Frustrated in CA over CO Pet Policy
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 16
Frustrated in CA over CO Pet Policy
Hi Everyone,
So here's my story:
I have two very active, young kittens (Siamese-12 weeks old). I want transport them with me from my folks' place in So. Cal to my place in NY...I am travelling alone and have tickets with Continental and been going back and forth for the past few days with the airline. I keep reading online about how they are preferred over other airlines when it comes to pets but their policies and rep knowledge have been frustrating me. While their website does say one pet per passenger in-cabin, the kennel requirments page states that animals under 6 months may travel together...And it doesn't specify cabin or cargo.
So some reps were telling me I could take the two kittens on board together in the same kennel and others were telling me absolutely not (unless I have another passenger travelling with me). It's even more frustrating because the total travel time is around 8 hours (with a one hour stop-over in Houston) and they recommmend not feeding the kittens up to four hours before and no food is allowed in the kennel (we're talking cargo rules).
Some airlines (JetBlue) will make exceptions if there are no other pets on board (since there is a max of 4 pets total allowed in cabin) for an extra fee or buying another seat...Continental would not let me :-(
I will say to their credit that one lady in their PetSafe (cargo transport) hotline said I can put some kind of nutrient paste in the water bowl...but this is totally sad considering they're just tiny kittens. I think cats are less amenable to tranport than dogs as well. So far I'm even considering buying a one way ticket with American or some other carrier that will let two kittens on board together in the same kennel but prices are insane!
Now all of this in addition to the recent pet price hikes...
So here's my story:
I have two very active, young kittens (Siamese-12 weeks old). I want transport them with me from my folks' place in So. Cal to my place in NY...I am travelling alone and have tickets with Continental and been going back and forth for the past few days with the airline. I keep reading online about how they are preferred over other airlines when it comes to pets but their policies and rep knowledge have been frustrating me. While their website does say one pet per passenger in-cabin, the kennel requirments page states that animals under 6 months may travel together...And it doesn't specify cabin or cargo.
So some reps were telling me I could take the two kittens on board together in the same kennel and others were telling me absolutely not (unless I have another passenger travelling with me). It's even more frustrating because the total travel time is around 8 hours (with a one hour stop-over in Houston) and they recommmend not feeding the kittens up to four hours before and no food is allowed in the kennel (we're talking cargo rules).
Some airlines (JetBlue) will make exceptions if there are no other pets on board (since there is a max of 4 pets total allowed in cabin) for an extra fee or buying another seat...Continental would not let me :-(
I will say to their credit that one lady in their PetSafe (cargo transport) hotline said I can put some kind of nutrient paste in the water bowl...but this is totally sad considering they're just tiny kittens. I think cats are less amenable to tranport than dogs as well. So far I'm even considering buying a one way ticket with American or some other carrier that will let two kittens on board together in the same kennel but prices are insane!
Now all of this in addition to the recent pet price hikes...
Last edited by ramona525; Aug 13, 2008 at 11:05 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: DL FO, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 12,003
Exactly what airport are you flying from in CA and do you have to arrive in EWR? I am assuming that destination as you are mentioning CO.
What type of fares are you looking at?
What type of fares are you looking at?
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 16
To have the them in cargo will come out to $210 or so, and in-cabin I believe it's $125 per container.
Buying a one-way ticket with American is not looking so hot right now as that's averaging around $599.
What's completely odd is that American's page states the exact same kennel specifications for IN-CABIN pets (2 pets under 6 months or under 20 lbs in one kennel can go in-cabin)...Continental states this but DOES NOT say whether they mean in-cabin or in cargo but most 800 reps claim it refers to CARGO...Keep in mind I'm looking at where it says "Kennel Requirments" in the "Travelling With Animals" link.
#5
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: retired from SFO Terminal 3
Posts: 7,437
Might I suggest a trip to the SAN airport and speak with the supervisor on duty at the CO ticket counter. You can get the rules in person, and if they agree to transport your pets in one carrier on board, have them document your PNR (reservation record) and you will not run into any problems when you check in. You can also pay for the pet fee at that time.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 16
Might I suggest a trip to the SAN airport and speak with the supervisor on duty at the CO ticket counter. You can get the rules in person, and if they agree to transport your pets in one carrier on board, have them document your PNR (reservation record) and you will not run into any problems when you check in. You can also pay for the pet fee at that time.
I'd hate to have them say "no" knowing that they also require a vet certificate which will add up to a costly visit. I'd almost rather leave the kittens in San Diego with family then to subject them to 12 hours w/o food while travelling in cargo with a stop-over. I mean that's flat out animal abuse.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 16
I am open to other carriers as well, but based on the thread with individual carrier rules, looks like American, Alaskan, Frontier, and Northwest (?) were the only ones letting two pets under 6 months and 20lbs in-cabin in one kennel. Actually, I visited the Frontier website and it looks like NO pets are allowed in-cabin anymore...
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: DL FO, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
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I just spoke to two agents at UA and although they don't have it on their website they said that they will allow 2 kittens over 8 weeks old in one carryon bag. The soft sided bag must be 17x10x10. The kittens must have a health certificate from your vet. The only route that is workable for a low fare this Sunday 8/17 according to the first agent I spoke to is UA787 SAN-SFO that departs at 7:53 AM & lands at 9:25 AM and then connects to UA892 that leaves SFO at 10:12 AM and lands in JFK at 7:06 PM. The online fare is $350 if you act fast plus $125 for the carryon (in cabin) pet fee. There is a $25 phone agent fee that is additional if you don't book the flights online so what you should do to avoid that fee is locate the flights online and get to the last step before you purchase them and have a phone agent say the pets are ok for those particular flights, book them online and ask that agent to add the carryon pets to your record locator. You pay the pet fee at the airport.
