Taking pup on Airplane

[NatNatt]

All your experiences makes me think I shouldnt take him. That is just rediculous!!!!

[NatNatt]

Traveling with pets
Your dog, cat or household bird (canary, finch or parakeet) may be accepted as carry on or checked baggage. Rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs may be accepted as checked baggage only. All options require advance reservations and are subject to a charge. For all other animals, including but not limited to parrots, cockatiels and ferrets, please contact United Cargo at 1-800-UA-CARGO or visit unitedcargo.com.

Please note
Advance arrangements are not guarantees that your animal will travel on a specific flight. To be as humane as possible, airlines reserve the right to refuse to transport an animal for reasons like illness, poor kenneling or extreme temperatures at origin, transfer or destination airports. Airlines have the right to refuse carriage of any animal that demonstrates aggressive and/or violent behavior.

Summer embargo - breed restriction
For the safety of your animal, United Airlines does not accept the following short-nosed dog breeds, or mixed-breed dogs exhibiting the short-nosed characteristics of these breeds, as either checked baggage or cargo from June 1st through September 30th of each year. This restriction does not apply to animals traveling with you in the cabin. Boston Terrier
Boxer
English or French Bulldog
King Charles Spaniel
Lhasa Apso
Pug
Shar-Pei
Shih Tzu
Carry-on
United will allow the following pets to travel with you in the cabin if they are small enough to fit and stay comfortably in a carrier under the seat in front of you:
fully weaned dog or cat (minimum 6 months old, 1 per carrier);
fully weaned puppies or kittens (minimum 8 weeks old, maximum 6 months old, maximum 2 per carrier); or
domesticated household birds (canaries, finches and/or parakeets).
Your pet carrier will take the place of one carry-on item, and a fee will apply. Please see the Fees for Traveling with Pets page for more information
Your pet carrier may be either hard- or soft-sided and must prevent escape of your pet into the cabin. No part of the animal should protrude from the carrier, and the floor must be absorbent enough to retain liquids and solids. Ventilation must be adequate. Pet and customer well-being require restrictions on many aircraft. United Airlines may not be able to accommodate pets on some aircraft or routes, or in many United First and United Business cabins. To be brought on board, kennels may not exceed any of the following dimensions:
Kennel type Maximum size
for carry-on Hard-sided17x12x8 inches
(43x30x20 cm)
Soft-sided17x10x10 inches
(43x25x25 cm) Tropical birds such as parrots are not allowed in the cabin. No pets are allowed in the cabin on flights to Hawaii, with the exception of certified guide dogs. For more information on pets and travel to Hawaii, visit the Travel to Hawaii section.

Checked baggage
Your dog or cat can ride in the pressurized and heated cargo compartment of the aircraft you are ticketed on. Pets traveling as checked baggage will be accepted at the airport check-in counter and delivered to the baggage claim area at your final destination. Please see our Kennels page for information about restrictions and requirements for pets traveling as checked baggage.

Fees will apply. Please see the Fees for Traveling with Pets page for more information.

Unaccompanied pets
Animals traveling via our cargo system are accepted at the cargo facility and travel in the pressurized cargo compartments of our aircraft. Fees vary based on weight, size and destination. Extreme weather guidelines will apply, preventing cargo shipment of any live animal when the temperature is forecast to exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit at any point in the animal's journey.

Travel arrangements
If your pet will be traveling as carry-on or checked baggage, call United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) to arrange for their travel. If your pet will be unaccompanied, contact United Cargo at 1-800-UA-CARGO or visit unitedcargo.com. If you wish to ship your pet as cargo in conjunction with your own United air travel, please contact United Cargo prior to making your air reservation.


IT DOES NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT GETTING RECORDS 13 DAYS OUT FROM THE FLIGHT DATE!! DO YOU THINK I SHOULD STILL GET IT??

[Deuce]

Yep, better safe than sorry...

[LDandPasquale]

Pasquale and I have flown alot...i ALWAYS have his rabies and other shots certificate with me. However, unless the airlines specifically asks for a health certificate, i usually dont get one. A good idea would be to print out that airlines pet policy..that way if they give you a hard time you have their policy right in front of them. "Some" airline reps "think" they know the policy when they really dont. ****I learned this from a pet traveling website.

