We had different experiences to and from on our recent trip. On the way out, Jack was fussing and I had an empty seat next to me, so I tried putting his carrier there. The flight attendant made me put him under the seat. But then he broke the zipper on his carrier, so I brought him back up. She complained but seemed to understand when I told her he risked getting away if he was under the seat. Sometimes I do pity the flight attendants. Thankfully, she used her brains in that case, not the rulebook.

On the way back, I pulled him out of the carrier and hid him under a blanket on my lap. He was fine. He hardly budged. He's so tiny that I was even able to lower my tray for meals without bothering him or raising suspicion. I had to be careful not to fall asleep though.

Sam and Ted have flown. The fare was $80 EACH, ONE WAY. I had them both, as babies in a pet carrier (soft side) for under the seat. On the way to VA, the employees were accommodating, helpful, offering to get them water !! Coming BACK to Ohare was a different story. It's all about the people. Ted was on my lap to VA and no one cared. On the flight to Ohare the carrier stayed under the seat (although my head was down there most of the time checking on them and baby talking them). I paid quite a bit for them to be shoved under the seat, and yes sometimes the screaming, yelling, jumping 5 year olds should be put in cargo. (For they upset my dogs.) Traveling today is rough enough, I have to sit there for two hours and listen to these kids have tantrums while their totally out of touch parents ignore it?? Sorry. I have had more flights ruined because the kids' owners couldn't control them and didn't care at all about the others around them. :aimeeyork

That is not very fair to say. Sometimes, it is fear for kids as it is a fear for the dogs...if the kids are smaller. Now, if the parent is doing Nothing to try to curb the behavior then by all means yes kick them off. Before I had kids I used to think the same way "ughh why can't those parents control those kids?" speaking mostly of the unruly older ones and some toddlers. Now that I am a parent I know that the child is probably scared or their ears are hurting, because unlike us as adults they either can't or don't understand how to clear their ears and restore that equilibrium. That is a horrible feeling. Some even get physically ill (much like animals) from the motion.

As far as the dogs, I have been on a plane with one that was hollering the whole time...I think he was in the same position as a young child. Scared and his ears were probably hurting too. There are reasons for everything, and while some may be just bad kids, not all of them are.

Hope that makes sense, and hope it comes across in the right way. Just trying to offer a different perspective on it.

Fly'n to Sarasota tomorrow with Taylor, our Yorkie and Wrigley our little Red Bellied Parrot. Praying for good weather....let ya know how it goes. Both are under the seats.

Can I Come with you Please :)
I wanna go see my mom and Sister.
they are just up in the Bay.

I think the rules are so silly when it comes to small dogs flying in cabin. I can understand them not wanting them to leave the carrier, but I can't see why they wouldnt be able to be in the carrier, on their parents lap, or even with a hand inside the bag to comfort your furbaby. It just seems ridiculous to pay good money, then have to shove your furbaby under a seat :(

I am so sorry to hear that!!! What airline was it??

What kind of sedatives? What is the name of the med? thanks!

I wonder that too...My vet suggested Acepromazine for motion sickness too...Chloe's eyes are real glassy too and I worry about the side effect too.....

I am a little surprised by so many people having trouble on flights. We have flown several times on different airlines with our yorkie and also one of our trips we had a Guide Dog puppy in training. We fly out of Seattle to Orlando.

With our Guide Dog puppy we had been flying all night and when we landed in Atlanta the pilot came on the speaker and asked everyone to please remain seated so that Miriam(our Guide Dog puppy) could get off the plane 1st since there wasn't a restroom on board that she could use! Everyone chuckled and we go off and went as fast as we could to get outside.

I brought Annie back from TN in the cabin and had no problems at all.

My experiances have been nothing but positive. Truth be known it has been easier traveling with a pet, than it has been going through security with an Asthmatic!

Just my experiance

[QUOTE=elegntorchid;617684]I have children and they behave in public, but some do not and it is disturbing and frustrating to say the least for some "rotten" child to be rude and obnoxious and for parents to expect others to just put up with it because they are "real"!!!Maybe they should be thankful that they do not have to pay for them to fly and make them behave in exchange. Maybe they should have to start paying a "fine" for ruining someones expensive dinner or flight.... In all honesty though I do not think it is a comparison as much as an observation. /QUOTE]


Awwww, thats not fair. I have flown twice with my daughter. In "normal" public, she's an angel...very well behaved. Put her on an airplane and she turns into a lunatic. All the DVD's, toys and games wont calm her down. I know this is totally OT, but poor airplane behaviour isnt always poor parenting. I, for one, dont expect others to put up with her behaviour...I honestly feel bad for those who have paid good money, and have had a miserable flight because of my wild child. Believe me, I have tried everything....and usually what works the best is just ignoring it...they calm down faster when the parents arent making a fuss over them freaking out. This sometimes can look as though the parent doesnt care, and expects others to deal with it.

Back to the topic at hand...I see no reason why the carrier has to be left under the seat. It makes more sense for the carrier to be put wherever makes the dog calmer. If that means on your lap, that should be where it goes...though that doesnt address the fact that turbulence can be unpredictable. I think it would make the most sence to have a pet section, and give the pet owner the option of paying for a seat, and using some sort of seat belt. For a child, over the age of 2, they no longer get a free ride, but the seat they take is discounted...why cant they do that for a small animal?

SURE!!! Jump onboard!!! We are on Sarasota Bay. Is that where they are? Getting packed up to head out now.

I have flown with my Bichon several times on Delta Airlines and the experience has always been good. The first time I flew with Lacy, the stewardess came to me after the plane took off and said if I wanted to move to the rear of the plane (plane was not full) I could take Lacy out of her carrier and let her lay on my lap under a blanket. I did that and Lacy slept the whole flight. The stewardess also brought me a cup of ice for Lacy. I always leave the carrier under the seat, which is required, but I unzip it a little so I can get my hand inside and touch Lacy. The stewardess has never said anything about doing that. I would think the stewardess would rather have the dog comforted and quiet. Lacy is a great traveler and is quiet and content as long as she can see me. I always fly Delta and the stewardesses have always been nice about having a dog on board. They admired Lacy and asked questions about her. We have been on flights that were full and Lacy had to stay in the carrier, but she got along fine doing that, too. On one flight, the person sitting next to me said she couldn't believe there was a dog in that bag under the seat. I can't imagine a stewardess not wanting an owner to comfort the dog in its carrier. As long as the carrier stays under the seat, I'd unzip it enough to get a hand inside and comfort the dog and not expect any guff from the stewardess. Sounds like you got a grumpy stewardess. There's no rule against putting your hand inside your carry-on bag!

I also work for an airline and my company has strict rules that the dog has to be kept under the seat at all times. Which kind of bummed as I would like to have them on my lap for a little bit anyway I shouldn't be complaining because at least they get to fly with me free of charge. Anyway coming back from Jersey to Florida I was on the employee bus with my two furbutts. An employee frm Northwest was cooing over them. I told him what a shame that my company didn't allow them to be removed not even for water. He said that Northwest dosen't mind little dogs sitting on your lap that it isn't an issue with them if you want to hold them. I was like hmmmm nice to know:rolleyes:. I wish my company wasn't so strict.......

I totally agree.:thumbup: