My daughter flies my grand-puppy with her from Houston to Columbus at least 4 times a year.
She flies Continental. The rate right now is $90 PER direction...so $90 coming in and $90 going home. $180 round trip.
Roxy flies well and most of the time no one knows she is even there until my daughter picks up her bag when they get to the gate to talk to her and then people are "wow, we didn't know a dog was on board!".
They (Continental) are very serious about keeping her "under the seat" so no riding on the lap, even in her carrier.
Roxy ONLY goes to the airport when she is going to have a great experience....like when I keep her her and my daughter flys out...We never take her to the airport to see her Mommy leave. But when my daughter flies in we take her to greet her "mommy". So now she loves the airport because she is going to see "nanna" or someone she loves at the other end of the flight or at the airport. It is great fun to see her get happy at just entering the airport.
Prior to flying her we would take her to the airport a few times and let her get used to the noise and people. Of course people would talk to her and make over her and she would eat it up. I think that way airports started out a "good" place in her mind. It took a lot of work but we think it paid off.