Flying with Pets
 

I am moving from Texas to Virginia, and I have two cats. Does anyone know which airlines allow cats to be boarded? I've never even thought about this before, so I'm kind of clueless where to start.

TIA!

Am moving your thread to the Travel With Pets Forum. I know you will find answers to your question in that forum.
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Thanks!! I can't believe I missed the Travel with Pets forum!!!

It seems you also missed the helpful sticky thread at the top of this forum's first page. ;)

Here's the link:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...-airlines.html

Good luck traveling with your cats.

The sticky is a great first step, but beware because the fees and the policies seem to change frequently. I'm in the process of moving three cats and a dog across the country (I started a thread on the topic) and found it "challenging" to plan.

Most airlines allow pets in the cabin or as checked baggage, but not all, and there are many restrictions about summer travel due to temperature problems. Most airlines allow only one cabin pet per passenger, even if you buy two tickets; Delta will allow two of the same breed in the same carrier, but they have to be small enough to fit comfortably. Alaska will allow you to buy a second seat for your second pet.

Shipping pets by air cargo seems to cost about the same as buying a second ticket. I opted for a non-stop flight to an airport other than my actual destination to lessen the risk of a pet going astray at the connection hub.

I'm doing a combination of cargo, checked bag and in-cabin to get my 4 animals moved. If I had only 2 cats, I'd have bought two AK seats and carried them myself, but that's probably not an option for your move. Second choice for me (first choice but the right person wasn't available) - bribe a friend to carry your second cat by offering a free trip to Virginia.

The only way I would travel by air with my cats is if I was keeping them in the cabin with me. Money would be no object. I would never send my beloved pets to the cargo hold!! If something happened to them I would never forgive myself.

It's not that money is no object, it is in some cases impossible to transport them in the cabin. If the animal is too big, you simply cannot bring them on board.

In the OP's case, I would drive; I have driven. Absent that, and most likely cannot transport 2 adult cats in one kennel, I would pay to have a friend fly with me and carry the second cat in the cabin.

In a case where driving isn't an option such as moving overseas, there may simply be no way to avoid it other than leaving your pet behind. While I don't like it, sometimes cargo cannot be avoided. Continental has a good reputation for its PetSafe program. I would also recommend following advice given elsewhere. Notify the gate agent of the pet on board. Notify the pilot or lead FA so that the pressure and temperature in the cargo hold is checked and to ask for confirmation that the pet has been loaded. Finally, if you have a connection, do everything all over again for the new flight.

I remember the old Airport UK show which took place at Heathrow (??) and they showed their entire kennel and animal handling situation. I would not hesitate to put my dog in their hands. Those folks were incredible.

I decided that price was not "too much of an object," but I found a limit.

For $650 I bought myself a paid First Class seat on the non-stop SEA-IAD flight, figuring that the GA, FA and pilot are perhaps more likely to check on my cat (the one that is checked baggage) if I am sitting up front where they can see and hear me when I inquire.

Alaska wanted $1250 each for their 2 coach seats if I wanted to bring both cats on board with me. Four times as much, and the absolute amounts of $2500 vs $650, just didn't seem worth it, when I have the non-stop and lots of ways to check on the checked cat.

I think I'll ask in person "if there are any other options like buying another seat" when I check in. Maybe another passenger would like to be reimbursed for their ticket in exchange for carrying the cat...

I'm surprised I couldn't find anyone who wanted a free trip to DC. I even checked with my fellow health policy activists, thinking they might want to speak in person with our Congresscritters, since health reform is on the table.

Thank you so much for the responses! After discussing this with my husband I think a plane flight may be too much to go through for my cats along with everything else. We are moving from Texas to Virginia, which is stressful enough. I think we are going to just pack up the cats, some food and litter, and some clothes and make the drive up to Virginia. I think it would be cheaper (even though gas will be expensive!), and I will be more relaxed with the cats.