I hope I can really get a ticket. I am planning on leaving to California on November 23rd on Wed then coming back on Sunday. I will be taking night flights for both of the flights. I have to buy him a carrier since the owner has only one for an another dog that she has. Plus I don't mind buying him a carrier since I spend a lot of time with him these days.. and he is like my baby. My friend, the owner, is a bit jealous that he is going to fly to California and she has never been to CA. I am just also worried because it would be his first time. I am gonna start looking on Jet BLue.. anyone has any experience? An another question is .... where and what size do you guys recommend me to buy a carrier. He is about 8 lb.

I am flying Jetblue and I just got there luggage requirement by email. So look for a carrier that is no bigger than this:

Your personal item must not exceed 18"l x 15"w x 8"h in order to fit under the seat in front of you
Even though you pay for your pet like $100 ,it still counts as a Personal carry on.
They just changed their requirements because when I booked our flights they gave me different measurements. If you get a carrier ,try looking for one that has a soft fabric top that way if it's 9-10" H you can still adjust it and fit it under your front seat.
I dont know how much you want to pay for a carrier but I got a really nice one at www.tinkerbellscloset.com . You also get a 20% discount since you are a YT member. Just ask her about it!

Genie

Thank you all for the info.. I am gonna check the site for carrier too.. I just checked Jetblue sites and other airline sites... Oh my god! Tickets price for Thanksgiving is just so crazy. My boyfriend is ... paying for it.. or his company will pay for me.. since he is a consultant traveling.. anyway.. either way.. I hope we can afford to buy the tickets.. It's about two three times more expensive. I am not worried about dog's fare.....even that is what I would be paying... :)

It is kinda confusing to buy a right size carrier but also exciting!!!!!!!! Time to kidnap my friend's yorkie!! WOohoo.. Of course I am kidding ;)

Since I JUST got home from NY on Monday and I live in CA, this thread is perfect for me. First off, from what I can tell you are planning on flying with 2 dogs. I know that Continental only allows one dog PER person. I was able to fly with 2 since my hubby was with me. My male chi had issues; he just kept panting. We put down the food trays and let both dogs sit in their carriers on top of the trays. That way they could see us. On the return I did the same but was told 4 hours into the flight that they couldn't be on the tray.
When you take off & land, you are supposed to have them on the floor. But I wait for the announcement of 'attendants prepare for landing/takeoff' and once they are seated, I put the dog (in carrier) on my lap. On our return, there wasn't anyone in the seat between me and my hubby so I put the dogs on the seat in their carriers. I eventually took my male out and let him sleep under the blanket. My female slept for the most part of the flight. Only the last 20 min. did she start to whine. I also bring A LOT of soft dog treats and give them to the dogs during take off and ESPECIALLY durnig landing when the cabin pressure changes. The treats help them swallow.
When I have flow in 1st class, the stewardess personally told me I could take her out and put her under the blanket. 1st class is a bit nicer. Obviously.
This flight was a direct 5 hour flight and they both held it for about 10 hours. I pottied them before I went through security and that was about it. I limited their water intake once they pottied. During the flight I let them lick ice. It is enough to keep their mouths moist without over loading their bladders.
I have also found the doggy stroller to be WONDERFUL. It keeps them contained and is a bit roomier. I just gate check it right before I board and it is right there when I get off. I love my stroller!!!

Hope these tips help!!

I have a few but my FAVORITE is the Celltei. http://celltei.com/activetoteopet1.html
I love it. I can carry my dog into restaurants and NO ONE knows. All but ONE window covers up and I just point that at the wall. I think someone might be selling one in blue denim in the producs for sale forum. But I would double check the weight limit on hers. It MIGHT be too smal.
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18333

Great info & ideas here everyone. Thanks :)

Hi all!


Well, Bender is officially an American dog now :) Yesterday we made the flight from Vienna to Orlando. It was Bender's first flight and I was very worried. He got to come in the cabin with me, and he had a very comfortable (cushy) carrying case I bought him, and he snuggled with his toy snail and penguin for the trip. I was so proud of him! He was in that thing for about 13 hours, with only a couple minutes here and there where I sneaked him halfway out to take a breather and look out the window. He didn't go potty in his case at all, and he slept mostly, only whining when the plane was gaining or losing altitude in large amounts. I think his ears hurt. I didn't use anything to 'dumb down' the situation for him, but we got lucky, and on the long portion of the flight there was no one in the seat next to me, so Bender's bag was strapped in next to me instead of under the seat.

