Flying with Pets

Hello,

DH and I may be heading to Indiana to get a puppy! The drive would be 14 hours (each way), so I am looking into flying the puppy home with us (in the cabin NOT as cargo). Has anyone ever done this? Can you explain the logistics of it all for me?

We will either fly both ways, or fly there and rent a car and drive our puppy home. I am trying to figure out which would work best for us and our puppy.

Thanks!

Re: Flying with Pets

i fly with my dog sophie all the time.

most airlines have a pet weight limit of about 15 pounds, but they don't actually weigh the dog. as long as your dog fits into a standard carrier, it's fine. sherpa makes carriers that meet the airline carry-on standards, check out their website.

if you make your airline reservation online, call the airline first and make sure that they have pet spaces available - usually only 2 pets are allowed per flight. then after you buy your ticket, call the airline again and make a reservation for your pet. they charge anywhere from 50-80 bucks each way, which you pay when you check in.

you may need to get a mild sedative for the puppy, since it's not used to flying. benadryl has worked pretty well for sophie, but you might want to ask your vet what would be appropriate for a puppy.

FM me if you have any other questions. good luck!!

Re: Flying with Pets

Re: Flying with Pets

The dog should be able to sit with you as long as the sherpa fits beneath the seat. My uncle flies with his pup all the time and he never has had an issue. Just verify from the airline what the dimensions are for the below the seat carry-on, and make sure the carrier is airline approved.

I also recommend bringing a bottle for the dog's water. They make a nice one that has a flip-out drinking reservoir at petco.