Carriers for In-Cabin Pets
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2
Carriers for In-Cabin Pets
Hey
I was wondering if anyone happened to know what the general rules are regarding the carriers for pets who are flying in-cabin. I know it must fit under the seat, be leak-proof, and large enough for the pet to get up and move, but are there any other standards that I should be aware of?
I have this bag http://item.rakuten.co.jp/pd/rpd-ca0005/ and I would like to use it when I fly a United flight (Tokyo to Los Angeles) this July. The thing that I think may disqualify it is that the bottom is the only "sturdy" part. The rest is soft and doesn't stand straight up, though it doesn't collapse on my dog.
I really don't want to have to buy another bag for in-flight, but if I have to I have to. Does anyone have experience flying United internationally with an in-cabin pet and can give insight?
I was wondering if anyone happened to know what the general rules are regarding the carriers for pets who are flying in-cabin. I know it must fit under the seat, be leak-proof, and large enough for the pet to get up and move, but are there any other standards that I should be aware of?
I have this bag http://item.rakuten.co.jp/pd/rpd-ca0005/ and I would like to use it when I fly a United flight (Tokyo to Los Angeles) this July. The thing that I think may disqualify it is that the bottom is the only "sturdy" part. The rest is soft and doesn't stand straight up, though it doesn't collapse on my dog.
I really don't want to have to buy another bag for in-flight, but if I have to I have to. Does anyone have experience flying United internationally with an in-cabin pet and can give insight?
#2
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Programs: UA 1K; Hilton: Diamond;Kimpton: ?? ; Omni: Black; Avis: First; Hertz: Five Star
Posts: 656
612 views but no replies.....
I am about to take two small dogs on a three leg domestic trip on United in December (with my wife).
I do not seem to be able to find any threads with useful discussion about traveling with pets on any airline, let alone United.
United's listed max dimensions for a pet carrier (soft sided) are:
18 inches long x 11 inches wide x 11 inches high
Will that fit on A320's, 319s and Boeing 737"s.
Since my wife and I will both be flying each with a dog, how do we manage upgrades to first? It looks like United allows only one dog in first (and only on certain aircraft). Do we need to split our reservation if we want to get the upgrade?
Are their planes that are better or worse?
Are their airports that are better or worse?
I am about to take two small dogs on a three leg domestic trip on United in December (with my wife).
I do not seem to be able to find any threads with useful discussion about traveling with pets on any airline, let alone United.
United's listed max dimensions for a pet carrier (soft sided) are:
18 inches long x 11 inches wide x 11 inches high
Will that fit on A320's, 319s and Boeing 737"s.
Since my wife and I will both be flying each with a dog, how do we manage upgrades to first? It looks like United allows only one dog in first (and only on certain aircraft). Do we need to split our reservation if we want to get the upgrade?
Are their planes that are better or worse?
Are their airports that are better or worse?
#3
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 240
I have flown United domestically with an in cabin pet, using a soft carrier with enough built in support to keep it from collapsing on the cat. With a trip that long, you're going to want some replacement bedding; puppy training pads work well. There's also a sub-forum on FlyerTalk for traveling with pets where you might post this question.
#4
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: BSL
Programs: AA (EXP); among others :)
Posts: 2,520
612 views but no replies.....
I am about to take two small dogs on a three leg domestic trip on United in December (with my wife).
I do not seem to be able to find any threads with useful discussion about traveling with pets on any airline, let alone United.
United's listed max dimensions for a pet carrier (soft sided) are:
18 inches long x 11 inches wide x 11 inches high
Will that fit on A320's, 319s and Boeing 737"s.
Since my wife and I will both be flying each with a dog, how do we manage upgrades to first? It looks like United allows only one dog in first (and only on certain aircraft). Do we need to split our reservation if we want to get the upgrade?
Are their planes that are better or worse?
Are their airports that are better or worse?
I am about to take two small dogs on a three leg domestic trip on United in December (with my wife).
I do not seem to be able to find any threads with useful discussion about traveling with pets on any airline, let alone United.
United's listed max dimensions for a pet carrier (soft sided) are:
18 inches long x 11 inches wide x 11 inches high
Will that fit on A320's, 319s and Boeing 737"s.
Since my wife and I will both be flying each with a dog, how do we manage upgrades to first? It looks like United allows only one dog in first (and only on certain aircraft). Do we need to split our reservation if we want to get the upgrade?
Are their planes that are better or worse?
Are their airports that are better or worse?
As for planes: Although a carrier sized within UA's published limits does fit under the seat in all their mainline aircraft, their 737s with IFE and in-seat power have diminished underseat storage space because the electronics boxes for the system and the power outlets are placed under the seats. Traveling with a pet, I'd rather choose their Airbus fleet (no IFE) which has unimpeded underseat storage.
UA doesn't allow pets in premium cabins on all aircraft with flat-bed seats, so you can't upgrade on any of the domestic routes they fly with the 787.
#6
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Programs: UA 1K; Hilton: Diamond;Kimpton: ?? ; Omni: Black; Avis: First; Hertz: Five Star
Posts: 656
Still the UA page is pretty straight forward and does spell most everything out.
#7
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Programs: UA 1K; Hilton: Diamond;Kimpton: ?? ; Omni: Black; Avis: First; Hertz: Five Star
Posts: 656
I have flown United domestically with an in cabin pet, using a soft carrier with enough built in support to keep it from collapsing on the cat. With a trip that long, you're going to want some replacement bedding; puppy training pads work well. There's also a sub-forum on FlyerTalk for traveling with pets where you might post this question.
#8
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: BSL
Programs: AA (EXP); among others :)
Posts: 2,520
Considering how little traffic this general pet travel forum sees, personally, I don't think it's a good idea to have what sparse information is out there scattered around different airline forums...
That said, there already is a post-merger UA pet thread (albeit not as comprehensive as the old one) you could have used - maybe ask the mods to move your post there.
That said, there already is a post-merger UA pet thread (albeit not as comprehensive as the old one) you could have used - maybe ask the mods to move your post there.
Last edited by bhomburg; Oct 26, 2014 at 9:06 am Reason: typo in linked
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: DL FO, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 12,003
RSSrsvp - Moderator
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,368
Considering how little traffic this general pet travel forum sees, personally, I don't think it's a good idea to have what sparse information is out there scattered around different airline forums...
That said, there already is a post-merger UA pet thread (albeit not as comprehensive as the old one) you could have used - maybe ask the mods to move your post there.
That said, there already is a post-merger UA pet thread (albeit not as comprehensive as the old one) you could have used - maybe ask the mods to move your post there.
#11
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: BSL
Programs: AA (EXP); among others :)
Posts: 2,520
Last edited by bhomburg; Nov 1, 2014 at 2:49 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Programs: UA 1K; Hilton: Diamond;Kimpton: ?? ; Omni: Black; Avis: First; Hertz: Five Star
Posts: 656
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: DL FO, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 12,003
#14
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Programs: UA 1K; Hilton: Diamond;Kimpton: ?? ; Omni: Black; Avis: First; Hertz: Five Star
Posts: 656
This link is to United's pet policy page.
But I see that the OP has edited the post and corrected a typo in the link. It now works!