Delta increases cost for pets & Question about 2

[yorkiesmiles]

I've been checking with airlines about flying with my 2 and just got off the phone with a Delta rep - he said just this week they raised the price to fly with pets onboard to $100 each way --Although, it still says $75 on their website

Wonder if I could get them to stick to the $75 since they haven't updated their website? (I really don't want to fly Delta - horrid experience with them in Feb. but my mom has a buy 1 get 1 free on Delta)

Also, I have called United & Delta about traveling with 2 in one bag and paying one fee for the bag -- both airlines said yes -- but I'm so petrified of getting to the airport and someone there says they can't be in the same bag. Anyone have experience with traveling with 2 in the same bag?? What type of response do you get at the airport when paying for them & going thru security?

Anything else helpful to know?? I haven't done this before -- but have read a lot.

[yorkiesmiles]

I should probably add - my 2 weigh about 8 pounds put together

[LuvMyPrinceKobi]

I don't have experience other than flying by myself with one doggy in a bag, but $100 each way!!!!!!!!!!

[dray]

Security doesn't care by the time you get to that point they are usually going crazy over your dogs , it will be at the ticket counter when you buy their ticket that can be a problem. Most air lines let you have two in the bag if they are under 6 months , how will they know, just ask your vet to put that age on their health cert for you and all should be fine. Most air lines don't even look at the paper work but every once in a while they will.

[nvnvgirl]

Wow, $100 each way and they have to be under the seat just like if you had a laptop or something that you wouldn't even have to pay for . Blows me away!
Not that I'm encouraging this, but a friend of mine flies to Oregon all the time with 2 of her tiny dogs (one's a Maltese and one's a poodle) in one bag and she only says she's got one dog. She's never had anyone check I guess, so she only pays for one dog. I think i'd be a nervous wreck if it were me, but she seems to be used to doing it and it doesn't bother her.

[GinosMommy]

I use Northwest all the time...and wanted to bring Bianca once with me back home to NY...they wanted $90 EACH WAY!

Im like oh he!! no! My ticket cost $188 RT with taxes and fees! thats ridiculous to charge $180 for a dog under your seat!

[dray]

The air lines do not want dogs in the cabin that is why they charge so much for them, so if you want to take your dog with you, you have to pay!!
It is expensive but the dogs are so much safer under the seat with you.

[yorkiesmiles]

Originally Posted by dray

Security doesn't care by the time you get to that point they are usually going crazy over your dogs , it will be at the ticket counter when you buy their ticket that can be a problem. Most air lines let you have two in the bag if they are under 6 months , how will they know, just ask your vet to put that age on their health cert for you and all should be fine. Most air lines don't even look at the paper work but every once in a while they will.

Well, it ends up that we got tickets on Northwest (the Delta deal my mom had - Surprise - all the seats were sold - those deals are almost a scam)

Now my concern with Northwest is they said I can have 2 in a bag, like you said under 6 mths -- some of the other airlines told me 2 was ok - no age requirements - the guy at United kept telling me they just had to be the same kind of animal.

Well mine will both be 6! - 6 yrs when we fly. Northwest makes you pay in advance - the fee is $80 each way - so unlike the other carriers who take payment at the ticket desk, they will already have my money. I still want to put my 2 in one bag - it's just so much money.

So now I have more questions:

#1 Northwest said they don't need a health form - only if a state requires it - anyone know if Florida requires such a thing? We have a layover in Memphis, but I wouldn't think I should need it for that.

#2 Should I be on the safe side and get something from the vet just in case?

#3 -- Here's my biggie -- Will they ask at the ticket counter to see the dogs, or will I have to remove them?? -- so often people ask if they are puppies, but I am so afraid someone will know Yorkies & know that my 2 with long coats have to be adults. (I think it's crazy that there is an age issue on how many can be in the bag -- I understand size, but the age shouldn't matter)

#4 I know I have to carry them thru security, but do they check again before you board the plane?? I was really thinking get them thru security and then move one dog to another collapsable carrier & let my daughter carry one on board -- but that might put us more at risk

[Dan & Corinne]

Originally Posted by nvnvgirl

Wow, $100 each way and they have to be under the seat just like if you had a laptop or something that you wouldn't even have to pay for . Blows me away!
Not that I'm encouraging this, but a friend of mine flies to Oregon all the time with 2 of her tiny dogs (one's a Maltese and one's a poodle) in one bag and she only says she's got one dog. She's never had anyone check I guess, so she only pays for one dog. I think i'd be a nervous wreck if it were me, but she seems to be used to doing it and it doesn't bother her.

