Air Travel

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The first genius I spoke with at the airlines (last month) told me 11" and I > went out and bought 2 brand-spanking-new 10 5/8" tall cages only to find out > yesterday (when I called back to triple-check) that 9" is the maximum > height.  (Who trains these airline reservation people anyway?)  That’s when > we went out and boug the Kennel Cabins. <snip> > Oh they gave us "full instructions" alright – just FALSE information!  I get > a different story every time I call to check on our reservation!  I’ve been > told maximum height for in-cabin kennels is 11".  I’ve also been told 9". > I’ve been told cats do NOT have to be removed from their cage at the > security checkpoint. I’ve also been told that they DO have to.  I’ve been > told that only 1 cat can be in each cabin per flight (1 in first class and 1 > in coach).  I’ve also been told that up to 3 can be in each cabin per > flight.  ARGH! >You might also want to considering putting your cats in a harness. It >will be required to remove them from their carriers at the security >checkpoint.

For some reason, it seems that airlines have different size restrictions for carry on luggage and carry on pet kennels.  As long as you’re within the size they say for carry on luggage, you should be ok.  For the final word, check your airline’s web site for luggage dimensions. Also, you DO have to take the cat out at the security checkpoint.  This is not up to the airlines.  Security has been tightened over the last few months, so this is not something you can talk them out of. If you do end up driving, good luck with the weather! Stravis "KILLING TIME!  It’s bad enough wasting time without killing it!"         — Tock, The Terrible Watchdog

Response:

>  Sherpa has a web site at: >>  http://www.sherpapet.com/ >Sherpa’s are well worth it if you are going to use them often.

I’ve heard many people recommend a soft-sided carrier (like a Sherpa bag) over a regular hard carrier for air travel.  I wonder why?  Are cats more comfortable in the soft-sided bag?  Is it because a soft-sided bag can be fit under the seat more easily? In the near future, I’ll have to fly with my cat to Japan, so I’m gathering information to prepare for the trip.  I’m just wondering if I’ll need to purchase a soft-sided bag for my cat.  Any advice will be appreciated. Wakako – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

 (has to be under 9" tall) seems SO small!  Our cats are adults – one weighs > 11 pounds and the other 14 & these cages look like they’re made for much > smaller cats.  Both of them (on the "test rides") have been able to turn > themselves around inside them but, still, I am very worried about how > healthy it will be for them to be in them for the 2-hour flight.  (With the > commute from home to the airport, the flight and then the commute from the > new airport to our new home, I figure they’ll be enclosed in the cages for > about 5.5 hours total.)  Will they be OK?  Can being cramped in these cages > for that long hurt them in any way? > Jessica

Hi Jessica! I just flew with my 13.5 lb cat (who is not overweight – just a large cat) who is 8 years 3 months old.  He was in one of those carriers for over five hours both ways of our trip and did just fine.  He didn’t really want to move around much because of all the hustle and bustle in the airport and the new experience of flying scared him a bit.  He was also on acepromazine, which I think makes them not care too much about their cramped quarters. I’m sure your cats will do just fine!  I, too, was a nervous wreck, and had to check on Rasputin a couple of times for my own peace of mind during the flight, but he was always just fine.  Something you may want to do if you got the hard sided carriers – if you can, return them and get soft sided carriers.  Since most of them are way short on the maximum width dimension, the soft sided carrier can be squashed down a little, and can therefore be a little taller than the 9 inches.  The carrier I got for Rasputin was 10 1/2 inches tall, but squashed down just fine to fit under the seat. Stravis "KILLING TIME!  It’s bad enough wasting time without killing it!"         — Tock, The Terrible Watchdog

Response:

  Sherpa has a web site at: >  http://www.sherpapet.com/ >I checked them out.  Those things aren’t cheap!  Not sure what we’re going >to do now…  we’re seriously considering just DRIVING!  I definitely think >a Sherpa Bag might be something we’ll buy in our future, though…  as long >as I can be ASSURED that they’re always accepted by airlines for in-cabin >use.  (That was one of my biggest fears – that we’d arrive at the airport, >all prepared to take our cats on board with us and then be told that they’d >have to go cargo or not at all.)

