We will be PCSing to Georgia this summer and we will be flying in July. We have a cat and we know about the heat embargo. I have a soft carrier for my cat and he has ridden in that under the seat on an airplane before, but not internationally. The guy at our SATO office gave me measurements and told me that my soft carrier has to fall within those for him to travel under the seat. The measurements were really strange and would make for an odd-shaped carrier. When I called the air-lines reservation desk the lady told me that if it's a Sherpa brand carrier that they won't sit there at the counter and measure it before I board with the cat, and at this point I do have a reservation made for him to be in the cabin with us for the entire trip to Atlanta and our connection. Has anyone travelled like this before? Will they measure his soft carrier at the airport (it's not a really big carrier or anything and it fit under the seat of a small commuter plane, but it is slightly higher than the measurment I was given)? Any tips for travelling with a cat? Thanks.
First I'd like to thank everyone for responding, some of the responses really set my mind at ease. The cat made it onto the plane just fine, it was just no big deal to anyone on the ground or in the air. Nobody questioned his size or the size of the carrier, and although it didn't fit under the seats in front of us, they were so short my purse didn't even fit under, we kept him on the floor in front of my daughter's seat since she has the shortest legs. There were major delays and my poor cat ended up in his carrier for about 24 hours straight, but he's here in the hotel with us now and seems to be fine. Thanks again everyone!~
I live in Italy. My friend has a Yorky. He is about 4 lbs. She takes him EVERYWHERE in his carrier. He is about the size of a cat. He has been on trains and planes all over the states and Europe and across the Atlantic many times. You should not have a problem and she has never had her carrier measured. Good luck. Andi
We have completed four international trips with our dogs and cats. It is always stressful .... usually because of things like you are saying ... the measurements are slightly off or the weather is 9/+ 69+ my-+ baby is not cooperating .... 4if -I don't respond soon, please email me directly and a I will asap
SORRY ABOUT THAT! BABY WAS UP WAY TOO LATE AND NEEDED MY ATTENTION.
The word of the airlines (specific one you are flying) trumps the word of the SATO person. If they always pass a Sherpa, then go with the Sherpa. It is worth every penny to worry less.
I have made 2 international flights with cats at my feet and 2 with them in cargo. You will worry MUCH LESS having the cat at your feet. And if there is a problem at check in, you postpone your trip and figure it out from there! If these are military purchased tickets, they should be changeable up to the last second.
Lufthansa is my favorite airline. They do seem much pet-friendlier than the others. That said, United is very strict for good reasons ... they lost some pets many years ago in cargo and revamped their rules to prevent it from happening again. So while I find them to be most unpleasant to fly with, I understand the pet rules!
The last intl. flight we made with cats was from Dulles. The security people made us remove the cats from the carrier and walk through the metal detectors holding them. I was not prepared for that.
There are some herbal remedies to help with stress for pets and people! Bach Rescue Remedy (think that is right) can be added to the cats water bowl starting a few days before the flight. It might also be good during pack-out if that stresses the cat.And you can use it yourself, if you find the need.
In the past, I have carried litter and a small pan in our carry-on luggage. That was before the restrictions of recent years. i never remember the cats actually using it, but at least I had tried. If you are going to be at a hotel, make sure you have arranged for the litterbox!
For the carryon, bring an extra blanket change in case your cat urinates ... then toss the old, etc.
That is all I can think of for now. Please email with any questions.
AND make sure you have all of your travel documents for the cat in order!!!!!!
Hi N.,
I work for the airline and the problem is that if that carrier will not fit under your seat you WILL have a problem.
You are flying during peak season meaning that the plane will be full and there will be no place to put the carrier elsewhere. You may end up having that carrier on your lap the whole flight and you can not take the cat out because of danger of someone having a cat hair allergy, so I would borrow or make sure that I have a carrier that meets the size.
Check again with the airline you will fly, you do not want any surprises afterwards. Lufthansa and United are the only ones that have a cooled "belly" luggage compartment in the summer , you may want to send your cat that way?!?!No heat embargo here, make sure you get a flight with them. I know all the people who flew during the summer from here flew Lufthansa because of their animals. So fly Lufthansa or United.The connection flight I am not sure of what you can do?! Take a rental car and drive after ATL airport for example.If you have more questions e-mail me.
H.
I travelled with a cat in a soft carrier internationally before. It was absolutely no problem and no one ever measured the carrier. Also what the airline I was flying on did they assigned me one of the seats they normally assign to people with babies to give me more room. Also the vet can give you some meds to knock the cat out, makes for a very pleasant uncomplicated flight, the cat sleeps basically the whole flight.
I traveled with a dog last October from the US to Korea. He traveled in cabin with us in a Sherpa carrier. No one measured our carrier & he sat in the floor of the plane in front of a seat. I will caution you that I was charged twice-once upon leaving the first airport & again upon leaving the hub. I had been assured several times by a ticketing agent & a travel agent that there would only be one charge upon leaving the first airport. Hopefully your people have their act together better than mine did. I would also check with your vet about tranquilizers if you haven't done so already.
Hi N.,
We brought our cat from SC to Okinawa. We had her under our seat from NC to Chicago and then on to Tokyo. No one ever mentioned her carrier. As long as it fit under the seat, they didn't seem to care. Once we got to Tokyo, we had to get a hard carrier and put her under the plane. The Japanese airlines would not allow a cat on board. They would not allow a soft carrier underneath, either.
As far as the size of the soft carrier, we were never questioned. We were really worried because of all the rules and regulations, but we had no problems at all.
I know we worry so much about furry little family members. Good luck!
S.
N.,
We're going to fly from South Korea to the States July 1, and our cat will be going as baggage on United Airlines. I called United, and was assured that the baggage compartment is climate controlled and flying the cat as baggage will be no problem. During the five-hour layover at Norita, Japan, an agent will take the cat to a holding area in the airport until time to put the cat on the next flight. We were not allowed to fly our pets as baggage from the States to Korea two years ago. I'm not sure why we can do it now.
J.
It is not that hard to do that. I have doine it as well. The website for the airlines usually has the exact mesurments if you are really conscerned. THey didn't measure my cat carrier, but I don't know if all arilines are like that. My cat made the trip just fine.
Hello N..
My husband and I flew United Airways from DC to Frankfurt, Germany last year about November, so not the summer, but we did carry our 8-yr old cat on board with us. I had a hard-sided carrier and no one ever measured it or even asked a question about it. It didn't fit under the seat at all, but I put it on the floor and put my feet up on it for the entire flight. We also changed to a short Lufthansa flight in Germany and no one said anything during that one either. I should think that as long as your soft-sided carrier is even close to their preferred dimensions, no one will bother you.
