Taking your cat on an airplane – a first-hand account

by Annie Scott on


There’s Pistol, my cat, turning around and around in her bag in the Delta Sky Club at LaGuardia Airport. If you’d like to know how we got to this point and how I prepared her for the trip, read my article from Friday, Taking your cat on the airplane – preparations. Once you’re all caught up, read on to see how we fared at the airport and on the plane.

Getting there.

I decided to call a Dial 7 sedan, as their drivers seem to be a lot more chilled out (and with a coupon, less expensive) than NYC taxi drivers. I didn’t want to risk a cheaper group ride or the subway, because that would add more time onto the trip — and one of my biggest concerns was that Pistol would have to go to the bathroom over the many hours ahead. While this isn’t really the point of the article, add that ride to the $100 pet fee and you have a significant difference in the cost of your trip — just something to consider.

I also chose an early morning flight so that we wouldn’t have to gamble against traffic. You may think I’m being overly cautious about the urination situation, but imagining the smell of cat pee on a three hour flight, and everyone looking at me like I was the devil, was enough to put fear into my heart. As I mentioned in the previous article, I also hid her water dish in the early AM.

Checking in.

Originally, I had thought it would be best to not check a bag, thus freeing us from waiting at the luggage carousel. Then, I attempted to carry the cat bag and my laptop bag and roll the suitcase … yeah, not the best situation. I entered the Special Services queue to pay for the cat ($100) and check my bag ($25). They required no paperwork for the animal. They informed me that I would not be allowed to remove the cat from the bag on the plane (obviously), and that the bag had to be stowed under the seat in front of me for takeoff and landing. That seemed reasonable. I hoped poor Pistol could take it. She’s only about 10 months old, so I figured she’d be adaptable — that’s another thing; if you think you might want to have a mobile animal, start them traveling early. Older cats and dogs can find this kind of experience pretty jarring.

Security, the most traumatic part.

Here’s something I didn’t expect: I had to take the cat out of the bag and walk her through the metal detector as they scanned the Sherpa bag.I held Pistol tightly as her eyes darted all over the place. There were so many people and so much to see, she might have been struggling to get away or she might have been intimidated and happy to stay with me — but I was holding her too tightly to tell. Chasing my cat through the airport was just … not an option.

Two lines were converging at the metal detector and the security guard let me jump the gun: “Let the woman with the cat through. Woman with the cat!”

In the confusion of taking my cat out of the bag, I had forgotten to remove my shoes. Oops. There was no metal in the shoes and they were thin little Haviana flip flops, but security wasn’t taking any chances on me. As I held the cat, they had me kick off my shoes so they could send them through the scanner, and Pistol and I walked through the metal detector once more. Satisfied, they released us. I forced poor Pistol back into the bag. That was probably the most traumatic part of the trip for both of us.

The Delta Sky Club.

As I entered the doors of my usual Sky Club, I had a sudden flash of concern that pets might not be allowed. Or, maybe they’d have pet treats or something. As it turned out, no one batted an eye, save for the enthralled children who sat near us and came to say hello.

Boarding.

At the allocated time, we headed to the gate to board. I sat down and put the carrier in my lap and unzipped it just enough to stick my hand inside the case. Pistol curled her whole little body around my hand and started to purr. I knew we were going to be all right. Pre-boarding began and I approached the agent with my ticket. She took one look at it and said “We’re not boarding your row yet.”

“I have a cat,” I said, naively assuming that was call for pre-boarding. “We don’t pre-board pets, only children,” she said curtly, and I slunk sheepishly back to my seat.

The flight.

Boarding (once I was allowed) and getting situated were a cinch, and when it was time to depart, I placed Pistol under the seat in front of me. I tried to keep my feet in her line of vision so she’d know I was there. She didn’t cry or anything. I was afraid all the bumpiness of sitting on the floor would freak her out, but strangely enough, I think she liked it. She looked at me during the start of the flight, and then I’m pretty certain she fell asleep for much of takeoff.