 Sherpa’s are well worth it if you are going to use them often. However The Foster and Smith catalog and Lillian Vernon catalog both have them for $20-30. As long as the carrier can scrunch up under the seat for take-off and landing you can bring it out and put it on your lap during flight so the dimensions aren’t as important. I got one from Lillian Vernon for a little over $20 several years ago. I"m sure you can find those catalogs on line with a search engine. barbara

Response:

Sorry about all your problems, but it made for entertaining reading – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I hope you didn’t buy a carrier called the Cabin Kennel. >These have a wire top and have external dimensions of 17×12x8 inches. These >are >way too small for adult cats! >Yikes!  I just checked and that is EXACTLY what they’re called!  Crap! >A carrier used for anything but the >shortest trips should tall enough for a cat to stand up in. >Yes – this is what I’m hearing now.  (Glad I still have the receipt for >those cages.) >Since you plan to take them in the cabin, I’d strongly suggest that >you use one of the soft-sided carriers. Airline approved carriers >are made by Sherpa, Samsonite and Sturdy (Sturdi ?). I’ve racked >up over 15 flights using a Sherpa Bag and it has worked well. After >seeing a Sturdy (sp?) bag, I would recommend it over the other >brands. Unfortunately, they aren’t available as the Sherpa. The >Sherpa Bags can be found at PetsMart, Petco or just about any good >pet supply store. Even our local Albertson’s have them in the pet >supply aisle. Sherpa has a web site at: >  http://www.sherpapet.com/ >I checked them out.  Those things aren’t cheap!  Not sure what we’re going >to do now…  we’re seriously considering just DRIVING!  I definitely think >a Sherpa Bag might be something we’ll buy in our future, though…  as long >as I can be ASSURED that they’re always accepted by airlines for in-cabin >use.  (That was one of my biggest fears – that we’d arrive at the airport, >all prepared to take our cats on board with us and then be told that they’d >have to go cargo or not at all.) >Besides the soft-sided carriers, the smallest "Kennel Cab" can be >used. These are just under 11 inches tall and will just fit under >the seat. These are the standard model that use nut/bolt fasteners. >I think the deluxe versions are too tall. >The first genius I spoke with at the airlines (last month) told me 11" and I >went out and bought 2 brand-spanking-new 10 5/8" tall cages only to find out >yesterday (when I called back to triple-check) that 9" is the maximum >height.  (Who trains these airline reservation people anyway?)  That’s when >we went out and boug the Kennel Cabins. >If the airlines haven’t given you full instructions on flying with >your pets, check United’s site at: >  http://www.ual.com/ >Look for "Special Services" under the travel planning area. >Oh they gave us "full instructions" alright – just FALSE information!  I get >a different story every time I call to check on our reservation!  I’ve been >told maximum height for in-cabin kennels is 11".  I’ve also been told 9". >I’ve been told cats do NOT have to be removed from their cage at the >security checkpoint. I’ve also been told that they DO have to.  I’ve been >told that only 1 cat can be in each cabin per flight (1 in first class and 1 >in coach).  I’ve also been told that up to 3 can be in each cabin per >flight.  ARGH! >You might also want to considering putting your cats in a harness. It >will be required to remove them from their carriers at the security >checkpoint. >We’ve had so many problems with this…  I think we decided this morning to >take back the tiny cages and to call AAA, get a triptik and just drive >there! >Thanks SO much for all of your information, though! >Jessica

Response:

>I hope you didn’t buy a carrier called the Cabin Kennel. >These have a wire top and have external dimensions of 17×12x8 inches. These are >way too small for adult cats!

Yikes!  I just checked and that is EXACTLY what they’re called!  Crap! >A carrier used for anything but the >shortest trips should tall enough for a cat to stand up in.

Yes – this is what I’m hearing now.  (Glad I still have the receipt for those cages.) >Since you plan to take them in the cabin, I’d strongly suggest that >you use one of the soft-sided carriers. Airline approved carriers >are made by Sherpa, Samsonite and Sturdy (Sturdi ?). I’ve racked >up over 15 flights using a Sherpa Bag and it has worked well. After >seeing a Sturdy (sp?) bag, I would recommend it over the other >brands. Unfortunately, they aren’t available as the Sherpa. The >Sherpa Bags can be found at PetsMart, Petco or just about any good >pet supply store. Even our local Albertson’s have them in the pet >supply aisle. Sherpa has a web site at: >  http://www.sherpapet.com/

I checked them out.  Those things aren’t cheap!  Not sure what we’re going to do now…  we’re seriously considering just DRIVING!  I definitely think a Sherpa Bag might be something we’ll buy in our future, though…  as long as I can be ASSURED that they’re always accepted by airlines for in-cabin use.  (That was one of my biggest fears – that we’d arrive at the airport, all prepared to take our cats on board with us and then be told that they’d have to go cargo or not at all.) >Besides the soft-sided carriers, the smallest "Kennel Cab" can be >used. These are just under 11 inches tall and will just fit under >the seat. These are the standard model that use nut/bolt fasteners. >I think the deluxe versions are too tall.