I would also ask if they will reconfirm to you that 2 kittens are ok in one bag by email before you book the ticket as both agents said you won't find this on their website but is ok.
Call United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) to confirm all of the above and reserve the carryon pet availability for those flights.
Good luck!
I would also ask if they will reconfirm to you that 2 kittens are ok in one bag by email before you book the ticket as both agents said you won't find this on their website but is ok.
Call United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) to confirm all of the above and reserve the carryon pet availability for those flights.
Good luck!
#9
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Boulder, CO
Programs: UA, AA, WN; HH, MR, IHG
Posts: 7,054
OP, if you are traveling on UA, see my thread in the UA forum for more detailed info and tips. It's linked in the sticky FAQ.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: BMI based alternates CMI/PIA/ORD/IND/STL
Programs: AA Platinum Lifetime, Hilton Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 367
That was going to be my game plan. I was going to print out the online blurb and show it to them. The thing is, 4 out 5 reps over the phone interpreted those rules as cargo rules and not in-cabin. I just find it entirely odd that American uses those same guidelines and states it's for in-cabin.
I'd hate to have them say "no" knowing that they also require a vet certificate which will add up to a costly visit. I'd almost rather leave the kittens in San Diego with family then to subject them to 12 hours w/o food while travelling in cargo with a stop-over. I mean that's flat out animal abuse.
I'd hate to have them say "no" knowing that they also require a vet certificate which will add up to a costly visit. I'd almost rather leave the kittens in San Diego with family then to subject them to 12 hours w/o food while travelling in cargo with a stop-over. I mean that's flat out animal abuse.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 16
I JUST got them last week and they're up-to-date with their vaccinations and records so there was no reason to take them in between last week and today, but good to know that it should be free in the future. Thx
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 16
I just spoke to two agents at UA and although they don't have it on their website they said that they will allow 2 kittens over 8 weeks old in one carryon bag. The soft sided bag must be 17x10x10. The kittens must have a health certificate from your vet. The only route that is workable for a low fare this Sunday 8/17 according to the first agent I spoke to is UA787 SAN-SFO that departs at 7:53 AM & lands at 9:25 AM and then connects to UA892 that leaves SFO at 10:12 AM and lands in JFK at 7:06 PM. The online fare is $350 if you act fast plus $125 for the carryon (in cabin) pet fee. There is a $25 phone agent fee that is additional if you don't book the flights online so what you should do to avoid that fee is locate the flights online and get to the last step before you purchase them and have a phone agent say the pets are ok for those particular flights, book them online and ask that agent to add the carryon pets to your record locator. You pay the pet fee at the airport.
I would also ask if they will reconfirm to you that 2 kittens are ok in one bag by email before you book the ticket as both agents said you won't find this on their website but is ok.
Call United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) to confirm all of the above and reserve the carryon pet availability for those flights.
Good luck!
I would also ask if they will reconfirm to you that 2 kittens are ok in one bag by email before you book the ticket as both agents said you won't find this on their website but is ok.
Call United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) to confirm all of the above and reserve the carryon pet availability for those flights.
Good luck!
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: DL FO, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 12,003
Remember that only their phone agents can confirm availability for the carryon (in cabin) pets you are taking. They must add the approval to your locator or you could be refused at the airport if they have too many carryon pets on those flights.
The agent that recommended the SAN-SFO-JFK itinerary said that that priced out the best for available flights on that date that still had space for carryon pets going to the NYC metro area. You may also wish to inquire when you call about a SAN-LAX-JFK or SAN-ORD-LGA route as fares & carryon pet availability can change at any time.
The agent that recommended the SAN-SFO-JFK itinerary said that that priced out the best for available flights on that date that still had space for carryon pets going to the NYC metro area. You may also wish to inquire when you call about a SAN-LAX-JFK or SAN-ORD-LGA route as fares & carryon pet availability can change at any time.
#14
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Boulder, CO
Programs: UA, AA, WN; HH, MR, IHG
Posts: 7,054
I'm not quite sure what vet the previous poster frequents, but the "free" certificate is most certainly not free at my vet. It all depends on the type of cert. If all you need is proof of vaccinations, that should be fine... but most airlines require a Health Certificate, which is more inclusive than just vaccinations. The vet needs to give them a check-up before signing the certificate, which usually necessitates an office visit. Most of the vets around here also charge for the certificate itself (don't ask me why, given that I doubt they incur any additional liability as a result). If your vet has very recently seen the animal (like, within the last 30 days), they may just write you a certificate... but otherwise, I think you should expect that a visit (and associated charge) will be required.
#15
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Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: DL FO, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 12,003
If all you need is proof of vaccinations, that should be fine... but most airlines require a Health Certificate, which is more inclusive than just vaccinations. The vet needs to give them a check-up before signing the certificate, which usually necessitates an office visit. Most of the vets around here also charge for the certificate itself (don't ask me why, given that I doubt they incur any additional liability as a result). If your vet has very recently seen the animal (like, within the last 30 days), they may just write you a certificate... but otherwise, I think you should expect that a visit (and associated charge) will be required.
For domestic flights I have always been able to make do with just a simple letter from my vet saying that all of my dog's vaccinations are up to date. There is no charge for this type pf travel letter. However if for some reason you require a "Health Certificate" most likely for international destinations, the 30 day rule usually prevails at most vets and that requires a visit with an examine that you have to pay for.