[miko's mommy]

I have flown with Miko at least 15 times by now and everything has gone smoothly each time. Just be sure to book a seat for him way in advance. I like to do it when I reserve a seat for myself because some airlines have a limit on how many pets they allow per flight. I never sedate Miko since he gets to be in a bag every weekend (we always take him everywhere on weekends). It is okay if your pup barks!! Since you are paying for his seat (which is really where you store your purse), he is allowed to bark. Miko hasn't barked though but does cry a bit on airplane takeoffs. I give him a greenie to occupy him and sometimes he will chew it but other times doesn't want it. Its also great to walk him around the airport before the flight to tire him out. I have taken Miko out of the carrier during flight before -- it just depends on the stewardess. Some actually demand that I take him out cause he is sooo cute and others ask me to put him in a bag. I have flown with American with Miko before and never had any problems. I used to get the health certificates all the time for flying but recently I stopped because if the airline doesn't require it -- why bother?? Nobody has ever asked me for it. I have used my juicy bag for flying but I prefer the sherpa bag. Its airline approved and has a bit more room for him.

Have fun!! Miko's first trip was from Calif to Nashville when he was only 12 weeks old with me. He didn't pee in a bag and behaved like an angel that he is not!!

PS. I was just looking at my sig pictures and noticed that it looks as though Miko has no neck -- he actually has a long thin neck in case anyone cares

.

 

[miko's mommy]

As I mentioned, I have used different bags including a cheap little traveling bag from Petco, my juicy bag and Sherpa bags. Sherpa bags are the ONLY ones that are airline approved (they have a tag that say that on the bag) and yes, start using the bag now so he is familiar with it. If you are going to buyt a bag, I would buy the one that the airlines allow for sure -- the Sherpa Bag (sold at all Petsmarts and maybe Petcos). No, there is no seat, but the bag goes under the seat in front of you. And Miko flew when he was 12 weeks old. No one has ever asked me how old he is or even looked at the bag. They do ask once in a while how much he weighs. There is nothing to be nervous about -- as long as you make the reservation ahead of time for him, they will not refuse him on the plane.

 

[miko's mommy]

Originally posted by TheButtercup@Nov 4 2005, 09:29 AM
the buttercup has flown only a handful of times. 
things we've observed: 
*no one checks for health certificates...but it is an awesome idea to have it anyway.  you never know. 
*no one asks how old your dog is, unless they're ooohing and aaaahing over your dog. and even then, they dont particularly care, they generally start telling you about their own dog LOL
*buttercup's bag isn't airline approved in the sense that a sherpa bag is, but the tag says it is airline approved.  it was inexpensive, and i'm not on a juicy couture budget, so it's what we had to go with.  i got it at petsmart for $34? Pink & black carrier the one we have is the pink and black one, but it's larger and has a pink pawprint on one side.  it zips closed, but not securely enough that buttercup can't force the zipper open if she's desperate enough LOLOLOLOLOL
*once she became used to being toted around in the bag, she "understood" that i expected certain behavior from her, i.e. no barking (she's not really a barker anyway), no jumping around, and no peeing in the bag LOL
*before you make your reservation...check with the airline that there are available "pet tickets" available.  delta and continental both told me that "you can still fly, tickets are still available for PEOPLE"... withOUT buttercup when i asked what would happen if tickets were not available (for dogs) after i bought my own ticket. 

 

totally not the point, right? 

now...to further complicate things...and to see if anyone has any awesome airline knowledge to help us out on this one...
if my R/T flight cost less than a pet ticket (R/T also), what's to stop me from buying an extra "people ticket" and still putting buttercup under the seat?  thereby, giving me actually TWO people seats

  i dont understand why i sometimes end up paying more for butter's ticket than my own, and she STILL goes under the seat in front of me.  i dont have to pay for my purse, and it goes in the same spot, you know?  hmmmm.....

ann marie and the "not as well-traveled as miko, but i'm trying!!!!!" buttercup

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Miko looooovvvveeeesss that clever little Buttercup. Okay, maybe mommy is the one who realizes how clever she is, but I am sure if Miko could read (and he is close to being able to), he would be very impressed.

Although it would be great to buy Miko a real seat, we can barely afford to have my husband, I and Miko all fly at once together!! Until we are wealthy, Miko has to put up with being under the seat in front of us (or being hidden under the blanket on my lap, which is more often the case

).