Once I was permitted, and I saw her eyes had opened back up, I took the case out and put it in my lap and stuck my hand in again. I patted her and, after some time, she slept. I put her back underneath for landing, and then I left her there as long as I could, not wanting to jostle her too much.

Final details.

As it turned out, no one ever asked to see Pistol’s paperwork. It was a domestic flight, so there was no customs ordeal or anything. This may differ from state to state, and if we’d been detained for any reason or randomly searched, they may have asked to see vaccination records. Still, Pistol and I deplaned and headed to the baggage check like everyone else.

Pistol looked around excitedly at all the activity of the claim area. My mom and dad had come to pick us up, and they all had a little chat. She was patient, but by the time we got her to the car, Pistol was noticeably antsy. She even cried, just once. I gave her a treat but she didn’t want it. I couldn’t wait to get her to the house.

We got her home about 20 minutes later and set her right next to the litterbox (so she’d know where it is), and opened the case. She hopped out and started sniffing around, purring and happy as could be to be free again. I write you just a week later now, and she’s happily settled into the house. I’m sitting at the kitchen table and she’s under my chair, sniffing at my feet.

Little does she know that three days from now, we’re going back to New York. At least this time, we both know we can handle it.

Photos by Annie Scott.

Taking your cat on an airplane – preparations

by Annie Scott on

I’m glad I called the airline the day before I brought my cat on Delta Airlines to visit my family in Minneapolis with me.

Paperwork.

When I originally called and asked to add a cat to my discounted online fare, they said “No problem.” The cat would cost $100 each way, and though there’s a limit to how many animals they can have onboard, I was the first request, and my reservation was made. I could still carry on my luggage (which I thought might be better than waiting for a checked bag). I assured them I had bought the airline-approved Sherpa bag in the size advised by my pet store. They also told me: “No, you don’t need any paperwork, just visit the check-in desk to pay for the animal.”

I was searching online for any last minute advice, trying to ensure Pistol (my kitty) would have as smooth a flight as possible, and everyone seemed to be talking about vaccination records. I called the airline and inquired. “Oh, well, you just need to see if the state you’re flying into requires them,” said the woman who helped me. “So, it’s not the airline, it’s the state?” I asked, clarifying. “That’s right,” she said.Thanks a lot, Delta. I almost showed up for my flight with a cat and no paperwork. Ugh. Crisis averted. I dug out my Humane Society folder which, thankfully, had the certificate of vaccination and a number of other records. I stuffed them all in my laptop bag, along with cat treats and a couple of the furry little mice with the leather tails she loves so much.

Sedatives.

While I originally thought a sedative might be the “humane” thing to do, my online research showed me that many people advise against sedating pets for flights and that some airlines won’t even allow sedated animals to board (if they know about it). Also, there are no safe over-the-counters; you shouldn’t try sedating your pet without visiting and getting a prescription from your vet … so, you know, there’s another reason not to sedate your pet. Mulling this over, I called to Pistol, accidentally waking her from a nap. She trotted over to me dutifully, her eyes groggy, her fur still wet from playing in the shower (weirdo). Cats sleep 13-16 hours per day anyway. I resolved to just try and keep her up and active the morning of the flight so she’d be tired. I considered lining the bag with a pair of black pants; her favorite surface on which to sleep. I decided against it.

Other preparations.

Over the preceding weeks, I took Pistol to friends’ apartments via cab and subway, in the carrier, to get her used to the idea. She didn’t seem to like being in the bag much (who would?) but she was always okay afterward. On the day of the flight, my fiance cut up one of his t-shirts, making it into a blanket so she’d have something familiar to smell inside. In fear that she’d have to “go,” I hid her water dish (and closed the toilet) at 4:00 AM for a 6:00 AM into-the-bagging. I felt bad about that, but figured she would certainly survive it.

Getting the cat in the bag.

