Which Airline is the Pet-Friendliest?

    • Silver

    Which Airline is the Pet-Friendliest?

    After all the talk about Dog friendly cities now my husband and I have decided to go to Florida (Fort Myers) to visit his parents this April. We found great deals on SouthWest but it looks like they're not dog friendly.

    We would absolutely want Gizmo in the cabin and not with the luggage. He is a Shih Tzu about 7.5lbs.
    It was recommended that we tranquilize him.
    Has anyone had any experience with any of this?

    Which Airline is the petfriendliest or allows the largest Kennel?

    Where can one find an airline approved kennel?


    We're also looking for the least expensive option.

    Has anyone found driving down to be easier?

    We would be coming from Pennsylvania.


    Many thanks in advance. Kisses from Gizmo!
    ~Cheryl
    • Gold Top Dog
    Airlines...I like Continental and Delta both. I ship dogs alone so they go in crates. You can check on airlines records with animals and the types of incidents and how many they have at this website...reports go back quite  a ways now. Click on PDF if you have Adobe...then animal incidents are usually the last or second to last page of the report. You can click on linked content to view the follow ups and outcomes.
    [linkhttp://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/atcr07.htm]http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/atcr07.htm[/link]
    • Silver
    Thanks for the link.  I'll check that out!
     
     Has anyone flown USA 3000 with their dog?
    • Gold Top Dog
    Has anyone flown USA 3000 with their dog

     
    Is that an airline?  I've never heard of it.  I did just read an article that said that Southwest doesn't allow animals at all.  The others do but the price varies and some don't allow for keeping the dog in the cabin.  It also strongly advised against sedating the animal.  Now, that was probably more in reference to the dogs in the cargo hold and the fact that they can't brace/protect themselves if they're knocked out, so maybe in the cabin wouldn't be a problem. 
    • Silver
    Yes it is an airline.  And their pet rules seem to be pretty straight forward.
    • Gold Top Dog
    [linkhttp://www.usa3000.com/index.htm]http://www.usa3000.com/index.htm[/link]
     
    Never heard of them. But they're in a different region so perhaps they're the Southwest...of the midwest?
    • Silver
    If I were going from Pennsylvania to Florida, I would drive with a dog instead of flying. I have driven to many parts of Florida from Boston with 3 kids a few times and it really isn't a bad ride.
    • Gold Top Dog
    United Airlines allows dogs in the cabin, size permitting. Your little guy would definitely be small enough to fit in a carrier that fits under the seat! There is an extra charge when you travel with your pet, whether you carry him on or check him. Most airlines oppose tranquilizers. Tranquilized pets are at WAY more of a risk of health problems than untranquilized pets. Here's a link with more info: [linkhttp://www.united.com/page/middlepage/0,6823,1047,00.html]United Pet Regulations[/link]
    • Gold Top Dog
    Go to the library,  the past issue of Consumer Reports rated airlines and pet travel.
     
     
    • Bronze
    With any airline you choose make sure you triple check everything with the airline before heading to the airport.
    • Gold Top Dog
    We like Continental. They are fantastic! The benchmark for traveling with animals if you ask us!
    We have snet rescues across country on several airlines...and it is all pretty much the same...unless there is a problem or a lay over...in those cases Continental SHINES!
    just my opinion!
    • Gold Top Dog
    I can't say much for flying with dogs, but I have shipped rats to adopters and the only airline I would use is Continental.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Delta!!!!!

    I HATED flying with Continental. They were rude and expensive, to boot. (Continental = $95, I believe, and Delta = $50. Each way.)

    If you'd like advice on traveling with a small little fella, feel free to email or PM me. My 7.5-pound dog has become quite the globe trotter.

    Edited to add - you can make pet reservations online with Continental, but you have to actually call with Delta. Make sure to make reservations early, because only a set number of pets (I think 2) are allowed in the cabin of any given flight.
    • Gold Top Dog
    We have driven with Zoe from Baltimore, MD to Tampa, FL many times.  My bf does the entire drive (16ish hours with stops) in one day.  Usually we'd leave at like 4 am and drive straight through.  Zoe does great with it.  She sleeps most of it and we would stop every few hours for food and/or potty and she would go out to pee and stretch legs.  She could stretch in the car too seeing as how she is 10 lbs. 
     
    I find the airlines charge a lot for a dog considering they are not taking up an extra seat or anything!