[keokis mom]

I would take him- trust me- it's not so bad at all- I do it all the time- just have all your t's crossed before you go - it's really not that bad at all

[keokis mom]

Just make sure he comes in the cabin with you you

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by NatNatt

IT DOES NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT GETTING RECORDS 13 DAYS OUT FROM THE FLIGHT DATE!! DO YOU THINK I SHOULD STILL GET IT??

If the person over the phone told you to you should get a travel certificate, DO IT. Why risk being turned away after you already payed the money for your own ticket??

Furthermore, when I was making travel arrangements for me and Kaji, they told me it's not just the airline's guidelines I should follow, but also the state I am entering as well. I know it sounds like a lot, but a simple travel certificate, or a health certificate (whatever your vet calls it) that you get no more than 7 days before your flight will qualify most airlines, and states pet travel requirements.

[celstu1]

Originally Posted by NatNatt

So I just booked a ticket for my baby to come with me home on the 20th of this month. Im kinda freaking out because this will be the first time for me. I want to make sure I have everything I need for him (paper wise, records) whatever to get on. Is there anything you would suggest I would bring?? They said something like health records 13 days from departure??n Also I have a gym bag look alike thing for my baby with holes in it...its made for small dogs. Would that be ok to bring him in it?? Please let me know..

What airline are you flying? Go to their website and search for traveling with pets. You will get the info you need for a carrier and records. I flew with my boys a few times and I brought their vaccine records with me, noone even asked or looked at them but better safe than sorry. A health cert costs $60 per dog here so I didn't bother, I just brought their shot record. There are pads you can buy that are for people who travel with show dogs. They sit in the bottom of the crate and will absorb everything and keep your baby clean, they are pricey but worth it. He'll be fine! How far are you traveling?

[keokis mom]

All you have to do is call your vet and they will give you a travel certificate- my vet just puts it in the mail- it's easy

[LuvMySissy]

Originally Posted by keokis mom

All you have to do is call your vet and they will give you a travel certificate- my vet just puts it in the mail- it's easy

Many vets charge for a health certificate (it is $50 at my vet) and requires an office visit as well. SInce the airline specs do not require it, as long as you have shot records with you, you will most likely be fine. Health certs are required when a pet is going in cargo. I fly very regularly doing puppy transports and I have never been asked to see any recoreds whatsoever. Now, I only fly on Delta, but I have had well over 100 flights this year alone.

[Rhetts_mama]

Can you call United and ask to speak with a supervisor? Make sure you get their name and title.

[KJLive]

I had my first experience flying with a dog myself this past February. It also was a 2 hour flight. I didn't even know I'd be bringing a dog home with me, so....I was totally blind!
I had him in a carrier and he went under the seat in front of me. He slept the whole way home. I lined the carrier with a pee pad. When I checked in they tagged the carrier with a VIP label (Very Important Pet) and offered me first class seating because it gives more room to put the carrier under the seat in front of you. If you can afford to bump up to first class, that would be the only suggestion I would have. I was very glad I did it. Good Luck!

[ladyjane]

My vet will not issue a certificate without seeing the pup. It is required and she follows those requirements. Her charge for it is $30.00

Some airlines DO require them! I have had adopters who needed them...and they WERE checked! I would not avoid getting it if you were advised to have one. No sense taking a chance, because IF they ask for it and you don't have it, you run a risk of not being allowed to board the flight.

[kay6688]

I have flown with Southwest - no health cert. required & I have flown AA-they say they require them, but didn't check it when we flew out or landed...they asked for it when I was leaving TX to go back to MO!!! I am flying Delta this Nov. with them to the Keys-it doesn't say I need a Health Cert. w/Delta.
P.S. they were both fine in the carrier together- I did buy a calming tag that I attached inside the carrier since it was Macy's 1st time.

[Roxy 87]

I didn't know you had to pay to get health certificates. What's all on it?