The first genius I spoke with at the airlines (last month) told me 11" and I went out and bought 2 brand-spanking-new 10 5/8" tall cages only to find out yesterday (when I called back to triple-check) that 9" is the maximum height.  (Who trains these airline reservation people anyway?)  That’s when we went out and boug the Kennel Cabins. >If the airlines haven’t given you full instructions on flying with >your pets, check United’s site at: >  http://www.ual.com/ >Look for "Special Services" under the travel planning area.

Oh they gave us "full instructions" alright – just FALSE information!  I get a different story every time I call to check on our reservation!  I’ve been told maximum height for in-cabin kennels is 11".  I’ve also been told 9". I’ve been told cats do NOT have to be removed from their cage at the security checkpoint. I’ve also been told that they DO have to.  I’ve been told that only 1 cat can be in each cabin per flight (1 in first class and 1 in coach).  I’ve also been told that up to 3 can be in each cabin per flight.  ARGH! >You might also want to considering putting your cats in a harness. It >will be required to remove them from their carriers at the security >checkpoint.

We’ve had so many problems with this…  I think we decided this morning to take back the tiny cages and to call AAA, get a triptik and just drive there! Thanks SO much for all of your information, though! Jessica

Response:

Hi I would have to seriously say that your cats are too big for the standard under the seat carrier.  I took my cat in one when he was a kitten.  But now he is too big for them.  He slept the whole time for the 10 hour trip but there was no way for him to stretch.  He did seem fine however, but like I said he was only a kitten then and not a full grown adult cat. Since he is larger now I have decided that on the next trip I will ship him on the plane via the cargo hold.  I know that it is noisy and dark out there but I think at least he will be able to move around and as long as nothing terrible happens I think he will be happier.  Seriously consider it.  But since it is only a two hour flight, you should let them out in the parking lot even for a little bit when you get off the flight.  My cat wanted to get right back into the carrier, a good sign.  Don’t worry too much about it:-) Terra – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

My husband and I are being transferred from our home in Los Angeles to Denver in 2 weeks.  We have decided to fly there (instead of drive – can’t bank on the weather/driving conditions being safe this time of year) and, in doing so, will be placing our indoor-only, very sheltered cats (age 8 years 4 months and 6 years) on a plane for the first time ever.  We’ve decided against shipping them cargo and are bringing the cats with us in the cabin. We’ve obtained our reservations, paid the extra $50 for each cat, acquired acepromazine from our vet for the trip and, just today, bought carriers of the appropriate size. I’m a nervous WRECK about this whole thing – but now that I’ve actually seen these carriers and have placed the cats in them for a "test ride", I’m scared to death!  The width and length of them seem fine – but the height (has to be under 9" tall) seems SO small!  Our cats are adults – one weighs 11 pounds and the other 14 & these cages look like they’re made for much smaller cats.  Both of them (on the "test rides") have been able to turn themselves around inside them but, still, I am very worried about how healthy it will be for them to be in them for the 2-hour flight.  (With the commute from home to the airport, the flight and then the commute from the new airport to our new home, I figure they’ll be enclosed in the cages for about 5.5 hours total.)  Will they be OK?  Can being cramped in these cages for that long hurt them in any way? Jessica

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The first genius I spoke with at the airlines (last month) told me 11" and I > went out and bought 2 brand-spanking-new 10 5/8" tall cages only to find out > yesterday (when I called back to triple-check) that 9" is the maximum > height.  (Who trains these airline reservation people anyway?)  That’s when > we went out and boug the Kennel Cabins. <snip> > Oh they gave us "full instructions" alright – just FALSE information!  I get > a different story every time I call to check on our reservation!  I’ve been > told maximum height for in-cabin kennels is 11".  I’ve also been told 9". > I’ve been told cats do NOT have to be removed from their cage at the > security checkpoint. I’ve also been told that they DO have to.  I’ve been > told that only 1 cat can be in each cabin per flight (1 in first class and 1 > in coach).  I’ve also been told that up to 3 can be in each cabin per > flight.  ARGH! >You might also want to considering putting your cats in a harness. It >will be required to remove them from their carriers at the security >checkpoint.

For some reason, it seems that airlines have different size restrictions for carry on luggage and carry on pet kennels.  As long as you’re within the size they say for carry on luggage, you should be ok.  For the final word, check your airline’s web site for luggage dimensions. Also, you DO have to take the cat out at the security checkpoint.  This is not up to the airlines.  Security has been tightened over the last few months, so this is not something you can talk them out of. If you do end up driving, good luck with the weather! Stravis "KILLING TIME!  It’s bad enough wasting time without killing it!"         — Tock, The Terrible Watchdog

Response:

>  Sherpa has a web site at: >>  http://www.sherpapet.com/ >Sherpa’s are well worth it if you are going to use them often.

