I have gotten away without paying the "sop job" pet fee before. Make a reservation for your pet with the intention of paying at the airport. When you check-in, no sign of pet = no pay. Go get pet from car. At the gate - pet gets on. If stopped at the gate - say you thought they charged you on the phone. If they make you pay then - pay. Most of the time they just wave you on........ I wouldn't normally condone such activity but $95 is stupid money for something that costs them nothing. DL charges only $50 which is a little more tolerable. In any case, my cat enjoyed a free ride home yesterday with DL.......no one even noticed him in his black duffle looking carrier.

Last time I rode CO with him, there was no tag or anything for his case (like DL gives) that says you have paid. I don't know what the TSA has to say about pets - just carry them through the metal detector with you. Get them to the gate, have a reservation for them and you are usually good. The GA/FA don't really know if you have paid for the reservation unless they go and check. They will usually be presuming you did pay if you were checked in.