yorkie air travel

[romeos mommy]

does anyone recommend any airlines??? do you sedate your baby?? what have your experiences been like???

[lksdolls]

I used to use US Airways but they cut out their pet cargo. Now I use Delta but try to find a direct flight, but tha't not always been possible. No sedation but I put a large chewy or something like an animal knee in with them to keep them occupied. Something large enough that there would be no possibility of choking.

[Bridget's Mommy]

I've flown with my yorkie twice recently - from Oakland to NYC and Salt Lake to NYC - on Delta and Jet Blue respectively. I had good experiences with both airlines. I took redeye flights both ways which I think worked out well cause Bridget just slept in her carrier most of the time. On the Delta flight both ways the flight attendant let me take her out of the carrier and keep her under a blanket on my lap. I think its cause I was in business class which was pretty much empty and it was the middle of the night. Or maybe she was just feeling particularly generous! Otherwise, it's been my experience that airlines are pretty strict about keeping your baby in their carrier. It's a good idea before your trip to get them used to being in the carrier. Also, check with the airline to be sure you meet all their requirements with respect to health certificate, carrier size, etc. Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

[lksdolls]

Originally Posted by lksdolls

I used to use US Airways but they cut out their pet cargo. Now I use Delta but try to find a direct flight, but tha't not always been possible. No sedation but I put a large chewy or something like an animal knee in with them to keep them occupied. Something large enough that there would be no possibility of choking.

I should have added, if I'm shipping them. I've taken yorkies on US Airways with us but had two of them and they had to go into the air cargo and they charged us $100 per kennel one way, even if we would have been able to keep them under the seat.

[Mz_s3ski_Kitt3n]

i just call them today and they are charging an arm and a leg for shipping a pet one way !!

[ladyj]

Originally Posted by Bridget's Mommy

I've flown with my yorkie twice recently - from Oakland to NYC and Salt Lake to NYC - on Delta and Jet Blue respectively. I had good experiences with both airlines. I took redeye flights both ways which I think worked out well cause Bridget just slept in her carrier most of the time. On the Delta flight both ways the flight attendant let me take her out of the carrier and keep her under a blanket on my lap. I think its cause I was in business class which was pretty much empty and it was the middle of the night. Or maybe she was just feeling particularly generous! Otherwise, it's been my experience that airlines are pretty strict about keeping your baby in their carrier. It's a good idea before your trip to get them used to being in the carrier. Also, check with the airline to be sure you meet all their requirements with respect to health certificate, carrier size, etc. Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

I have flown on Delta with my Bichon, Lacy, several times, and they have let her lay on my lap under a blanket, too. Lacy is very quiet and just snuggled up and slept the whole way. They were strict on some flights and not so strict on others. I think it depends on how full the plane is and the crew themselves. Lacy got used to her Sherpa Bag when she was a puppy and she loves it. She spent a little over 8 hours in her Sherpa one time when a connecting flight was late and I didn't have time to let her out between flights. I really worried about her, but she was content and never made any complaint. She's a seasoned flyer and is OK as long as she's with me.

[blondflava]

If you get lucky and there aren't a lot of people on the plane, and the next seat is empty, maybe they will let you put the carrier on that empty seat? Any baby would be calmer than being under seat.

[michiko]

Originally Posted by romeos mommy

does anyone recommend any airlines??? do you sedate your baby?? what have your experiences been like???

I have flown many times with Haruka. I know.. Jetblue's reputation is not as good any more.. but I usually fly Jetblue... or Delta. I don't think in terms of bringing a dog to airplane... For me it doesn't matter the air line.

I never give anything to make her sleeepy.. she does really well in her Celltei Bag..

I have flown to Boston to CA for a couple times!! And she does okay... She is trained to hold.. but she is pretty good to pee and poop on peepad at airport bathroom. Of course I am the one who puts the peepad on the floor of bathroom

[Passionfruition]

We flew to NYC last May on Delta and Sully did great! We took the acepromazine (sp?) but he didn't even need it!!!!

[lisatodd]

most airlines will not let you sedate your puppy. my recommendation would be delta

[Lovin' Gracie]

Originally Posted by romeos mommy

does anyone recommend any airlines??? do you sedate your baby?? what have your experiences been like???

I have taken Gracie on jetBlue--you do need a very small carrier as their seats are low to the floor--I think it needs to be no taller than 9 inches. They do try and put you in a window seat and are otherwise pet-friendly. My vet doesn't recommend a sedative for dogs under 10 lbs. (Gracie is 5 lbs. and bit overweight at that!). She did say that on long flights (we took her from DC to CA) we could give her 1/4 tablet of children's benadryl--that's what we gave her after she was spayed. She sleeps like an angel on it--otherwise she'd be scratching to get out of the carrier and onto my lap.

[LuvMySissy]

I flew United when I picked up Angel. I did not have a direct flight - so two legs with a plane change. On the first flight, it was practically empty - so as soon as the plane was in the air, she was out of the bag and cuddled with me. The 2nd flight was packed, but I never put the carrier under the seat as it was freezing down there. It was on my lap the entire time and not one of the flight attendants said a word to me. The other passengers didn't even know there was an animal in there until we were descending and she starting whining.

I don't recommend a window seat, as it gets very cold along the outside of the plane if the carrier has to stay under the seat.

[lksdolls]

We delivered a pup to FL earlier this month on US Airways. No problems but did keep him in the carrier under the seat for the direct flight. We returned on Delta with a layover in Atlanta. We brought back a new male for us. On the first leg of the flight, it was so hot on my feet, even with the air blowing. We had to put him under the window seat because the carrier would not fit in the middle. I took Buddy out of the carrier because it was so hot. They did make a comment about "knowing the rules" about pets and told her it was too hot for him under the seat. She strongly recommended that I return him to his carrier...........at least while they were serving. The second leg we had no problems. I've also taken 2 pups in one carrier with us and put them in cargo because the carrier was too big for under the seat. We were flying into Miami with a layover.........again, no problems other than we missed our flight........almost a nightmare but US Airways got us on the next flight out, we flew into Palm Beach, rented a car and arrived at Miami shortly after the pups. US Airways was terrific and gave the pups some water before we got there.