Flying with you pet - YorkieTalk.com Forums

DBlain · 01-19-2012, 08:42 PM

I just saw this mentioned in another thread and I am afraid that my questions on that thread might get overlooked so I am posting a new one. I just read that on US Air they allowed a seat to be bought for the yorkie instead of purchasing the pet ticket which on the airlines I fly is anywhere from $125.00 to $150.00. Frankly I never thought this would be possible. I would love to be able to do this on Spirit since they have some pretty low fairs, in fact my last roundtrip cost much less than one way for Lola. I will call the airlines but am curious what experiences any of you have had with this. Thanks Donna

DvlshAngel985 · 01-19-2012, 09:05 PM

I hope you are successful. Sometimes our seats are cheaper than our babies flying cramped under our seats. Please let us know how it goes.

alaskayorkie · 01-19-2012, 09:29 PM

Never thought of that because it costs a fortune to fly anywhere from here. But I would do that in a second if it was reasonable. I hate having to stuff them under the seat so much that I stopped flying with mine. It can get cold down there, and it's hard to check on them and make sure they're OK.

I'll be interested to find out what you learn.

BoltonsMom · 01-19-2012, 09:41 PM

Wow, that's very interesting! We travel with Bolton a lot and spend way to much money. If only continental would do it.

taxlady · 01-20-2012, 12:25 AM

I posted on that other thread and I do fly US Air and I have never heard of buying a seat for the dog, a ticket yes, now I think FAA rules state that the dog, with seat or pet type ticket, must fly in the carrier, under the seat in front of you, that's why you can't sit in just any seat on the plane, ie: the exit row, the front bulk head as an example, only so many "pets" on the plane at a time, you know the drill. With that said, the stew on your flight really is the person who makes or breaks those rules. Like it or not, it's their plane, you are their problem. And as pi$$y as they can sometimes be, mostly, they are way too busy, too many people on board these days. Sorry, that really doesn't help or explain the why or why not, I think it's just one of the "IT IS" things. I always just make Sprocket's ticket part of my planning, and I'm always looking for the cheapest way to fly, BTW I hate to fly, it's a "cattle call" but sometimes you just have no choice. Oh an other thought, sorry, I thought for every "seat" type ticket sold they had to have a piece of picture ID there is an accounting through the gate. Maybe someone knows better than I do or it only looks that way.

I also would really like to know cause it's expensive, but I don't trust the "system", what one person tells you, on the phone, is not necessarily what you will get at the counter, even it you have bought the ticket already. BUT in the bag, under the seat, take off and landing, the rest of the time in my lap, USAir was great, Sprocket did well, and the stews were the best. Maybe small airlines would be more flexable. Sorry to not be of more help.

Carlea · 01-20-2012, 02:04 AM

I have never traveled with a pet but I am hoping my experience will answer some od the questioned asked. They do not always need a picture ID for every seat. I am disabled plus,I am overweight. My DH hates crowded places. When we fly we get three seat which is usually I row. If I fly alone I get two seats for my convenience and the convenience xof others. True when they are doing the count I usually remind them that I have purchased two seats. Makes it easier. I hope what you say is true and we can buy a seat for our dogs....I wasn't thrilled with the thought of having to pay extra for Gizmo especially since I was paying for an additional seat already.

KazzyK810 · 01-20-2012, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taxlady

I posted on that other thread and I do fly US Air and I have never heard of buying a seat for the dog, a ticket yes, now I think FAA rules state that the dog, with seat or pet type ticket, must fly in the carrier, under the seat in front of you, that's why you can't sit in just any seat on the plane, ie: the exit row, the front bulk head as an example, only so many "pets" on the plane at a time, you know the drill. With that said, the stew on your flight really is the person who makes or breaks those rules.

That was my experience too! Most airlines will allow you to buy another ticket if it is less than the cost of the pet fee, but the dog still must be in the carrier, under the seat per FAA rules. But the ticket does allow you an additional piece of hand-luggage along with the dog carrier, which is nice.