The next morning, it was time to get Pistol into the bag, into the cab, onto the plane, into a car, and into a whole new house. I’d love to say we eventually coaxed her into the bag, but no, we had to hold her down and zip as fast as we could. Once she was in there, she immediately starting doing her “settling circles,” as I like to call them. There was no crying, but there was definitely a little glaring (see above).

On Monday, I’ll post the conclusion to this article — the experience of bringing the cat through security and onto the flight.
***UPDATE*** Taking your cat on an airplane – a first-hand account is here.

Photo by Annie Scott.

Galley Gossip: Captain A-rod and the cat lady from hell!

by Heather Poole on

I should have known it was going to be a weird flight when the captain introduced himself as A-rod. Short, round and graying, he stood in the galley massaging the shoulders of a tense looking flight attendant. When the agent walked on board with paperwork, the flight attendant quickly slid out of A-rod’s reach and eagerly asked. “Ready to board?”

Boarding, for a flight attendant, is the most hectic and difficult phase of flight, and would you believe we’re not even getting paid until the aircraft door is closed and the airplane backs away from the gate! It’s true. What makes it stressful is the pressure to get full flights staffed with minimum crew out on time. No longer are there extra flight attendants floating around to help passengers the way there once was years ago. Either we’re setting up a galley or keeping an eye on our exit doors. And by the time a full load settles into their seats and flight attendants can finally move freely up and down the aisle, we’re usually just a few minutes away from taxiing out.

Enter the cat lady. I spotted her right away during the boarding process. Now I love cats. I even own a sixteen pound Maine Coon named Gatsby, so I’m a bit of a cat lady myself. What I don’t love are – not passengers who bring on board pets that don’t fit under the seat in front of them (it happens), but passengers who don’t tell us when their pets don’t fit under the seat until the last minute, like a woman did on a flight a few years ago! That cat wound up in the first class coat closet for take off. So when I spotted this newest cat lady with a large hard case carrier, I asked if it would fit under the seat in front of her.”It should,” she said matter of fact. “I went to the airline’s website to check the measurements under the seat.”

Sounded good to me.

Well not only did the carrier not fit under the seat, an aisle seat, nobody with a middle seat wanted to split from their traveling companion. Cat lady turned red. In the aisle she stood yelling at me because my airline had “lied” to her and now I needed to make things right! Honestly, I was trying, but she wasn’t making it easy screaming at me like that. To make matters worse, the agent started making a PA asking everyone – her – to take their seats. That’s when it seemed like just about everybody seated in a five row radius began claiming to have severe cat allergies.

Quickly I walked up the aisle to report what was going on to the captain and the frazzled agent, but along the way a passenger waved me down to ask if his dog had been boarded. He’d seen it sitting in its crate on the tarmac and was worried. I told him I’d be right back.

“If the guy with the dog is wearing a red baseball cap, I already told him his dog was on board,” said A-rod. “It’s a big brown dog, right?”

I had no idea what it looked like, and was just about to tell him so when the agent interrupted us and asked, “Are you going to take the delay Captain?”

A delay is bad news at an airline. And someone has to take the heat. This is why flight attendants and agents start making back to back PA’s asking passengers to step into the aisle when stowing their bags and to take their seats as quickly as possible for an on time departure. Otherwise fingers start pointing. Flight attendants, gate agents, mechanics, cabin cleaners, we’re all guilty of trying to place the blame on another department. Get docked with too many delays and one could very well lose their job. It’s that serious.

I didn’t wait to hear A-rod’s response, I quickly walked back to coach and asked the dog owner if his dog was big and brown. He just looked at me. Then he told me the breed, as if that meant something to me. I tried again. “Is that breed of dog normally big and brown?”

He smirked. “Yeah.”

“Your dog is on the plane.” One down, one more to go.

Only when I finally reached the cat lady, I couldn’t believe what I saw. Somehow, I don’t know how, the other flight attendants had moved passengers around in order to accomodate the cat under a middle seat. In doing so, the cat lady now had an entire row all to herself.