I’ve heard many people recommend a soft-sided carrier (like a Sherpa bag) over a regular hard carrier for air travel.  I wonder why?  Are cats more comfortable in the soft-sided bag?  Is it because a soft-sided bag can be fit under the seat more easily? In the near future, I’ll have to fly with my cat to Japan, so I’m gathering information to prepare for the trip.  I’m just wondering if I’ll need to purchase a soft-sided bag for my cat.  Any advice will be appreciated. Wakako – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

 (has to be under 9" tall) seems SO small!  Our cats are adults – one weighs > 11 pounds and the other 14 & these cages look like they’re made for much > smaller cats.  Both of them (on the "test rides") have been able to turn > themselves around inside them but, still, I am very worried about how > healthy it will be for them to be in them for the 2-hour flight.  (With the > commute from home to the airport, the flight and then the commute from the > new airport to our new home, I figure they’ll be enclosed in the cages for > about 5.5 hours total.)  Will they be OK?  Can being cramped in these cages > for that long hurt them in any way? > Jessica

Hi Jessica! I just flew with my 13.5 lb cat (who is not overweight – just a large cat) who is 8 years 3 months old.  He was in one of those carriers for over five hours both ways of our trip and did just fine.  He didn’t really want to move around much because of all the hustle and bustle in the airport and the new experience of flying scared him a bit.  He was also on acepromazine, which I think makes them not care too much about their cramped quarters. I’m sure your cats will do just fine!  I, too, was a nervous wreck, and had to check on Rasputin a couple of times for my own peace of mind during the flight, but he was always just fine.  Something you may want to do if you got the hard sided carriers – if you can, return them and get soft sided carriers.  Since most of them are way short on the maximum width dimension, the soft sided carrier can be squashed down a little, and can therefore be a little taller than the 9 inches.  The carrier I got for Rasputin was 10 1/2 inches tall, but squashed down just fine to fit under the seat. Stravis "KILLING TIME!  It’s bad enough wasting time without killing it!"         — Tock, The Terrible Watchdog

Response:

  Sherpa has a web site at: >  http://www.sherpapet.com/ >I checked them out.  Those things aren’t cheap!  Not sure what we’re going >to do now…  we’re seriously considering just DRIVING!  I definitely think >a Sherpa Bag might be something we’ll buy in our future, though…  as long >as I can be ASSURED that they’re always accepted by airlines for in-cabin >use.  (That was one of my biggest fears – that we’d arrive at the airport, >all prepared to take our cats on board with us and then be told that they’d >have to go cargo or not at all.)

 Sherpa’s are well worth it if you are going to use them often. However The Foster and Smith catalog and Lillian Vernon catalog both have them for $20-30. As long as the carrier can scrunch up under the seat for take-off and landing you can bring it out and put it on your lap during flight so the dimensions aren’t as important. I got one from Lillian Vernon for a little over $20 several years ago. I"m sure you can find those catalogs on line with a search engine. barbara

Response:

Sorry about all your problems, but it made for entertaining reading – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I hope you didn’t buy a carrier called the Cabin Kennel. >These have a wire top and have external dimensions of 17×12x8 inches. These >are >way too small for adult cats! >Yikes!  I just checked and that is EXACTLY what they’re called!  Crap! >A carrier used for anything but the >shortest trips should tall enough for a cat to stand up in. >Yes – this is what I’m hearing now.  (Glad I still have the receipt for >those cages.) >Since you plan to take them in the cabin, I’d strongly suggest that >you use one of the soft-sided carriers. Airline approved carriers >are made by Sherpa, Samsonite and Sturdy (Sturdi ?). I’ve racked >up over 15 flights using a Sherpa Bag and it has worked well. After >seeing a Sturdy (sp?) bag, I would recommend it over the other >brands. Unfortunately, they aren’t available as the Sherpa. The >Sherpa Bags can be found at PetsMart, Petco or just about any good >pet supply store. Even our local Albertson’s have them in the pet >supply aisle. Sherpa has a web site at: >  http://www.sherpapet.com/ >I checked them out.  Those things aren’t cheap!  Not sure what we’re going >to do now…  we’re seriously considering just DRIVING!  I definitely think >a Sherpa Bag might be something we’ll buy in our future, though…  as long >as I can be ASSURED that they’re always accepted by airlines for in-cabin >use.  (That was one of my biggest fears – that we’d arrive at the airport, >all prepared to take our cats on board with us and then be told that they’d >have to go cargo or not at all.) >Besides the soft-sided carriers, the smallest "Kennel Cab" can be >used. These are just under 11 inches tall and will just fit under >the seat. These are the standard model that use nut/bolt fasteners. >I think the deluxe versions are too tall. >The first genius I spoke with at the airlines (last month) told me 11" and I >went out and bought 2 brand-spanking-new 10 5/8" tall cages only to find out >yesterday (when I called back to triple-check) that 9" is the maximum >height.  (Who trains these airline reservation people anyway?)  That’s when >we went out and boug the Kennel Cabins. >If the airlines haven’t given you full instructions on flying with >your pets, check United’s site at: >  http://www.ual.com/ >Look for "Special Services" under the travel planning area. >Oh they gave us "full instructions" alright – just FALSE information!  I get >a different story every time I call to check on our reservation!  I’ve been >told maximum height for in-cabin kennels is 11".  I’ve also been told 9". >I’ve been told cats do NOT have to be removed from their cage at the >security checkpoint. I’ve also been told that they DO have to.  I’ve been >told that only 1 cat can be in each cabin per flight (1 in first class and 1 >in coach).  I’ve also been told that up to 3 can be in each cabin per >flight.  ARGH! >You might also want to considering putting your cats in a harness. It >will be required to remove them from their carriers at the security >checkpoint. >We’ve had so many problems with this…  I think we decided this morning to >take back the tiny cages and to call AAA, get a triptik and just drive >there! >Thanks SO much for all of your information, though! >Jessica