KimInMD · 01-20-2012, 04:25 AM

I fly all the time with Lucy and Lola. I buy a ticket for Lola and a middle second seat in my name (only $2. more) for Lucy. Both dogs still have to be stowed under a seat, but it's less crowded for them if each has their own carrier. Lola is a 17 lb., big Shih Tzu, and Lucy is a 7lb. Yorkie. Southwest rules state that I only have to pay $75. for one dog, even if two are in one carrier, but that would never work with bigger dogs. I stow Lucy in front of me, and big girl in the middle because it has a few extra inches of under seat space. I don't pay for Lucy because I refuse to pay for a seat and a ticket for her, and that's what the airlines want you to do. No one ever notices her in the Kwigy Bo, so we are fine. For security, I put Lucy in a sling made with a pashmina scarf, and carry Lola through the metal detector, which leaves me a free hand to get their bags, shoes etc. I use a travel size suitcase dolly to wheel Lola and her carrier around, and that helps keep weight off my shoulder. By the way, another stinky rule is that the dog carrier counts as your carry-on bag, so travel lite, and even if you buy two seats, you still only get two free pieces of luggage (not 4). Southwest gives you a "reserved" card to place on the second seat, but make sure the flight attendant sees it, so their count comes up correct. Other airlines don't give you cards. People with a second seat "reserved" card (on Southwest) can get priority boarding, which is really nice. I don't put either dog in the seat, but I pull them out from under after takeoff. Most flight attendants follow the FAA rules, but some look the other way. Most times my seat mate doesn't even know I have two dogs, but I always let them know before takeoff so they can move if they have allergies.

KimInMD · 01-20-2012, 04:38 AM

By the way, both seats do not need a photo ID. The first ticket is your name, Mary Smith, and the second ticket is Mary XS Smith. XS = extra seat, and when coded that way, no ID is needed for the second ticket.

DBlain · 01-20-2012, 04:51 AM

Kim love your pups names, my girl is Lola and Lucy is my sister's, I am still a bit confused do you pay the going price for a seat or the pet fee. With Spirit I can get a seat for under $50.00 for myself from Detroit to NYC yet the pet fee is $125.00. Regardless they do have to be under the seat in front of you. When paying the pet fee and there is no extra seat, I find it best to get the window seat and do not let the flight crew see Lola when we get on. If they see the dog when you board I think they watch you the whole way. Thankfully Lola does not bark, but she is wiggly, after I buckle in I pull her out and put her sort off to the side of my lap by the window, I carry a large multi color brown and black scarf that I throw over her, and then I watch like heck for the flight attendants to come by. I like Spirit because they charge for everything even water, so few people buy anything that the FA's don't walk up and down the aisle much. I am going to find out about seats though, but like the tax lady said I am nervous to believe what those people tell you on the phone. On another note I have been working up the nerve to visit a shrink to see about getting Lola set up as a compassion animal or what ever they are called.

withchoco · 01-20-2012, 05:08 AM

FYI, Spirit Airline charges $35~40 for a "carry-on" luggage, so I'd definitely make sure about the extra fee that they would charge for a pet prior to purchasing any ticket. Unless you join their cheap fair club (I forgot the club name..), you may end up paying around the same or more for lower quality services - their planes seemed so old...

KimInMD · 01-20-2012, 05:17 AM

I'm sorry for the confusion. I pay the dog fee for one dog, and buy an extra seat in my name for the second dog. For me the ticket is only $2. more. If I put both dogs in the same carrier, then rules say there is only one dog fee charged. stinky Southwest wanted to charge me for the extra seat AND the dog fee for the second dog, so I just don't tell them I have The second dog with me. With a Kwigy Bo carrier, it looks like a purse, so no one ever notices she is in there. Someone here recently said some airlines won't charge the dog fee if you buy the extra seat. I'd check with Spirit, and see if that is the case for their airline.

KimInMD · 01-20-2012, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by withchoco

FYI, Spirit Airline charges $35~40 for a "carry-on" luggage, so I'd definitely make sure about the extra fee that they would charge for a pet prior to purchasing any ticket. Unless you join their cheap fair club (I forgot the club name..), you may end up paying around the same or more for lower quality services - their planes seemed so old...

Great point about the carry-on fee! Also, factor in all those extra taxes we pay for a seat/extra seat when comparing your total cost.

taxlady · 01-26-2012, 08:37 PM

This is info for the flying with your pet buying the ticket thread, this thread or parts of it have been around in several places. I personally had NEVER heard of a "pet ticket" and there for a "pet seat", that said I asked my personal expert my DH, he used to work for Alaska Airlines, out of LAX, so this is where the info comes from. YES they do sell "pet seats", BUT they cost the same as a people one and the only one's DH ever saw being used were in first class as they were moving "show dogs" from CA to AK. These dogs, as per DH were the Huskies, beautiful, huge, very well behaved. Special arrangement were made on a case by case ticket. They had to have the special harnesses, special set ups with the seats, you know, everything. BUT, I was wrong, they do sell the seats, now anybody else? I don't know. The chain went from the counter to the stew, to the maint. guy, back to the stew, load the dog, special straps etc. Other people who have show dogs who travel and fly with them have similar stories. Anybody else with info?

