It's amazing and ironic to me that the reasons behind this are often overprotectiveness, but if you asked those same people if they'd take their pet to the top of Mount Everest, they'd probably call you crazy.

That cat picture....priceless. I hope no animals were harmed in the capturing of that picture.

If you board a pet, where do you put it? It's in its carrier, yes, but in the overhead or somewhere else?

For cats, I suggest leaving them a fifty and leave the number for the local pet store. Don't worry, they'll find a way....

THANK YOU for not suggesting to take your animal on the plane with you.

@OmniZero: Oh BOARD as in...right. Ok. I english no compute.

@OmniZero: "Board" as in the "room and board" sense of the word, rather than "boarding" a plane.

@Zane Horton: My two cats can hold on to the wing, the lazy bastards.

My cat can't stand riding in the car to the vet - I can't imagine how badly he'd freak out being locked in some cargo compartment.

Also, with the way luggage is typically handled (and sometimes lost), why in the hell do people trust that their pets will be treated any better?

@howie_in_az: I can haz neer-deth expurrients?

As a former airline supervisor, I mostly agree that people should not check their pets as baggage unless they have no other alternative.

First of all, none of the short-nosed breeds should travel by air during the summer. They have enough trouble breathing as it is. That is not the airline's fault, however.

Second, I advise people not to take pets on vacations with them. Boarding them is a much safer and more humane alternative. Why risk it unless you are moving house coast-to-coast?

Three, pets should be tranquilized for air travel only in extreme circumstances and with a veterinarian's oversight. Too many pets are accidentally overdosed with tranquilizers by well-meaning owners, which often affects their breathing. Aircraft cabins and cargo pits do not pressurize to sea level pressure, but to about 5,000ft. That's enough to cause breathing trouble in some cases, especially if the pet has sedative drugs in its system.

Four, airline embargoes (refusal) to carry pets during extreme temperatures (heat or cold) has been policy for most airlines for decades. They are enforced strictly for air cargo, but it isn't practical to do so with pets checked as luggage.

Thirty pet deaths out of the tens of thousands that fly in one year is a sad and sobering statistic, but no human system is perfect. Most airline employees try their best. I know, because I spent over 20 years in that industry. Many of the people handling pets are animal loving and go out of their way to give pets the safe travel that they deserve.

If you have NO other choice, buy your poor pet a seat. Sheesh.

And yeah, I don't think that pets should travel in airplanes at all - think of how hard it is on YOU and how much more freaked out the poor dog/cat is. Not to mention that even if your pet is perfectly behaved, you're still likely putting them in an enclosed space for a couple hours with people who are allergic.

I strongly recommend not allowing your pets to travel in the cargo hold of airlines. Instead, you should waterboard them for crimes against humanity.

are pets allowed on borad a plane? never seen one. never want to see one.

@Zane Horton: I flew from Boston to Seattle non-stop a couple years ago and the man sitting next to me had a puppy in a carrier under the seat in front of him. That puppy was more well-behaved than several of the humans on the flight.

So, does anyone have another option for transporting large dogs (100+ lbs)?

@jurijuri: Should I send them surface mail?

Seriously, though. Bringing your housepets on a vacation where you have to FLY is a stupid idea. Moving? Unless I'm going across the ocean, I'm driving, and the cats stay in the carrier for the duration, IF I bring them at all (see Clinton, Socks). Yeah, they hate that too, and I hate listening to their constant meowing in the back seat, but that's probably the way to go.

@A/S/L-SteveDave loves this guy->★: That's a good way to come home to a cat orgy my friend.

I've had to fly my cats across the country before. It's definitely not something I would recommend if there are other options, but generally (except for bulldogs, apparently), the risks are low. My cats made it through the day (RDU -> DFW -> SEA) just fine, although they wanted to be held for quite some time when we arrived - even the one who never wants to be held!

If you have to do it, plan carefully and take them to the vet around a week ahead of time to have them cleared to fly.

@Urgleglurk: Good advice. After getting ("buying" sounds wrong somehow) my first pet a little over a year ago, I couldn't imagine putting my cat in the belly of an airplane. I don't think she'd ever forgive me, either.

Shroedinger probably Diggs this story.

Or maybe he doesn't.

This is crazy. I was JUST on the united.com site reading about pet restrictions (I may take my cats with me when I fly next spring) and I was wondering why they had a notice about short-nosed dog restrictions in the summer.

Fifteen minutes later I go over to consumerist.com and get my answer.

Freaky!

The thought of a scared dog or cat in the cargo hold of a plane just breaks my heart.