Just as I started to relax, a passenger tugged on my sleeve. “Excuse me, Miss, I want to know what that woman paid for her seat!”

I started to tell him I had no idea what she paid for her seat, or what anyone paid for that matter, when another passenger piped in with, “Did she buy one seat or three?”

Across the aisle a woman yelled, “I don’t think it’s fair that she gets her own row while the rest of us have to suffer!”

On the verge of a mutiny, I tried calming the passengers down. It wasn’t easy. Did I happen to mention we hadn’t even taken off yet? And that boarding sets the tone for the flight? Oh yeah. Welcome aboard. Now where the heck was A-rod when you really needed a massage?

Tips for traveling with pets on the plane:

1. Book flights early. Only a certain number of pets are allowed in the cabin at one time.

2. Check the airline’s website for pet policies and maximum dimensions for carriers. (21 inches long X 13 to 16 inches wide X 9 inches high seems to be the standard)

3. Purchase a flexible pet carrier or “bag” as these tend to fit better under seats than hard case carriers. (If checking a pet in cargo, only hard case carriers are accepted.)

4. Choose a middle or window seat, as the space under aisle seats tend to be narrower.

5. Pets are required to stay inside their carriers throughout the flight. Make sure it’s ventilated on both sides.

6. Line the carrier with an absorbent material like “puppy pads” in case of an accident.

7. Make sure your pet is wearing an identification tag.

8. Personalize your pet. Put a sign on the carrier that reads, “Hi, I’m a cat and my name is____ . This is my first flight.”



Photos courtesy of Erica.Hargreave

Travel Trends: Pet travel

by Gadling Staff on

From doggy daycare to feline pampering to gourmet food and beyond, pet owners in the United States shower their furry companions with a healthy dose of attention. Although this affection is shown through lots of play time and generous ear scratching, it’s most easily recognizable by the billions of dollars spent every year in the pet industry.

Since 1994, the American Pet Products Association (APPA) has kept track of just how much Americans spend on their pets. The data verifies that with every new year, U.S. pet owners have spent increasingly more on their four-legged counterparts. In fact, within the 10 years between 1994 and 2004, the spending literally doubled from $17 billion to $34 billion. Fast forward to 2010, a mere 6 years later, and that number has skyrocketed to approximately $47.4 billion.

While money spent on pets includes vet fees, food and other typical expenses, a large chunk of that is devoted to leisure-related activities like pampering and lodging. This increased amount of spending is partially due to a growing trend in the pet industry that has owners toting their pets along with them on vacation.

The Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) released data in January of 2009 that said the most popular animal that pet owners bring with them on vacations is a dog. This is likely due to the canine’s happy-go-lucky attitude and ability to adapt to new environments quickly. Coming in at second place are felines at 15 percent, followed by birds at 3 percent and “others” at 2 percent (other includes ferrets, fish, rabbits).

As for how pets travel, transportation via cars is by far the most common. And, according to a the same travel poll conducted by TIA, only 6 percent of animals travel with an airline and 10 percent travel in a recreational vehicle.

Once a pet and its owner have finally reached their destination, finding a place to stay is the next detail to figure out. As of 2009, 32 percent of travelers stay with someone who they already know, such as a friend or relative. Twenty nine percent stay in a hotel, 16 percent opt for a recreation vehicle or tent and the final 10 percent stay in a cabin or vacation home. This information is also based on data gathered by TIA.

This discussion “begs” the question: do you travel with your pet(s)? No? Then be sure to check out “Ask Gadling: How to prepare for not traveling without your dog.”

Data Sources:

See more Travel Trends.

Ask Gadling: How to prepare for traveling without your dog

by Mike Barish on

This week’s question comes from Quincy in Oshkosh, Wisconsin:

“I have always taken my dog, Jasper, on camping trips and road trips. But my girlfriend and I are going to Bermuda for our anniversary and need to leave Jasper home. I’ve never left him behind and don’t really know what to do. How do I make this comfortable for my dog and less stressful for me?”

