Flying with pets

I've read too many stories about the treatment and deaths of animals flying in cargo sections. Unless your dog is able to fly NEXT to you in the passenger section, I wouldn't do it! Google dangers of dogs flying in planes.

We took 2 Cats with us once in a carriers. The security made us take them out and walk through with us. Two scarred cats, never doing that again. When animals go with us it is in the RV, never flying again.

I've flown dogs as baggage and had no issues.
The Internet is full of horror stories but since you only read about the bad cases and not all the flights without issues the Internet does not give you a sense of the frequency of issues (i.e. bad cases per 100 flights).

BCSnob wrote:
I've flown dogs as baggage and had no issues.
The Internet is full of horror stories but since you only read about the bad cases and not all the flights without issues the Internet does not give you a sense of the frequency of issues (i.e. bad cases per 100 flights).

I agree, somewhat.

However, one horror story out of a hundred is too many if it's your pet.

I'm with BC that the only thing you hear about is the bad cases not the good. Now my experience was a one time experience and it was great. Back 8 years ago the DW and I bought our camping buddy on the Internet from a lady in Kentucky.

We had planned on driving down to pick him up when she offered to fly him. I was hesitant but she fully guaranteed him arriving safely so I took the chance. I was fully expecting to go to the package area to pick him up when I found out that I need to go to the actual gate and I would be met my an airline employee. I got at the gate and was waiting when a flight attendant come carrying little peanut off the plane to me in his little carrier. Now keep in mind he was only 2 pounds in a small carrier but he rode up front where the flight attendants are. I was floored for sure. Obviously that isn't where the majority of the pets fly but it worked great in our situation.

You will want to check that the cargo hold is pressurized, has oxygen and is heated. My daughter took her dog with her to Europe to live there for a couple of years and the connecting flight did not have a pressurized cargo. Caused quite a problem for a few days.

Airlines generally have gotten better, but there are many things beyond their control, weather delays, ground holds being two. This time of year with the weather, I'd be afraid unless they ride with you in the cabin.

There's no way my dog would fly in a crate in the baggage compartment.
Even if they are relatively safe, the animals will be scared.

For me, I would evaluate the potential risk against the benefits. In this case, flying home for a few days' visit, I wouldn't put my dog at risk with flying. I think the dog would have an easier time staying at a kennel for a week or less than they would flying twice in that same time frame.

Most airlines will no longer allow pets to be shipped in cargo, so you now have very few options. They can go in a carrier under your seat. I did see a story where a turkey was allowed to ride in a seat as it was classified as a calming influence on the passenger.