01-19-2012, 08:42 PM	#1
DBlain Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Oakland County MI Posts: 6,190	Flying with you pet I just saw this mentioned in another thread and I am afraid that my questions on that thread might get overlooked so I am posting a new one. I just read that on US Air they allowed a seat to be bought for the yorkie instead of purchasing the pet ticket which on the airlines I fly is anywhere from $125.00 to $150.00. Frankly I never thought this would be possible. I would love to be able to do this on Spirit since they have some pretty low fairs, in fact my last roundtrip cost much less than one way for Lola. I will call the airlines but am curious what experiences any of you have had with this. Thanks Donna

01-19-2012, 09:05 PM	#2
DvlshAngel985 Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Los Angeles, California, USA Posts: 12,693	I hope you are successful. Sometimes our seats are cheaper than our babies flying cramped under our seats. Please let us know how it goes. __________________ Littlest JakJak We miss you Kaji

01-19-2012, 09:29 PM	#3
alaskayorkie Banning Thread Dictator Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anchorage Posts: 30,843 Blog Entries: 57	Never thought of that because it costs a fortune to fly anywhere from here. But I would do that in a second if it was reasonable. I hate having to stuff them under the seat so much that I stopped flying with mine. It can get cold down there, and it's hard to check on them and make sure they're OK. I'll be interested to find out what you learn. __________________ Mike ~ Doting Dad to Jillie, Harper, Molly, Cooper, Eddie (RIP), Lucy (RIP), Rusty (RIP) and Jack (RIP). Check us out on YouTube

01-20-2012, 12:25 AM	#5
taxlady Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern,CA, Posts: 247	I posted on that other thread and I do fly US Air and I have never heard of buying a seat for the dog, a ticket yes, now I think FAA rules state that the dog, with seat or pet type ticket, must fly in the carrier, under the seat in front of you, that's why you can't sit in just any seat on the plane, ie: the exit row, the front bulk head as an example, only so many "pets" on the plane at a time, you know the drill. With that said, the stew on your flight really is the person who makes or breaks those rules. Like it or not, it's their plane, you are their problem. And as pi$$y as they can sometimes be, mostly, they are way too busy, too many people on board these days. Sorry, that really doesn't help or explain the why or why not, I think it's just one of the "IT IS" things. I always just make Sprocket's ticket part of my planning, and I'm always looking for the cheapest way to fly, BTW I hate to fly, it's a "cattle call" but sometimes you just have no choice. Oh an other thought, sorry, I thought for every "seat" type ticket sold they had to have a piece of picture ID there is an accounting through the gate. Maybe someone knows better than I do or it only looks that way. I also would really like to know cause it's expensive, but I don't trust the "system", what one person tells you, on the phone, is not necessarily what you will get at the counter, even it you have bought the ticket already. BUT in the bag, under the seat, take off and landing, the rest of the time in my lap, USAir was great, Sprocket did well, and the stews were the best. Maybe small airlines would be more flexable. Sorry to not be of more help. __________________ Sprockets Guardian and personal slave.

01-20-2012, 02:04 AM	#6
Carlea Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ocala, FL, Marion Posts: 112	I have never traveled with a pet but I am hoping my experience will answer some od the questioned asked. They do not always need a picture ID for every seat. I am disabled plus,I am overweight. My DH hates crowded places. When we fly we get three seat which is usually I row. If I fly alone I get two seats for my convenience and the convenience xof others. True when they are doing the count I usually remind them that I have purchased two seats. Makes it easier. I hope what you say is true and we can buy a seat for our dogs....I wasn't thrilled with the thought of having to pay extra for Gizmo especially since I was paying for an additional seat already. __________________ Gizmo's Mom Mighty Mo RIP 2001 - 2011

01-19-2012, 09:41 PM	#4
BoltonsMom Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Somerset, NJ Posts: 25	Wow, that's very interesting! We travel with Bolton a lot and spend way to much money. If only continental would do it.