This is a fairly common dilemma and one that causes nearly every dog owner stress and anxiety. Thankfully, we have a game plan for traveling without your pooch.

View more Ask Gadling: Travel Advice from an Expert or send your question to ask [at] gadling [dot] com.

Gadling: Pet ownership is a wonderful thing. Several of us Gadlingers have dogs, cats or wives – and we all travel – so we can relate to this problem. While leaving your dog behind can be stressful, you can make things easier for everyone (including your dog) by planning well in advance.

Your dog is not your only best friend

The best case scenario is having someone you know and trust dogsit for you. Hopefully, you have a friend or family member who lives close by, knows your dog and can watch him for you. In advance of leaving, spend extra time with your friend and your dog so that they can bond and get used to each other. This will make the transition easier when they are alone together.

If your friend can stay at your place while you are away, even better. Your dog will feel comfortable because he’s in his own home. If having your friend stay at your home is not an option, be sure to bring your dog to your friend’s home a few times before you go away so that it becomes a comfortable space.

Details, details, details

Write down everything that you can think of that will make watching your dog easier. This includes:

  • Your contact information and itinerary
  • When and how much food to feed your dog
  • His walking schedule
  • Any behavioral quirks (he’s scared of the vacuum, he chews shoes, he hates the sound of Lady Gaga’s voice on the radio, etc.)
  • Your vet’s name and contact information
  • Any preexisting medical conditions and instructions on how to deal with them

Boarding

What happens if you are traveling with all of best dogsitting options or no one is available to watch dog? In a pinch, you can find a boarding facility. The upside is that you dog will be staying in a space specifically designed to keep dogs safe and comfortable. The downsides include the cost and potential for illness.

Boarding is never cheap. If it is your only option, seek recommendations from your vet or friends so that you know that it will be money well spent. Visit the kennel before your trip to meet the staff and allow them to interact with your dog. Ask for a tour of their facility to make sure that you are comfortable with the cleanliness. Ask questions, listen to their answers and build a rapport with them.

Creature comforts

Be sure to give your friends (or the boarding facility) some of your dog’s favorite toys, more food than needed in case your return is delayed, the dog’s bed, leash and poop bags. It may also help to leave a shirt or other article of clothing that smells like you. This has been said to comfort dogs in their owners’ absence. For your friend’s sake, refrain from leaving underpants. Your dog shouldn’t be comfortable with that smell anyway.

No matter who is watching your dog, it’s your job to ensure that they have all the supplies that they need. They should not have to go to the pet store to pick up anything unless there is an emergency situation.

Accidents happen

Changes in routine can cause dogs to get anxious. Even the most well-trained dogs will urinate in the house, vomit or chew on things if their owner disappears for a few days. Explain to your friend that you will replace anything that is broken or stained by your dog. Then be sure you actually do so if that happens. Let your friend know how your dog has reacted to stress in the past so that they aren’t caught off guard.

Help your friend prepare their home for your dog’s visit. Spend time assisting them with tidying up, hiding any fragile or treasured items and creating a comfortable and safe space for your dog.

Check in

While you’re away, give your friend a call, shoot them an email or send a text message. Something to let them know that your trip is on schedule. Don’t be a pest and call several times a day, though. Just check in enough to make you comfortable and let them know that you’ll be home soon.

Say thank you

Watching your dog may be a joy for your friend (they get to play with your pup, have a companion and maybe even pick up women) but it is also a burden. The best thank you is a gift from your trip to let them know that you were thinking of their generosity while you were away. Find something that properly thanks them for their efforts in easing your mind and making your dog happy. That means buying them something more substantial than a souvenir spoon. Taking your friend out for dinner after you return is also a wonderful way to say thanks.

Leaving your dog behind will always be somewhat stressful. You can mitigate that stress by properly preparing yourself, your friend and your dog well in advance of your trip. Hope you all come home to wagging tales when you return home.