Flying tomorrow with connecting flight

[sunshine22]

I'm flying tomorrow with my children and our 5 mos. old Sunshine and I'm a little nervous.
We have a 2 1/2 hour flight then one hour to change planes followed by a 2 hour flight.
My husband is picking us up.
I just hope Sunshine is good for us. I hope she doesn't do her business while on the plane.
I'll bring some nutrical and wee pads, ziploc bags and wipes.
I also hope she doesn't do something unexpected like start barking or howling.
I know there are other posts about flying but I'm just nervous.
The policy is that she must stay in her carrier at all times placed under the seat.

[Annadoodle]

Originally Posted by sunshine22

I'm flying tomorrow with my children and our 5 mos. old Sunshine and I'm a little nervous.
We have a 2 1/2 hour flight then one hour to change planes followed by a 2 hour flight.
My husband is picking us up.
I just hope Sunshine is good for us. I hope she doesn't do her business while on the plane.
I'll bring some nutrical and wee pads, ziploc bags and wipes.
I also hope she doesn't do something unexpected like start barking or howling.
I know there are other posts about flying but I'm just nervous.
The policy is that she must stay in her carrier at all times placed under the seat.

Just bring her a few new toys to give her periodically ...I'd not give her too many treats...

Hey! One of those Bullwrinkles may keep her busy for a long time! lol

[Carters Mom]

From my experience, the nervousness on the owner's part is unwarranted. They usually sleep.

If you haven't gotten your health certificate from the vet yet, don't forget that for all airlines, they are required. I've never been asked for mine however, I always get one so that I don't get denied boarding for my pup.

Ask the vet for the proper benadryl dosage for your pup. If your pup has a bad first flight, you can administer a dose of benadryl on the layover.

Always pack some food in water in another carryon bag so that if you have flight delays, your pup won't be starving! Bring more than one puppy pad also.

My daughter's 4-5 hour flight home in July turned into 16 hours because of flight cancellations, delays, etc. She was glad she had food and water with her for Cooper. What she didn't feel she had enough of was pee pads though.

Prepare for the unexpected!

Good luck.

Lisa

[kara]

I just flew flights just like that. I was able to hold the carrier on my lap during the flight. The carrier only had to be on the floor during take off and landing. Everyone else can take their carry on's out during flight, so why can't you? You can hold the carrier on your lap during the flight. You sound prepared. Try and relax, so Sunshine will be relaxed. You will have a great flight!! Have a great trip.

[kara]

Originally Posted by Carters Mom

From my experience, the nervousness on the owner's part is unwarranted. They usually sleep.

If you haven't gotten your health certificate from the vet yet, don't forget that for all airlines, they are required. I've never been asked for mine however, I always get one so that I don't get denied boarding for my pup.

Ask the vet for the proper benadryl dosage for your pup. If your pup has a bad first flight, you can administer a dose of benadryl on the layover.

Always pack some food in water in another carryon bag so that if you have flight delays, your pup won't be starving! Bring more than one puppy pad also.

My daughter's 4-5 hour flight home in July turned into 16 hours because of flight cancellations, delays, etc. She was glad she had food and water with her for Cooper. What she didn't feel she had enough of was pee pads though.

Prepare for the unexpected!

Good luck.

Lisa

Very good advice!!!! On a side note about health certificates, just check with your airline on the health certificate. My airline didn't require one. It was a new regulation that went into affect in July. I flew NWA. BUT, I needed it for the state travel requirements. The state I was flying to required a health certificate. So I didn't need it to meet airline requirements but I needed it to meet the state requirements. So weird.

[centralnewyorki]

Originally Posted by Carters Mom

From my experience, the nervousness on the owner's part is unwarranted. They usually sleep.

If you haven't gotten your health certificate from the vet yet, don't forget that for all airlines, they are required. I've never been asked for mine however, I always get one so that I don't get denied boarding for my pup.

Ask the vet for the proper benadryl dosage for your pup. If your pup has a bad first flight, you can administer a dose of benadryl on the layover.

Always pack some food in water in another carryon bag so that if you have flight delays, your pup won't be starving! Bring more than one puppy pad also.

My daughter's 4-5 hour flight home in July turned into 16 hours because of flight cancellations, delays, etc. She was glad she had food and water with her for Cooper. What she didn't feel she had enough of was pee pads though.

Prepare for the unexpected!

Good luck.

Lisa

That is great advice- you never know what can happen. On my sister's last trip home, she got stuck in Atlanta overnight because her first plane was so delayed that she missed her second flight. I would pack some paper towels, too. If Sunshine gets sick, wipes are too moist to absorb anything, and you don't want your pup to be sitting in puke until you flag down a flight attendant and they get you something. The only times that will probably be stressful for sunshine are take off and landing. Other than that (providing it's a smooth flight), she'll probably forget where she is and fall asleep. Good luck and let us know how the flight goes.

[luzangela428]

May I ask how much extra does it cost to take Sunshine on board with you??? I am looking into taking a trip with Maximus maybe and I am trying to find out as much as possible!!

[Bella0722]

AmericaWest which is the airline I will be using is $80 each way.

[sunshine22]

I'm flying Continental and it is $80 each way.
Their policy is 2 pets in cabin per plane, so you'll want to book early.

Thanks for all the good advice.
I hope I don't forget anything.
I did get the health certificate just in case.
We're flying to Texas. I can't wait to just get there.

[TexasYorkie]

We fly with Zoe all the time. What we do is before we go on the plane we usually find a family restroom or atleast a restroom that is meant for only one person at a time and we put her pad on the floor and wait until she goes. She has never had an accident. She has held her bladder for over 20 hours before, even though we stopped and stopped for potty breaks. She is almost a year and a half, and we have been traveling with her from the day we got her. Also she is so well behaved that we take her out and sit her on our lap and just cover her with a blanket. No one ever knows she is on it. Good luck.

[Meg]

I flew a few months ago and was a nervous wreck! My vet gave me a sedative, he took that and was so mellow for the whole trip. No one even knew he was on the plane except for those I showed him to.

I was also kind of glad for the rule of the dog needing to stay in his carrier. I would put it on my lap and pet him or give him an ice cube... but I didn't have to worry about the family of kids next to me begging to hold him.

But like everyone told me-- he just slept most of the time. You'll/he'll be fine.