How does she get through security check? I mean they x-ray everything.

[Dan & Corinne]

Originally Posted by yorkiesmiles

Well, it ends up that we got tickets on Northwest (the Delta deal my mom had - Surprise - all the seats were sold - those deals are almost a scam)

Now my concern with Northwest is they said I can have 2 in a bag, like you said under 6 mths -- some of the other airlines told me 2 was ok - no age requirements - the guy at United kept telling me they just had to be the same kind of animal.

Well mine will both be 6! - 6 yrs when we fly. Northwest makes you pay in advance - the fee is $80 each way - so unlike the other carriers who take payment at the ticket desk, they will already have my money. I still want to put my 2 in one bag - it's just so much money.

So now I have more questions:

#1 Northwest said they don't need a health form - only if a state requires it - anyone know if Florida requires such a thing? We have a layover in Memphis, but I wouldn't think I should need it for that.

#2 Should I be on the safe side and get something from the vet just in case?

#3 -- Here's my biggie -- Will they ask at the ticket counter to see the dogs, or will I have to remove them?? -- so often people ask if they are puppies, but I am so afraid someone will know Yorkies & know that my 2 with long coats have to be adults. (I think it's crazy that there is an age issue on how many can be in the bag -- I understand size, but the age shouldn't matter)

#4 I know I have to carry them thru security, but do they check again before you board the plane?? I was really thinking get them thru security and then move one dog to another collapsable carrier & let my daughter carry one on board -- but that might put us more at risk

Check out this site - http://www.pettravel.com/
I think it will answer most of your questions. Definitely get paperwork from the vet, especially the vaccination records.

You might also check to see if JetBlue flys out of the airport near you. I've heard they are more accomodating.

[Sukoshis Gma]

Originally Posted by Dan & Corinne

How does she get through security check? I mean they x-ray everything.

Corinne, if I recall correctly, when I flew Lisa's bunny out to her I had to take the bunny out the carrier and hold her so they could check the carrier and xray it and then I put her back in and she waited for me in her carrier til I went through the security deal and came out the other side cleared to go. The only thing that was xrayed was the carrier itself.

[Keno]

Originally Posted by dray

The air lines do not want dogs in the cabin that is why they charge so much for them, so if you want to take your dog with you, you have to pay!!
It is expensive but the dogs are so much safer under the seat with you.

I was going to say the same thing, seems they do everything to discourage you from bringing a dog on board ...

[nvnvgirl]

Originally Posted by Keno

I was going to say the same thing, seems they do everything to discourage you from bringing a dog on board ...

They only allow so many live animals in the cabin, which is why they aren't more accomodating I think. Also, if anyone has dry ice in the cabin, no animals can go inside (dry ice used for organs to be transplanted etc....it very rarely happens).

Also, I don't think they give you a ticket or anything for the pets going on board; so security has no idea how many you said you had. At least, that's been my experience. They do xray the carrier, but I think they figure if you got to the security gate, everything with you is kosher (as far as pets go). I might be wrong about that and it might vary with which airline you're flying. I've only flown Alaska Air.

[KathyinCali]

Originally Posted by dray

Security doesn't care by the time you get to that point they are usually going crazy over your dogs , it will be at the ticket counter when you buy their ticket that can be a problem. Most air lines let you have two in the bag if they are under 6 months , how will they know, just ask your vet to put that age on their health cert for you and all should be fine. Most air lines don't even look at the paper work but every once in a while they will.

I was under the impression that you don't need a health certificate to fly within the US? Do you know something different? I only ask because I am flying with Lucy this month...

[KathyinCali]

Originally Posted by nvnvgirl

They only allow so many live animals in the cabin, which is why they aren't more accomodating I think. Also, if anyone has dry ice in the cabin, no animals can go inside (dry ice used for organs to be transplanted etc....it very rarely happens).

Also, I don't think they give you a ticket or anything for the pets going on board; so security has no idea how many you said you had. At least, that's been my experience. They do xray the carrier, but I think they figure if you got to the security gate, everything with you is kosher (as far as pets go). I might be wrong about that and it might vary with which airline you're flying. I've only flown Alaska Air.

When I flew Delta to Mexico with Lucy earlier this year they did give her a big orange tag which both security and boarding checked. I don't know about other airlines since I've only flown Delta with her so far.