what airline do you trust most?

[yogi53]

Yogi and I are flying to Chicago in October for the MRC..a little (ok a lot) nervous but 15-17 hours one way in the car is too much...what airline do you trust the most with your beloved pets?

[Anton]

Originally Posted by yogi53

Yogi and I are flying to Chicago in October for the MRC..a little (ok a lot) nervous but 15-17 hours one way in the car is too much...what airline do you trust the most with your beloved pets?

I have flown most of the airlines who allow dogs as excess baggage. My favorite airline is Delta. I think they take really good care of the dogs before and after the flights.

My second favorite airline is Alaska. But they don't have a lot of flights back east yet.

My least favorite (now) is Frontier. I flew them from Seattle back to Missouri for Nationals this year, and the trip out was fine. But when we got back to Seattle, the baggage guys, instead of bringing them through one of the access doors, they dumped my girls down a ramp where they would usually unload ski equipment, etc. In order to get the crate off the ramp, I had to open their door, and make them jump out on to the slick metal ramp.

[BostonRott]

Northwest was good with my dogs, as was Midwest air. Have used both to fly dogs to Missouri, and NW was also our airline from Amsterdam to Boston. Used Delta to ship a pup, no problems there either.

[yogi53]

What is the difference between flying them as cargo or excessive baggage??? Also, any tips on feeding or care before/after the flight?

[sophie's-mom]

Qantas!

[BostonRott]

Usually the weight is the difference. I think that over 100lbs is cargo with most airlines. You have a short flight, I would not feed after midnight (assuming a morning flight), and minimal water that a.m.

[Mavides]

Originally Posted by yogi53

What is the difference between flying them as cargo or excessive baggage???

Excess baggage is when you are on the flight with them - cargo is when you ship the dog by themself. Excess baggage (at least with most airlines) is last on the plane, first off....cargo is the opposite - you often have to take your dog to a different location to send them as cargo (over to the cargo part of the airport) and they need to arrive 2 hours before the flight and they are first on and last off. I feel much safer flying with my dogs - and it's usually much cheaper as cargo prices are by weight and excess baggage fees are a flat rate. PLUS, you're on the premises to make sure your dog gets on your flight, makes any change of planes properly, etc. I've personally used Delta, Alaska, and Lufthansa with my animals and haven't had a problem with any of them. Best of luck!!

[yogi53]

thanks - great info and it eased my mind in the process!

[JD102175]

Make sure you ask for a seat where you can watch Yogi being loaded and unloaded. That way if he is mishandled in any way you will know and be able to file a report if necessary. Also, is the compartment he'll be traveling in pressure and temp. controlled?

Jaime

[yogi53]

yes pressurized and temp controled between 50-70- thanks

[yogi53]

so, in my search I have found that my own flight roundtrip is $130 - she is $200 EACH WAY!!!!! HOLY MOLY! Still to long to drive, but this will be our only flight for a while!! Maybe I can sell an organ....

[Tierarztin]

Air Canada is the *best*, but i'm not sure if they fly city to city in the USA... i won't use american airlines again as they once flew a pup i bought to chicago instead of to toronto ... all's well that ends well, but really...



saw your pup's pic on daviann's site - what a cutie!


cathy

Dr Cathy Priddle/Tierarztin/Daisy Hill
"TEST AND TELL"
Omnia vincit amor et nos cedamus amori
"Der Mensch tracht, und Gott lacht."

[Lorrie]

Frankie flew Air Canada Cargo as a 9 week old Pup from Smithers BC to Toronto ON ... I was practically sick the whole day. He arrived no worse for the wear but was glad to be out of that crate.

This summer a Pug died while flying Air Canada from Toronto to Winnipeg because they left the dog on the hot tarmac too long before loading.

Flying dogs scares the crap out of me .. although sometimes there isn't a choice.

I wouldn't feed for 12 hours before the flight .. use newspaper as liner in the crate as it is the most absorbant and freeze water in a container .. they can at least drink as it thaws out.

Good Luck!

[yogi53]

Thanks for the kind words about my girlie!! She flew to me on American and the flight was ok, she was a little traumatized but it was a LOONG day for her as there were no direct flights so she had 2 ups and 2 downs before she got to me....I will put her crate pad in if they let me as she is not a chewer and she can hold her bladder as she is not a puppy anymore...

[Tierarztin]

Originally Posted by Lorrie

This summer a Pug died while flying Air Canada from Toronto to Winnipeg because they left the dog on the hot tarmac too long before loading.

that's so sad... poor puglet!

i hadn't seen this come across our pug list (PCC-Pug Club of Canada) - do you have any further details?

that's the reason i am so glad they changed the MRC dates to the fall - flying in the summer takes special planning... my last litter was ready in july and i arranged to have them at the toronto airport at 5AM so that they could land in nova scotia and newfoundland before the heat of the day... they both flew air canada and arrived just fine...

but a *pug*?!? brachycephalic breeds shouldn't be flown in the summer!

one of my adoptive homes gave me an all expense paid trip to las vegas so that i could deliver their pup directly to them and he wouldn't have to fly cargo... he was very well behaved in a sherpa bag at my feet the entire trip! and while i was in vegas they took me to see siegfried & roy, front row centre seats! i still have white tiger hair on my suede jacket...



and another of my adoptive homes offered me the same deal to deliver a pup to them in aruba but i was pregnant at the time and couldn't go! my bookkeeper and his wife had a great time tho, and make sure to rub my nose in it on every possible occasion!



if it is not hot, i put a couple of layers of white paper on the floor of the crate and then some shredded stuff on top... but if it is hot i wet two towels, freeze them overnight, and then put them in the crate just before loading, with an additional layer of one soaking wet towel added just before loading the dog into the crate at cargo - that way the dog will be wet and cool for the duration of the flight... i also take those white plastic clip-on 'water bowls', fill them with water and freeze them the night before, again clipping them onto the front of the crate just before loading the dog, so that the dog has ice/water to lick and it is more likely to last the duration of the flight then simply water that usually spills in the first few minutes, especially if dog in crate is a puppy...

hope this helps!
cathy

Dr Cathy Priddle/Tierarztin/Daisy Hill
"TEST AND TELL"
Omnia vincit amor et nos cedamus amori
"Der Mensch tracht, und Gott lacht."