I have flown with Strudel extensively, I say bring him if he can ride in the cabin with you! Strudel and I have had some awesome trips where the attendant will let me take him out of the carrier and hold him, but even when we have to follow the rules he has been perfectly fine as long as he can see me. As another poster said - familiarize him with his travel carrier before the trip. Bring the sedative with you as a last resort, but I've never had to use one, not even on very long 6-8hr trips.
I try to feed and #2 potty him way before we leave, this lessens any restlessness. I also have the biggest carrier allowable even though he is just 3.5 pounds, and sometimes I can see and hear him playing when we are in the air