Response:

>I hope you didn’t buy a carrier called the Cabin Kennel. >These have a wire top and have external dimensions of 17×12x8 inches. These are >way too small for adult cats!

Yikes!  I just checked and that is EXACTLY what they’re called!  Crap! >A carrier used for anything but the >shortest trips should tall enough for a cat to stand up in.

Yes – this is what I’m hearing now.  (Glad I still have the receipt for those cages.) >Since you plan to take them in the cabin, I’d strongly suggest that >you use one of the soft-sided carriers. Airline approved carriers >are made by Sherpa, Samsonite and Sturdy (Sturdi ?). I’ve racked >up over 15 flights using a Sherpa Bag and it has worked well. After >seeing a Sturdy (sp?) bag, I would recommend it over the other >brands. Unfortunately, they aren’t available as the Sherpa. The >Sherpa Bags can be found at PetsMart, Petco or just about any good >pet supply store. Even our local Albertson’s have them in the pet >supply aisle. Sherpa has a web site at: >  http://www.sherpapet.com/

I checked them out.  Those things aren’t cheap!  Not sure what we’re going to do now…  we’re seriously considering just DRIVING!  I definitely think a Sherpa Bag might be something we’ll buy in our future, though…  as long as I can be ASSURED that they’re always accepted by airlines for in-cabin use.  (That was one of my biggest fears – that we’d arrive at the airport, all prepared to take our cats on board with us and then be told that they’d have to go cargo or not at all.) >Besides the soft-sided carriers, the smallest "Kennel Cab" can be >used. These are just under 11 inches tall and will just fit under >the seat. These are the standard model that use nut/bolt fasteners. >I think the deluxe versions are too tall.

The first genius I spoke with at the airlines (last month) told me 11" and I went out and bought 2 brand-spanking-new 10 5/8" tall cages only to find out yesterday (when I called back to triple-check) that 9" is the maximum height.  (Who trains these airline reservation people anyway?)  That’s when we went out and boug the Kennel Cabins. >If the airlines haven’t given you full instructions on flying with >your pets, check United’s site at: >  http://www.ual.com/ >Look for "Special Services" under the travel planning area.

Oh they gave us "full instructions" alright – just FALSE information!  I get a different story every time I call to check on our reservation!  I’ve been told maximum height for in-cabin kennels is 11".  I’ve also been told 9". I’ve been told cats do NOT have to be removed from their cage at the security checkpoint. I’ve also been told that they DO have to.  I’ve been told that only 1 cat can be in each cabin per flight (1 in first class and 1 in coach).  I’ve also been told that up to 3 can be in each cabin per flight.  ARGH! >You might also want to considering putting your cats in a harness. It >will be required to remove them from their carriers at the security >checkpoint.