Also, we had a sad experience when going through customs. There was another lady on our flight that was moving back to the US from Europe, and she was about in tears because I had Bender. Supposedly the US embassy in Germany told her that she couldn't take her dog to the US because it wasn't born in America. I don't know who she talked to, but they didn't know what they were talking about. As long as the dog is up to date on his/her shots it's perfectly fine. Anyway, she was forced to give her dog away before leaving. Bender was born in the Czech Republic and raised in Austria. The customs guy didn't even look at his shot record! He took one look at Bender and said "You are such a cutie, how could I not let you in? Welcome to the US."

Anyway, that's our story. :animal36

Oh yes, and I forgot. I had a scare in Vienna, because during the security check they forced me to put Bender through the xray machine! I was so afraid it would hurt him, and I fought with them but they insisted. Luckily, all the other security checkpoints let me take him out of the bag to hand inspect him. I hope the trip through the machine doesn't have any bad long term effects. :(

A Yorkie in an X-ray machine? My God, I'd have thrown a fit. I don't know how they could get away with it, Austria or not.

I was furious, but it was either let him go through it, or leave him in Austria... :(

P.S.- Just so you know, most airlines have a weight cap at 6kg (around 12lbs), this is including the carrier. So whatever you get as a carrier, make sure it together with the dog meet the req.

There ought to be someone you can complain to. That just seems so wrong. I wonder if you can write the U.S. embassy over there and find out how you can lodge a complaint. Maybe talk to a vet here first and see if that is as dangerous as it sounds.

I'm glad Bender did well on the flight, though. Sounds like you have a terrific dog to make that long flight.

You know, call me dumb, but I've wondered here lately what they did when you got to that part with the dog. I figured they would have you take it out and carry it through with you or hand it to someone to inspect, but there was this voice in the back of my head saying well maybe they do make you put it through the x-ray machine. I guess though most people have you tkae the dog out, only in rare strange occasions do you put the dog through the x-ray.

I wonder if they just wanted to see the dog go through and that's the reason they made you put him through. I wouldn't put it past some people, you know they just thought it would be funny or neat to see the dog.

I still don't even believe they can get away with that, and I'm gonna write some letters and see if that was an exception or the rule. For Christ's sake, how many drugs is a Yorkie going to be able to hide?

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!! If I had $766.90 I would love to visit my parents whom I haven't been able to see for 5 years. Anyway.. my boyfriend got the tickets for me and my (actually my friend's) yorkie to fly to see him for Thanksgiving. Well.. actually.... $650.. his company is paying because he works consulting company and traveling for his job.. so he gets to buy one-round trip tickets for him or me once a week. But.. $766.90...?????????? It's just so crazy! I am so glad that he got permission from his boss at least. When we get tickets.. it's around $250-to under $500. This is a lot of money for domestic flights.

Boston to Oakland, Ca
Total for 1 Passenger
Fare price $ 602.79 USD
2 Pet fee $ 100.00 USD
Taxes $ 64.11 USD
Total price $ 766.90 USD


I Decided to get a small Sherpa carrier for the dog. I got it on ebay. I hope he can fit in it nicely. It was decently cheap, so it won't be too bad if it doesn't fit. My friend has a medium one of her shizu and likes it.

Anyway... I will really get freaked out if my yorkie has to go on x-ray!! I hope Logan Airport security is not so evil.

Even tickets were expensive and I feel bad about others paying for it... but I am very happy at least that I finally got tickets for us!! So I am really FLYING with a yorkie!!!!!!!!!

That's the best way to go -- when someone else pays for the trip!!! Anyways... congratulations! And make sure you get your health certificate, just in case!

They need to be accustomed to the carrier. You can start by putting them in it under your feet when you're eating dinner, watching tv, etc. Once mine figure out that the carrier means they get to go somewhere, they don't seem to mind. I put them in it with a chew bone.

The very best thing to line it with is a Pooch Pad. You can get them at Petsmart. It's a soft pad that doesn't bunch up and it has a anti-microbial, anti-odor, absorbent cover that will soak up any pee and keep it from getting all over him. Taking a pee pad along and letting them use it in a terminal bathroom (or even on the plane as someone said) could also work. The ones who are seasonsed travellers whether it's in a plane or a car seem to figure out that nothing's going to happen and it's time to sleep.

Good thread. I especially appreciate the info from Kim about airline regs vs airline policy when it comes to having them out of the carrier. I quit worrying about them making too much noise after a couple of flights with screaming babies and a group of children climbing over seats and wrestling, etc.

CJ