In my experience, dogs like to travel in cars. Cats hate any travel at all and will kill you if you even suggest it.

This is why, when I go to a wedding next summer, I'm going to ask my mom to drop in and look on the cats.

@OmniZero: What an excellent picture. Now only if we could shoot the cat into space.

@OmniZero: "You can't board it. It gets upset, its hair falls out."

I was considering a cross country flight with the cat recently and noticed that a number of airlines (JetBlue springs to mind) will ONLY allow pets in the cabin. This also means that there is a limit to the size of the pet as it has to fit within a relatively small carrier under the seat. So just small dogs and cats. There is also a limit of 4 per flight and you have to book over the phone, pay a supplement, take the cat out of the carrier and walk through the metal detector etc etc

@HurtsSoGood: That's pretty much my point. If you have to move them, take a car. I think there are pet transit services, too.

@OmniZero: One time while flying on a short 45 minute commuter flight I saw someone with a small lap dog on the plane out side of any carriers. They had the empty carrier but they kept the dog in their lap the whole flight.

@Cat_In_A_Hat:

Unfortunately, they have started allowing this, and I have seen it. Luckily, my allergies are not as bad as they used to be, or it could be a real problem for me. (Actually, I still have trouble when people have all sorts of dander and such on their clothing...) Unless someone needs to travel internationally (because they are moving there, not for business or vacation) the pet should stay with a pet sitter. (Just my personal opinion.)

However, I would have no objection if airlines decided to offer special "pet friendly" flights (for a higher fee) so I can choose to not be on those flights if necessary. (It would also make charges lower for regular flights... maybe)

@ConroyCotta:
drive

@A/S/L-SteveDave loves this guy->★: As my father puts it, dogs are like having a baby who never leaves the crib, ever, for the rest of its life. Cats are like little children, as long as you feed them and give them a bathroom they will know what to do and be perfectly content doing it.

Even kittens we bring in who have lost their litters or whose mothers have died as SOON as you bring them in, knows where the food is, knows where the litter box is, and knows how to use both. Heck trying to manage our one Maine Coons weight, she knows EXACTLY where the food is and has almost succeeded in opening one of those plastic coffee tins we cleaned out to store her dry food. Im shocked at this point she hasn't learned how to open wet food cans yet, as she DOES know how to open door knobs by jumping at one side of it and once lose pulling at the underside of the door..

@Murph1908: Or maybe he does AND does not simultaneously.

@Dooley:

Where are you going that you can take a pet? I didn't think most forms of accomodations (hotels, rental houses, hostels) allowed pets.

I'd be afraid of my dog freaking out and tearing the place apart or pooping/peeing on the floor since it isn't used to the environment (or the climate).

@sir_eccles:

I think that is starting to be the trend-no more checked pets. Pets can be your "carry-on bag" if they are less than usually 15 lbs (with or w/o the carrier depending on the airline)..with a fee of up to $100 each way.

I once saw a young pet owner pick up her dead guinea pig after a flight to Seattle. She didn't know it was dead until the baggage "handler" tossed the cage her way and walked away. I've never seen someone cry so hard in my entire life.

Probably not a genius move to check a guinea pig, but the airline had absolutely no sympathy. They could've told her ahead of time or given her some private space to grieve a little bit, but instead they tossed her a dead animal and walked away. Heartless.

@lalaland13: Our one cat thought car travel was a laxative, to the day she died anytime my parents brought her to their shore house the damn cat took a massive wet one right in the middle of the cage half way down.

She loved the shore, just hated the car ride to get their despite knowing where she was going.

[www.petairways.com]

You are responsible to let the airline know that you wish to have your pet in the cabin before you arrive at the airport, preferably when you make the reservation for yourself. There will be a charge for taking it onboard.

The pet must stay in the carrier the whole time and it must fit under the seat in front of you. There are also rules about the amount of room the pet mush have in the carrier. Check with your airline for details.

Jurijuri: As far as I know, you cannot "buy a seat" for a pet in a kennel or carrier.

Tallanvor has some very good advice above.

CoryCotta, I don't know of any way other than driving your large dog(s) across country. Trucking brings its own issues, some similar to the onces above. Sorry.

Unfortunately I didn't have a choice as to whether to bring my cat in the cargo hold between England and Canada, either way. (I brought her with me when I moved to England several years ago, and then brought her again when I moved back to Canada.) Bringing her from Canada to England four years ago, the only carrier I was legally allowed by the British government to use was Air Canada, which does not allow animals to travel in the cabin on overseas flights. From England to Canada, none of the airlines would allow me to bring her in the cabin, even though the government didn't have a problem with it.