We’ve had so many problems with this…  I think we decided this morning to take back the tiny cages and to call AAA, get a triptik and just drive there! Thanks SO much for all of your information, though! Jessica

Response:

Hi I would have to seriously say that your cats are too big for the standard under the seat carrier.  I took my cat in one when he was a kitten.  But now he is too big for them.  He slept the whole time for the 10 hour trip but there was no way for him to stretch.  He did seem fine however, but like I said he was only a kitten then and not a full grown adult cat. Since he is larger now I have decided that on the next trip I will ship him on the plane via the cargo hold.  I know that it is noisy and dark out there but I think at least he will be able to move around and as long as nothing terrible happens I think he will be happier.  Seriously consider it.  But since it is only a two hour flight, you should let them out in the parking lot even for a little bit when you get off the flight.  My cat wanted to get right back into the carrier, a good sign.  Don’t worry too much about it:-) Terra – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

My husband and I are being transferred from our home in Los Angeles to Denver in 2 weeks.  We have decided to fly there (instead of drive – can’t bank on the weather/driving conditions being safe this time of year) and, in doing so, will be placing our indoor-only, very sheltered cats (age 8 years 4 months and 6 years) on a plane for the first time ever.  We’ve decided against shipping them cargo and are bringing the cats with us in the cabin. We’ve obtained our reservations, paid the extra $50 for each cat, acquired acepromazine from our vet for the trip and, just today, bought carriers of the appropriate size. I’m a nervous WRECK about this whole thing – but now that I’ve actually seen these carriers and have placed the cats in them for a "test ride", I’m scared to death!  The width and length of them seem fine – but the height (has to be under 9" tall) seems SO small!  Our cats are adults – one weighs 11 pounds and the other 14 & these cages look like they’re made for much smaller cats.  Both of them (on the "test rides") have been able to turn themselves around inside them but, still, I am very worried about how healthy it will be for them to be in them for the 2-hour flight.  (With the commute from home to the airport, the flight and then the commute from the new airport to our new home, I figure they’ll be enclosed in the cages for about 5.5 hours total.)  Will they be OK?  Can being cramped in these cages for that long hurt them in any way? Jessica

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The first genius I spoke with at the airlines (last month) told me 11" and I > went out and bought 2 brand-spanking-new 10 5/8" tall cages only to find out > yesterday (when I called back to triple-check) that 9" is the maximum > height.  (Who trains these airline reservation people anyway?)  That’s when > we went out and boug the Kennel Cabins. <snip> > Oh they gave us "full instructions" alright – just FALSE information!  I get > a different story every time I call to check on our reservation!  I’ve been > told maximum height for in-cabin kennels is 11".  I’ve also been told 9". > I’ve been told cats do NOT have to be removed from their cage at the > security checkpoint. I’ve also been told that they DO have to.  I’ve been > told that only 1 cat can be in each cabin per flight (1 in first class and 1 > in coach).  I’ve also been told that up to 3 can be in each cabin per > flight.  ARGH! >You might also want to considering putting your cats in a harness. It >will be required to remove them from their carriers at the security >checkpoint.

For some reason, it seems that airlines have different size restrictions for carry on luggage and carry on pet kennels.  As long as you’re within the size they say for carry on luggage, you should be ok.  For the final word, check your airline’s web site for luggage dimensions. Also, you DO have to take the cat out at the security checkpoint.  This is not up to the airlines.  Security has been tightened over the last few months, so this is not something you can talk them out of. If you do end up driving, good luck with the weather! Stravis "KILLING TIME!  It’s bad enough wasting time without killing it!"         — Tock, The Terrible Watchdog

Response:

>  Sherpa has a web site at: >>  http://www.sherpapet.com/ >Sherpa’s are well worth it if you are going to use them often.

I’ve heard many people recommend a soft-sided carrier (like a Sherpa bag) over a regular hard carrier for air travel.  I wonder why?  Are cats more comfortable in the soft-sided bag?  Is it because a soft-sided bag can be fit under the seat more easily? In the near future, I’ll have to fly with my cat to Japan, so I’m gathering information to prepare for the trip.  I’m just wondering if I’ll need to purchase a soft-sided bag for my cat.  Any advice will be appreciated. Wakako – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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 (has to be under 9" tall) seems SO small!  Our cats are adults – one weighs > 11 pounds and the other 14 & these cages look like they’re made for much > smaller cats.  Both of them (on the "test rides") have been able to turn > themselves around inside them but, still, I am very worried about how > healthy it will be for them to be in them for the 2-hour flight.  (With the > commute from home to the airport, the flight and then the commute from the > new airport to our new home, I figure they’ll be enclosed in the cages for > about 5.5 hours total.)  Will they be OK?  Can being cramped in these cages > for that long hurt them in any way? > Jessica

