I also just returned from a trip on NWA - no problems at all with the dogs!! This was their first airline experience
Thanks celstu1 for the prayers - I was going to post after you did about my experience, but didn't get to it
No one at the counter even cared that I was carrying dogs - never looked to see the bag, nothing - when I asked about having the bag tagged that I had a pet - the gal said you don't need that - we don't do that (others on YT mentioned needing that - but I guess that was with other airlines)
On my ticket it said PETC - I'm sure that stood for pet companion or pet carrier.
Only problem going was a huge delay that was NWA fault - they comped me well including 1,000 bonus miles, lodging, transportation & meals.
While we were standing in line to check in we learned our flight was delayed 1 1/2 hrs - of course we had gotten to the airport nearly 2 hrs early for the flight. (We also knew we had missed our connecting flight, & were booked to leave Memphis the next morning instead - at that point we didn't know where we would sleep.
) So after we checked in, rather than going up thru security we set down near the front doors. Took Bubba & Roxy out several times to do their business. They were out of their bag the entire time - even though it says right on the airport doors only service animals allowed in the airport.
No one cared, they got loved on by all kinds of people. Finally an hr before our flight, I decide we better go thru security, even though we hadn't been assigned a gate. During the time we waited to go thru security our flight got pushed back again!!
As we went thru security, again no one cared about the yorkies - they were oooing & awing over them. The gal that had me walk thru the metal detector loved them - she said she had a 19 pound yorkie at home. Of coursemy babies were dressed as Santa & Mrs. Claus, so everyone was commenting on that.
So we get outside security find out about the delayed flight & had no gate to go to, so we just set for the longest time in the chairs right next to security. I never put the dogs back in their bag. They sat on my lap, or walked as far as they could from me on their leashes. The security people saw them for hrs. Then 2 NWA pilots wiating to get an ok to fly due to weather to Mpls. stood & talked to the dogs, petting them for a long time.
Once we had a gate, I walked the dogs to the restroom & then to the gate. Then we set there until they were finally ready to let us on the plane - so more than 5 1/2 hrs in the airport the dogs finally went back into the bag.
Once on board, & the seatbelt sign was off, I snuck them under a blanket where they were perfectly happy & only my daughter who was sitting with me knew.
When we arrived in Memphis, 5 NWA employees were there ready to take care of the small plane load of folks - about 50 people. They gave us everything we needed to spend the night at a Marriott hotel. Now, I didn't tell the folks at the Marriott that I had dogs. They did a good job there.
The next morning, thru security again at the Memphis airport where everyone made a fuss - about how cute they were
Bubba did bark a bit on take off - he has some problems with his ears sometimes & I think that was the problem - soe everyone knew he was there. My daughter & I were the only ones sitting in a row of 3 seats - after the lap belt light was off, I placed the carrier in the 3rd seat, & eventually took the dogs out, and put them under the blanket - one of the flight attendants walked by & smiled at me, I'm sure she knew.
On the return flight, the dogs again spent time out of the airport in the Tampa airport. No one at security cared or at check-in, although we did do curbside check-in. Once on board we had this big gal sitting with us & her family of 3 was across from her. I saw her give them a strange look - like oh, yuck a dog. So I did not even try to take the dogs out of the bag - but they were fine absolutely quiet.
Lay-over in Memphis was suppose to be 1 hr. 45 min. & departure on connecting flight. Three times I take the yorkies to the bathroom & put down a pee pad - no one will go - they never went at any airports except outside
We had 3 delays - first door of plane wasn't working properly - delayed inside the airport for about 45 min, then we get on the plane & were overweight - pilot announces "You all must have had a very good Christmas - we're overweight, we've got to figure out how to handle this with causing the fewest problems for passengers." Later he comes back on & says they are going to take some gasoline off. We wait for that to happen.
Think we're ready to go - but oh, no 3rd delay! Visibility at the Des Moines Airport is down to 1/8 of a mile & there is freezing fog & visibility on the main runway is less than 900 feet. - so we sat on the tarmac in Memphis.
We spent about 2 hrs waiting! The flight attendants were so nice, they offered the dogs water, but I was so afraid they would need to relieve themselves afterwards. They were fine with me getting the yorkies out & having them on my lap.
The yorkies did great! Northwest Airlines was great - I'd fly with the dogs again! One of the best vacations ever because they were with me
