[QUOTE=Night Owl;12908959]There are some infants who belong under the seat though!

:D

Not strict enough! They should charge you 200% of the time. Currently they only charge you 100% of the time unless you are Platinum, and know how to kiss up to the agent real good and the agent is blind and the passengers don't fuss and you own the airline. Really, why don't you just leave the pets at home? Travel is not for pets and if you need them to travel, pack them in cargo. Or better yet, ship them FedEx to your final destination and see who gets there first. :)

Seriously, if you want to take the pets, make them note it on your file or they will not get to fly with you. Yes you will have to pay the fees!

I just recently (3 weeks ago) went through this.

And no, it wasn't for a vacation for something, the cats were moving 1600 miles to live in another state.

Things I learned (this was my first time traveling in the cabin w/ an animal):

1. You definitely need to reserve your space w/ Delta by calling in advance to make a note in your file. The check-in woman the day we checked in (you can't do kiosk or online check-in if you're traveling with pets) told me that the day before she had a guy try to travel with his small dog, but that they can't let someone do day-of pet travel. I don't know if she was confused, this is a new rule, or what, but I was very glad to have called in advance.

2. Compass, ASA, Mesaba, et. al. (all of the regional jets operating under Delta) only allow up to 2 pets per flight. This is why it's vital you call in advance to reserve your space if you're connecting/flying a regional jet. We were on a regional jet to ATL for our first leg.

3. The fee is non-negotiable, at least in my experience.

4. If you are Elite, yes, you can still be upgraded while traveling with your animal. My cat happened to enjoy her complimentary upgrade to first class very much ;)

5. Make sure you have an "airline approved" soft-sided carrier (we used the Sherpa carriers, available at Petsmart, http://www.sherpapet.com/pet_carriers).

6. Many states have entry veterinary requirements for pets. To make sure we were covered, I had both of the cats examined by their vet, who filled out a Certificate of Health, certifying their rabies vaccination, et. cet. Nobody in the airport asked for this information, on departure or landing, but I wanted to be on the safe side since technically our new state did have these requirements (and some govt. officials like to be particularly picky -- not that I can blame them). I do know that if you send an animal by cargo the airlines mandate this form before they will accept your pet.

7. Be prepared for the unexpected. Case in point: I wasn't entirely aware that I would have to take my cat out of her carrier, put the carrier in the screening x-ray line, hold her in line for several minutes, and then walk her through the TSA screening area / human X-ray thing. Of course it makes sense, I just figured they'd hand wand the container or something. Good thing I was able to hold her long enough -- some friends' cats I know would have been sprinting towards the Hudson News Stand by that point.

8. Unfortunately, pets can't earn frequent flyer miles. ;) I mean, infants-in-arms can, but kitties-under-seats can't? I digress.

How timely! This thread is proof positive searching prior to posting can elicit very helpful info.

I came here today to ask specifically about pets in cabin on Delta. We have flown several times before with our small dog. I called Delta and she was so lax about the whole thing. She made a note of the pet reservation, asked the size of the carrier and his weight including the carrier. I asked if I pay now or at check in. She said at check in. I have no written confirmation of my pet's reservation which makes me a bit uncomfortable.

BTW, each airline apparently differs on the requirement of a health certificate. UA required one for travel from US to Canada, but when I asked the DL agent she said they don't. I do have proof of rabies for entry to Canada for customs purposes, which is required.

NWA charged $150 each way for in cabin pet. His fare was sometimes more than mine!

Anyway, does this process sound right for reserving an in cabin pet on Delta? When I questioned whether this was all I had to do, she acted like I was taking up all her time. I regretted saying NO to the request to complete a survey at the end of the call prior to speaking with the agent.

ETA: Well, I'm glad I went with my gut. I called Delta and they had NO record of my pet 'reservation'. It is now noted.

OP here. Thanks to all for input. Glad it was a timely topic for a couple of other posters.

Shortly after the original post, I drove to MLU and engaged the CSR in person, reserving space for the two pets. He informed me of the $100 per pet each way charge and I forked over $400 on the spot.

I wonder if I get miles for them ...

Probably not. I can't use an ECV for mine b/c he's considered 'baggage'.

