Originally Posted by
Stripe
I was on an AUS-DFW flight in row 7 the other day and onto the plane comes a passenger with a small dog (not a Jack Russell but similar size) on a leash and the two of them occupy 8 A&B behind me. No carrier. The only issue seemed to be when the FA said the dog had to be on the floor for takeoff and landing. The passenger said that had never been required before but apparently she complied. The dog was completely well behaved during the flight. I'm guessing this was an official companion dog. Perhaps the OP can do it that way.
I have seen the carriers not fit under some seats. To me that would be more of a worry than whether the GA thinks the dog is comfortable.
I ran into a similar problem with a FA travelling with my Dad a few years ago on delta with his two Pug's we each had a letter for a "Emotional support animal" the FA insisted that the dog had to be on the floor for the whole duration of the flight, and I kindly explained to him that the dog's couldn't provide there emotional support from the floor, and he walked away only too come back about 15 minutes later and tell me that he read his manual and it stated that only Monkeys where allowed on laps, but that he a call into Atlanta for clarification then turned around and walked away never to come back. That is the only time out of 8 segments that I have ever had a problem with the dog's on the plane.
I did also bring the pee pads for the dog's and tried them out in the bathroom only to have the dog look at me like I was crazy, they have always been fine for the flights with no accidents including a 10 hour international flight.
If I where you I would look into the "air carrier access act" and "emotional support animals" and consider that route.
Best of luck