$200!!!!!!
 

Okay, I know this is not breaking news, but I just paid ***$200*** to take Thor on a flight with me!

I was booking my rezzies for Christmas, and I was like, "oh, I'll go Virgin even though the ticket is slightly more expensive because I like Virgin", completely forgetting about pet fees. Then after waiting on hold for almost AN HOUR, they told me that it is $100 each way! So the ticket is not "slightly" more expensive, it is highway robbery.

Also, I just realized that I will have to check bags for the first time in maybe ten years because I will have Thor as a carry on, and I think Virgin charges an ungodly amount for checked bags also.

I am almost thinking about canceling the ticket and booking somewhere else... but I don't think I can bear to wait on the phone with Virgin to cancel and then another airline to book Thor.

Anyway, lesson learned, I guess. This is the first time I'm flying with Thor, so please wish us both luck. :)

Good luck!

I'm sure Thor will do great :D

If it's any consolation.....I'm paying $125 each way with Delta :rolleyes: and only because it saves me an hour drive each way to Tampa or I would take Airtran for $69 each way (still too much for someone who weighs less than my purse!)

It's ridiculous that they charge so much to stow one of your "carry-ons" under the seat! One year during the holidays, they charged us $175 each way for Toto. I believe it was United who did that. I suppose they have you at their mercy if you love your pet. Hope your little Thor does well on his first flight. I always make sure Toto has a warm blankie in her carrier ... the floor of a plane is really cold during winter. :(

That's awful. I hope he does well flying.

Sounds like it's cheaper to buy them a seat. I'm sure he'll do well. My daughter flew to Seattle with her Cav and fell asleep. The guy in the next seat woke her up and said, "your dog just got out and is walking up and down the rows looking at people. I hope he's not vicious".

Most of the airlines charge that or more. I also think it is so unfair that the dog counts as your carry-on especially since you are paying for them. We will be flying to vegas with Delta soon. As someone else noted, $125 each way and we have to check our bags because they consider the dog as your carry-on. Jamie is so worth it, though!!

I'm looking into prices of having a boxer flow from California. Now I'm getting nervous after reading this. Hehe

I found that out recently. I was only going out of town overnight. I had to pay $125 one way (Delta) $100 return (Airways), then had to pay $50 each way to check my bag as Annie was going to count as my carry on. The hotel I called had a $50 pet fee so all in all it was going to cost me $375 extra for an overnight trip. I would also have to pay for the vet visit to get an uptodate health certificate as her puppy one was not current enough. Has to be within 10 days, I think they said. That would have added another $50 or so. Now we are over $400! I was already paying top air fare as it was a last minute trip. So, Annie stayed with my mom. If it was going to be a long stay I maybe could have justified it but not for overnight.

What was aggravating was I got sat next to a lady with a large 2 (?) year old daughter that could not sit still and took up a LOT more room and attention than my little 2 pound puppy would have and she got to fly free. I don't want the mom to have to pay for her daughter, but I don't see why we have to pay all this extra for a dog that is taking up no extra space or using any extra facilities. It is like paying a bribe to allow them onboard -- $$$ for nothing! I actually did ask about buying them a seat -- no can do. So, there are many times when you could ticket another passenger cheaper than you can fly your dog.

We really need to think about organizing a massve complaint about this. The price keeps going up -- why? How can they justify these fees? They just know animal lovers will put up with it.

Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Yes! Does it suck anyway...you betcha! Since Thor will be considered "carry-on", try to pack a few essential items for you in his carrier...just in case of lost luggage. As frustrating as it might be, I would still be inclined to shop for better rates and cancel this ticket.

Flying used to be fun for some, now it's just aggravating and frustrating. Anymore they add insult to injury (after being robbed with ticket prices) you get to have your body scanned....or....the famous "pat down", not to mention the long lines of waiting and the never ending flight delays. Could an industry be anymore consumer unfriendly...AND...get away with it????????:mad:


margaritaville...your daughter and her cav story made me smile:)

I totally agree!
Furthermore.....if Sugar's flight is the same price as mine (sometimes MORE :eek:) and she has to sit IN A BAG on the COLD FLOOR....shouldn't she at least get frequent flier miles??? Or a fly 5x get one flight free certificate?? Something?? :confused::rolleyes:

$100.00 each way is the going rate, although some airlines charge $125.00. Highway robbery....in my opinion, yes.

Their logic escapes me. They tell you what the fee is, then they tell you that the dog is your carry on luggage. Carry on luggage that you don't ordinarily pay for. Then they charge you more because you check in your luggage.......Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

Now we can look at another way. It is their airlines and they call the shots. It's our choice to take our pets with us. Just as recent as last week an elderly lady chose to take a dog with her, in cabin, but refused to follow the rules. She took the dog out of the carrier and it bit another passenger and a flight attendant. People such as this don't follow the airline rules and regulations, the option of flying with our pets will be taken away from us.

You can take a personal bag with you. So, an oversized purse, with essentials won't be counted as your carry-on. A friend of mine just did this to attend the Roving National. She was delivering a pup, had another bag (oversized tote) that contained her clothes for the weekend.

Since Sugar travels in a Kwigy Bo Alex I just use IT as my purse and I still am able to stow a full sized carry on in the bulkheads.

There are ways around it, if you know how to do it.

So if you use a Kwiggy Bo, does that mean you don't have to pay for your little one to go with you?
I have three yorkies, so this is not possible unfortunately for me.....LOL
Luckily I have another Yorkie addict friend, so she takes care of mine for me if I go out of town.