She made it through just fine and they took amazing care of her, although she was utterly freaked out for a day or two both times, but if there was ANY other option at all, I would have taken it. There just wasn't, unless I wanted to give her away to friends for several years - not a good option, as she is very bonded to me.

I'm just glad I didn't read this article before I flew with her...

My three-pound dog is far better behaved than almost all human children, and travels under the seat in a carrier and has been trained to go in a litter box (a Tupperware container of litter on the plane). Because I knew I'd travel with my dog (I take her to Paris with me when I'm there for a month) I got a breed with hair, not fur, so I won't torture people who have allergies. In France, where dogs are welcome everywhere, and children are expected to behave as well as my dog, I take her to bars and restaurants, where they are happy to have her.

FYI, for those traveling in the summer, airlines have a restriction on pets-per-cabin, so you'd better get your doggie or cat reservation in early.

@Urgleglurk: Yeah, I don't really see how the blame can be placed on the airlines here. I mean, air cargo travel is what it is. In many cases, that doesn't suit pets too well.

I would drive my cat cross-country long before I would put her on a plane.

@ngoandy:

Staying at friends place who also have cats. Normally, I leave the cats at home with my auto-scooping litterbox and a WOK filled with food, and two sources of water (Pet fountain with reservoir filled, and a backup source in case it something gets knocked over)

Normally, this can keep the cats safe and happy for a week, but I may be going for two weeks.

I'd never put them in the cargo, but I might use a soft carrier and bring them as "carry on"

Or, possibly, have someone come by my house and check on them...May be a more viable solution.

Sorry - forgot - check with the website of the consulate you're visiting if you're going overseas to see the requirements (shots, certificates). Airlines have their own requirements. In France and Germany they haven't even looked at my dog at the border, but you need a USDA certificate after you get the shots and checkup at the vet, and it has to be a certain number of days before travel. You may also have to get another exam before coming back to the USA (in the country where you're staying if you're there long enough).

@Jim Topoleski: My two inside cats have it all planned out. My female, Cynder, is the brains and the jumper. The male, Skeeter, is the brawn. He opens the cabinet doors and feed bin lids. He is also stupid enough to steal stuff, then bring it upstaris and leave it by my bed, ensuring I know who did it, as the female couldn't carry a granny smith apple up two flights of stairs, and he can. The worst was the day I found my wallet open next to their food tin can. I was running low on food, so I think they were either a)trying to steal my CC so they could order online, or b) were going to forge my license so they could drive to pick up food.

@ConroyCotta: A car? We have a Newfie and he fist perfectly in the back seat of out Subaru. If we have to fly anywhere, he's boarded.

@ConroyCotta: a sled & some reigns should work just fine.

also, i'd like to make a motion to reclassify all dogs over 100 lbs as bears.

@lalaland13: depends on the cat. i have one that loves to ride in the car. she curls up on my lap & falls asleep or sits in the rear window. EXCEPT when she knows we're going to the vet. then she hides under the seat so i can't get her out.

@Dooley: I would get someone to check in on them. Airlines don't always seem to follow their own restrictions. I had to bring a guitar with me on a plane once - I know, not the same thing - and the person at the check-in counter said it would be fine, the woman taking the ticket tried to get me to check it, and the stewardess was super-helpful and put it in a closet. But, I got two distinctly different approaches from three people on the same day. It would suck to get there with your cats and then have them tell you they can't come on board.

@The Name's Ash78, Housewares: I have 2 purebred huskies... They'd do better on Everest than I ever will.

@Cat_In_A_Hat: You've probably been on a plane with one and not noticed. Scared small dogs and cats are usually very quiet. Even yappy dogs are quiet travelers - they aren't protecting any territory, they just don't want the demon machine to eat them.

Unless its my idiot of an orange cat - moved cross country without a car, train doesn't allow them, so plane it was. I took two trips, one with each cat. Little brown cat was no more trouble than a stuffed animal the same size. Idiot orange cat? Puked in his carrier, choked on it, and spent the last hour of the flight hyperventilating in my lap and throwing up. *facepalm*

To the guy who had the misfortune of sitting next to me on that flight - I am still very, very sorry. Thank you for being so understanding.

All of that said, unless you were one of the ten year old girls seated in front of me who kept wanting to pet said puking cat, or the gentleman next to me, you probably didn't notice my wheezing cat that flight either. Not over the screaming baby anyway.