They are afraid of discrimination lawsuits. For years Disneyland offered a line pass to anyone with a doctor's note saying they had ADD. You walked up the exit line and got onto the next car available to ride. So many people learned about it that they changed the policy and now offer "reservations" so you don't have to stand in line and suffer from your ADD or inflict cruelty on all the non-ADD people in line....

I always wondered, though, about people who have allergies. Why do they allow pets on at all? Even service pets are seemingly unnecessary given the number of wheelchairs I see in use these days (I saw nearly a dozen on a recent flight). I would love to travel with my two Labradors but that seems like a burden on everyone else on board. How about if I buy them their own row? Can I just put up a gate and keep them in their "seats"? (just kidding of course).

I hope you don't get charged again! NWA used to pre-pay for PIC but Delta has been pay at the time of departure.

This will not provide any info on the subject, so skip to the next post if you don't want to hear a story...

About 8 years ago I was on a trip to FLL, and in the course of the trip kids and spouse talked me into buying a parrot, since there were so many birdshops in the area and they'd been lobbying for one for a long time.

We had flown down on Southwest, I called them requesting accomodation for our new guy. At that time they had a strict no-pet policy. Called every other airline operating out of FLL or MIA back to our home base, fully willing to buy another ticket for one of us and pay the pet fee, NONE of them had any pet space available. I tried finding a pet shipping service but was put off by the combination of expense and cluelessness as to how to care for birds.

I went to Target and bought a medium size purse and a medium tupperware type container. Lined the container with paper towels, tucked in the baby bird, put the container in my purse (without lid). The little guy went through the security scanner and slept all the way home. I told the kids we were having him shipped home through the pet shipping service so they wouldn't act weird and get us busted at security, they were sitting with me and had no idea I was carrying him until we got home.

I would have preferred to transport Moose (as we named him) legitimately, but they just made it too difficult. Short of renting a car and driving him FLL-MHT, I had no choice but to implement operation Moose Smuggle.

I can answer this...

A few years ago I noticed a woman with a cat sitting in the gate area. Being very allergic to cats, I quietly went to the GA and asked if she could check if we were seated near each other. Of course, the cat owner was seated directly behind me, which meant the cat was under my seat. I've been hospitalized twice for allergic reactions to cats, so I don't play around with this.

The GA offered to move my seat, but I was in the second row and needed to make a quick connection. Plus, I was PM. The woman with the cat was called to the counter and told she had been moved to the last row, and would be both boarded first and remain on the plane until everyone else got off. She was also told she could not take the cat out of the holder. At first, she started to complain, but the situation was explained to her and she was very cooperative. The GA also explained the situation to the FAs, who assured me they would keep an eye out.

Hopefully all pet owners are this cooperative and don't think that it's acceptable to take the animal out of the holder after take-off.

You might reconsider if you were blind and needed a service animal to get around. Being forced into a wheelchair while putting your service animal through a ton of stress in a carrier in the hold would damage your self esteem and induce a lot of worry about the service animal.

Most of the people being wheeled on/off AC these days need the wheelchairs. And yes, I have seen the wheelchairs lines up three deep for a flight from Florida to DTW.

I flew FLL to JFK with a hot chick and a black cat.

The cat was an ice breaker and I made a new friend. But that chick hates me now.

My post was mostly tongue in cheek. Of course it doesn't bother me none, and of course I wouldn't deny a vision-impaired person his guide... but, I also know people who start to tear up the minute they walk into a room with a dog or cat. So I wonder how the balance the two issues. No smoking, but pet-dander is OK? (and no, I don't smoke)

Interesting. Thanks for the info. Sounds like it is putting you at terrible health risk. You are the one who should be commended for taking the risk of getting into a confined space for perhaps several or many hours... not to mention the airline risk of having to emergency land because a passenger couldn't breathe.

I respect people have allergies and need accommodations when a pet is on board. However, I think the woman with the cat was treated a bit like a 2nd class citizen. We PAY to bring our pet on board and lose our carry on b/c the pet is essentially now our carry on. Not only that we lose our legroom b/c they must go under the seat in front.

To be relegated to the back of the plane when already paying extra seems wrong to me. I have a disability. I cannot be relegated to the back of the plane.

I am a respectful pet owner. I have flown with my dog many times before, and luckily, have sat beside pet lovers. If the airlines allow pets on board, then I don't see why the pet owner has to be the one to receive poor seating.