I can tell you when I picked up Angel to bring her home, that security didn't care whether I had a boarding pass for her, but the airlines (NW) did and they checked to make sure we had it.
I can't speak for other airlines, but on NW it is $90 each way to fly one pet in the cabin and the pet also counts as a carry on, which means you can then only have a purse or briefcase with you. Al doggie items must pass the same security as everything else, which means no toiletries (including Nutrical) over 3 oz. The CONTAINER must not exceed 3 oz - they will take a larger container away from you regardless of how much is in it. Bottled water needs to be purchased after you go through security.
Most airlines have the same rules inflight, which are the pet in a carrier that remains closed under the seat in front of you. They are supposed to remain there for the duration of the flight - however - as they are considered carry-ons and these can be taken out from under the seat or overhead once the plane is in the air - I moved her carrier on my lap. I did not have a direct flight and on the first leg of the flight there were only 6 people on the plane. Not only did the flight attendant allow me to take her out and hold her, she actually asked to hold her too. On the 2nd leg of the flight, the plane was at maximum capacity. The floor was so cold (even in the aisle seat, which I highly recommend) that I had the carrier on my lap for the entire flight. I fell asleep during this flight, so I didn't attempt to take her out - but I'm sure I would have had issues if I did.
All airports require that a pet be leashed while in the airport - so make sure you have one with you even if your baby is in a carrier. They also request the animal not be taken out of the carrier, but my personal experience is as long as they are not on the ground, they don't really care. I used pee pads in the bathroom for her in the airport and I did the same thing in the airplane when I felt she needed to go.
__________________  Sissy & Angel |