01-20-2012, 04:25 AM	#8
KimInMD Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Baltimore, MD. Posts: 1,078	I fly all the time with Lucy and Lola. I buy a ticket for Lola and a middle second seat in my name (only $2. more) for Lucy. Both dogs still have to be stowed under a seat, but it's less crowded for them if each has their own carrier. Lola is a 17 lb., big Shih Tzu, and Lucy is a 7lb. Yorkie. Southwest rules state that I only have to pay $75. for one dog, even if two are in one carrier, but that would never work with bigger dogs. I stow Lucy in front of me, and big girl in the middle because it has a few extra inches of under seat space. I don't pay for Lucy because I refuse to pay for a seat and a ticket for her, and that's what the airlines want you to do. No one ever notices her in the Kwigy Bo, so we are fine. For security, I put Lucy in a sling made with a pashmina scarf, and carry Lola through the metal detector, which leaves me a free hand to get their bags, shoes etc. I use a travel size suitcase dolly to wheel Lola and her carrier around, and that helps keep weight off my shoulder. By the way, another stinky rule is that the dog carrier counts as your carry-on bag, so travel lite, and even if you buy two seats, you still only get two free pieces of luggage (not 4). Southwest gives you a "reserved" card to place on the second seat, but make sure the flight attendant sees it, so their count comes up correct. Other airlines don't give you cards. People with a second seat "reserved" card (on Southwest) can get priority boarding, which is really nice. I don't put either dog in the seat, but I pull them out from under after takeoff. Most flight attendants follow the FAA rules, but some look the other way. Most times my seat mate doesn't even know I have two dogs, but I always let them know before takeoff so they can move if they have allergies. __________________ Kim- Mom to Lola, Mia, Allie, and Lucy, always in my heart

01-20-2012, 04:38 AM	#9
KimInMD Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Baltimore, MD. Posts: 1,078	By the way, both seats do not need a photo ID. The first ticket is your name, Mary Smith, and the second ticket is Mary XS Smith. XS = extra seat, and when coded that way, no ID is needed for the second ticket. __________________ Kim- Mom to Lola, Mia, Allie, and Lucy, always in my heart

01-20-2012, 04:51 AM	#10
DBlain Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Oakland County MI Posts: 6,190	Kim love your pups names, my girl is Lola and Lucy is my sister's, I am still a bit confused do you pay the going price for a seat or the pet fee. With Spirit I can get a seat for under $50.00 for myself from Detroit to NYC yet the pet fee is $125.00. Regardless they do have to be under the seat in front of you. When paying the pet fee and there is no extra seat, I find it best to get the window seat and do not let the flight crew see Lola when we get on. If they see the dog when you board I think they watch you the whole way. Thankfully Lola does not bark, but she is wiggly, after I buckle in I pull her out and put her sort off to the side of my lap by the window, I carry a large multi color brown and black scarf that I throw over her, and then I watch like heck for the flight attendants to come by. I like Spirit because they charge for everything even water, so few people buy anything that the FA's don't walk up and down the aisle much. I am going to find out about seats though, but like the tax lady said I am nervous to believe what those people tell you on the phone. On another note I have been working up the nerve to visit a shrink to see about getting Lola set up as a compassion animal or what ever they are called.

01-20-2012, 05:08 AM	#11
withchoco Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Cambridge, MA, USA Posts: 45	FYI, Spirit Airline charges $35~40 for a "carry-on" luggage, so I'd definitely make sure about the extra fee that they would charge for a pet prior to purchasing any ticket. Unless you join their cheap fair club (I forgot the club name..), you may end up paying around the same or more for lower quality services - their planes seemed so old...

01-20-2012, 05:17 AM	#12
KimInMD Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Baltimore, MD. Posts: 1,078	I'm sorry for the confusion. I pay the dog fee for one dog, and buy an extra seat in my name for the second dog. For me the ticket is only $2. more. If I put both dogs in the same carrier, then rules say there is only one dog fee charged. stinky Southwest wanted to charge me for the extra seat AND the dog fee for the second dog, so I just don't tell them I have The second dog with me. With a Kwigy Bo carrier, it looks like a purse, so no one ever notices she is in there. Someone here recently said some airlines won't charge the dog fee if you buy the extra seat. I'd check with Spirit, and see if that is the case for their airline. __________________ Kim- Mom to Lola, Mia, Allie, and Lucy, always in my heart

01-26-2012, 08:37 PM	#14
taxlady Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern,CA, Posts: 247	Pet ticket thread This is info for the flying with your pet buying the ticket thread, this thread or parts of it have been around in several places. I personally had NEVER heard of a "pet ticket" and there for a "pet seat", that said I asked my personal expert my DH, he used to work for Alaska Airlines, out of LAX, so this is where the info comes from. YES they do sell "pet seats", BUT they cost the same as a people one and the only one's DH ever saw being used were in first class as they were moving "show dogs" from CA to AK. These dogs, as per DH were the Huskies, beautiful, huge, very well behaved. Special arrangement were made on a case by case ticket. They had to have the special harnesses, special set ups with the seats, you know, everything. BUT, I was wrong, they do sell the seats, now anybody else? I don't know. The chain went from the counter to the stew, to the maint. guy, back to the stew, load the dog, special straps etc. Other people who have show dogs who travel and fly with them have similar stories. Anybody else with info? __________________ Sprockets Guardian and personal slave.