Hi Jessica! I just flew with my 13.5 lb cat (who is not overweight – just a large cat) who is 8 years 3 months old.  He was in one of those carriers for over five hours both ways of our trip and did just fine.  He didn’t really want to move around much because of all the hustle and bustle in the airport and the new experience of flying scared him a bit.  He was also on acepromazine, which I think makes them not care too much about their cramped quarters. I’m sure your cats will do just fine!  I, too, was a nervous wreck, and had to check on Rasputin a couple of times for my own peace of mind during the flight, but he was always just fine.  Something you may want to do if you got the hard sided carriers – if you can, return them and get soft sided carriers.  Since most of them are way short on the maximum width dimension, the soft sided carrier can be squashed down a little, and can therefore be a little taller than the 9 inches.  The carrier I got for Rasputin was 10 1/2 inches tall, but squashed down just fine to fit under the seat. Stravis "KILLING TIME!  It’s bad enough wasting time without killing it!"         — Tock, The Terrible Watchdog

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  Sherpa has a web site at: >  http://www.sherpapet.com/ >I checked them out.  Those things aren’t cheap!  Not sure what we’re going >to do now…  we’re seriously considering just DRIVING!  I definitely think >a Sherpa Bag might be something we’ll buy in our future, though…  as long >as I can be ASSURED that they’re always accepted by airlines for in-cabin >use.  (That was one of my biggest fears – that we’d arrive at the airport, >all prepared to take our cats on board with us and then be told that they’d >have to go cargo or not at all.)

 Sherpa’s are well worth it if you are going to use them often. However The Foster and Smith catalog and Lillian Vernon catalog both have them for $20-30. As long as the carrier can scrunch up under the seat for take-off and landing you can bring it out and put it on your lap during flight so the dimensions aren’t as important. I got one from Lillian Vernon for a little over $20 several years ago. I"m sure you can find those catalogs on line with a search engine. barbara

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Sorry about all your problems, but it made for entertaining reading – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I hope you didn’t buy a carrier called the Cabin Kennel. >These have a wire top and have external dimensions of 17×12x8 inches. These >are >way too small for adult cats! >Yikes!  I just checked and that is EXACTLY what they’re called!  Crap! >A carrier used for anything but the >shortest trips should tall enough for a cat to stand up in. >Yes – this is what I’m hearing now.  (Glad I still have the receipt for >those cages.) >Since you plan to take them in the cabin, I’d strongly suggest that >you use one of the soft-sided carriers. Airline approved carriers >are made by Sherpa, Samsonite and Sturdy (Sturdi ?). I’ve racked >up over 15 flights using a Sherpa Bag and it has worked well. After >seeing a Sturdy (sp?) bag, I would recommend it over the other >brands. Unfortunately, they aren’t available as the Sherpa. The >Sherpa Bags can be found at PetsMart, Petco or just about any good >pet supply store. Even our local Albertson’s have them in the pet >supply aisle. Sherpa has a web site at: >  http://www.sherpapet.com/ >I checked them out.  Those things aren’t cheap!  Not sure what we’re going >to do now…  we’re seriously considering just DRIVING!  I definitely think >a Sherpa Bag might be something we’ll buy in our future, though…  as long >as I can be ASSURED that they’re always accepted by airlines for in-cabin >use.  (That was one of my biggest fears – that we’d arrive at the airport, >all prepared to take our cats on board with us and then be told that they’d >have to go cargo or not at all.) >Besides the soft-sided carriers, the smallest "Kennel Cab" can be >used. These are just under 11 inches tall and will just fit under >the seat. These are the standard model that use nut/bolt fasteners. >I think the deluxe versions are too tall. >The first genius I spoke with at the airlines (last month) told me 11" and I >went out and bought 2 brand-spanking-new 10 5/8" tall cages only to find out >yesterday (when I called back to triple-check) that 9" is the maximum >height.  (Who trains these airline reservation people anyway?)  That’s when >we went out and boug the Kennel Cabins. >If the airlines haven’t given you full instructions on flying with >your pets, check United’s site at: >  http://www.ual.com/ >Look for "Special Services" under the travel planning area. >Oh they gave us "full instructions" alright – just FALSE information!  I get >a different story every time I call to check on our reservation!  I’ve been >told maximum height for in-cabin kennels is 11".  I’ve also been told 9". >I’ve been told cats do NOT have to be removed from their cage at the >security checkpoint. I’ve also been told that they DO have to.  I’ve been >told that only 1 cat can be in each cabin per flight (1 in first class and 1 >in coach).  I’ve also been told that up to 3 can be in each cabin per >flight.  ARGH! >You might also want to considering putting your cats in a harness. It >will be required to remove them from their carriers at the security >checkpoint. >We’ve had so many problems with this…  I think we decided this morning to >take back the tiny cages and to call AAA, get a triptik and just drive >there! >Thanks SO much for all of your information, though! >Jessica

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>I hope you didn’t buy a carrier called the Cabin Kennel. >These have a wire top and have external dimensions of 17×12x8 inches. These are >way too small for adult cats!

