. You must make arrangements in advance so contact the airline(s) before you purchase your tickets. Usually, the process is to contact the airline to see if you can have your cats on the flights you want then you buy the ticket and then you immediately call the airline back to inform them that you will have the cats and they will put the info in your record. You pay the extra fees for the cats at the airport.
Put harnesses on your cats prior to leaving home. When you get to security in the airport, connect the leash the harness and carry your cat through the metal detector. The carrier will go through the x-ray machine. Then you put your cat back into the carrier. I have found this to be relatively painless and the security personnel seem to understand that the animal might be frightened.
If you have plane changes and layovers, find a quiet place in the airport - noisy areas will frighten them.
During layovers when I had my cats with me, I would go find a "family" toilet so that I could let the cat out of the carrier. I brought a small bag of litter with me and a small litter box and set this all up in the family toilet but my cats never used them. I did line their carriers with "puppy papers" (like pampers) in case of any accident, but they never had an accident.
Don't feed or water your cats at least 4 hours before you leave the house for the airport. Don't sedate them unless you absolutely have to. My cats are good little travelers and were really only scared when we had to deplane from a commuter flight at JFK where we did not exit through a jetway but actually left the plane and walked from the plane to the terminal (there was a lot of airplane noise and that really scared them).
I'm sure you have already researched the veterinary requirements for travel to other countries with pets.
#5
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,731
I'd far rather deal with a soggy cat and carrier than a cat in liver failure. Line the carrier with absorbent pads, offer a litter box at your connection airports, or just cope with a wet carrier, but don't withhold water. Personally I'd also offer food, something the cats especially like and are used to eating, to help the cats avoid metabolic problems.
Also, I would suggest getting your cats used to wearing a harness before the trip, so they have one less thing to freak out about on travel day.
#6
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Happily living in Frenaros Cyprus having escaped the near-death experience called Sofia Bulgaria
Programs: Etihad Guest Gold, DL FO and 1MM, and a bunch of others at a low level
Posts: 2,052
I strongly disagree with the idea of withholding food and water from cats traveling from TLV to SFO. With a journey of that length, you run a serious risk of the cats becoming dehydrated and developing major health problems. See this thread for the perspective of 2 veterinarians on withholding water.
I'd far rather deal with a soggy cat and carrier than a cat in liver failure. Line the carrier with absorbent pads, offer a litter box at your connection airports, or just cope with a wet carrier, but don't withhold water. Personally I'd also offer food, something the cats especially like and are used to eating, to help the cats avoid metabolic problems.
I'd far rather deal with a soggy cat and carrier than a cat in liver failure. Line the carrier with absorbent pads, offer a litter box at your connection airports, or just cope with a wet carrier, but don't withhold water. Personally I'd also offer food, something the cats especially like and are used to eating, to help the cats avoid metabolic problems.
Anyway, different vets, different opinions.