Yikes!  I just checked and that is EXACTLY what they’re called!  Crap! >A carrier used for anything but the >shortest trips should tall enough for a cat to stand up in.

Yes – this is what I’m hearing now.  (Glad I still have the receipt for those cages.) >Since you plan to take them in the cabin, I’d strongly suggest that >you use one of the soft-sided carriers. Airline approved carriers >are made by Sherpa, Samsonite and Sturdy (Sturdi ?). I’ve racked >up over 15 flights using a Sherpa Bag and it has worked well. After >seeing a Sturdy (sp?) bag, I would recommend it over the other >brands. Unfortunately, they aren’t available as the Sherpa. The >Sherpa Bags can be found at PetsMart, Petco or just about any good >pet supply store. Even our local Albertson’s have them in the pet >supply aisle. Sherpa has a web site at: >  http://www.sherpapet.com/

I checked them out.  Those things aren’t cheap!  Not sure what we’re going to do now…  we’re seriously considering just DRIVING!  I definitely think a Sherpa Bag might be something we’ll buy in our future, though…  as long as I can be ASSURED that they’re always accepted by airlines for in-cabin use.  (That was one of my biggest fears – that we’d arrive at the airport, all prepared to take our cats on board with us and then be told that they’d have to go cargo or not at all.) >Besides the soft-sided carriers, the smallest "Kennel Cab" can be >used. These are just under 11 inches tall and will just fit under >the seat. These are the standard model that use nut/bolt fasteners. >I think the deluxe versions are too tall.

The first genius I spoke with at the airlines (last month) told me 11" and I went out and bought 2 brand-spanking-new 10 5/8" tall cages only to find out yesterday (when I called back to triple-check) that 9" is the maximum height.  (Who trains these airline reservation people anyway?)  That’s when we went out and boug the Kennel Cabins. >If the airlines haven’t given you full instructions on flying with >your pets, check United’s site at: >  http://www.ual.com/ >Look for "Special Services" under the travel planning area.

Oh they gave us "full instructions" alright – just FALSE information!  I get a different story every time I call to check on our reservation!  I’ve been told maximum height for in-cabin kennels is 11".  I’ve also been told 9". I’ve been told cats do NOT have to be removed from their cage at the security checkpoint. I’ve also been told that they DO have to.  I’ve been told that only 1 cat can be in each cabin per flight (1 in first class and 1 in coach).  I’ve also been told that up to 3 can be in each cabin per flight.  ARGH! >You might also want to considering putting your cats in a harness. It >will be required to remove them from their carriers at the security >checkpoint.

We’ve had so many problems with this…  I think we decided this morning to take back the tiny cages and to call AAA, get a triptik and just drive there! Thanks SO much for all of your information, though! Jessica

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Hi I would have to seriously say that your cats are too big for the standard under the seat carrier.  I took my cat in one when he was a kitten.  But now he is too big for them.  He slept the whole time for the 10 hour trip but there was no way for him to stretch.  He did seem fine however, but like I said he was only a kitten then and not a full grown adult cat. Since he is larger now I have decided that on the next trip I will ship him on the plane via the cargo hold.  I know that it is noisy and dark out there but I think at least he will be able to move around and as long as nothing terrible happens I think he will be happier.  Seriously consider it.  But since it is only a two hour flight, you should let them out in the parking lot even for a little bit when you get off the flight.  My cat wanted to get right back into the carrier, a good sign.  Don’t worry too much about it:-) Terra – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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My husband and I are being transferred from our home in Los Angeles to Denver in 2 weeks.  We have decided to fly there (instead of drive – can’t bank on the weather/driving conditions being safe this time of year) and, in doing so, will be placing our indoor-only, very sheltered cats (age 8 years 4 months and 6 years) on a plane for the first time ever.  We’ve decided against shipping them cargo and are bringing the cats with us in the cabin. We’ve obtained our reservations, paid the extra $50 for each cat, acquired acepromazine from our vet for the trip and, just today, bought carriers of the appropriate size. I’m a nervous WRECK about this whole thing – but now that I’ve actually seen these carriers and have placed the cats in them for a "test ride", I’m scared to death!  The width and length of them seem fine – but the height (has to be under 9" tall) seems SO small!  Our cats are adults – one weighs 11 pounds and the other 14 & these cages look like they’re made for much smaller cats.  Both of them (on the "test rides") have been able to turn themselves around inside them but, still, I am very worried about how healthy it will be for them to be in them for the 2-hour flight.  (With the commute from home to the airport, the flight and then the commute from the new airport to our new home, I figure they’ll be enclosed in the cages for about 5.5 hours total.)  Will they be OK?  Can being cramped in these cages for that long hurt them in any way? Jessica

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