Flying my puppy? Need some advice!

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Originally Posted by DogsandHorses

"Mama's Still Believe In Miracles" a.k.a. Mira has been born and bought! She will be ready to leave her birth home in St. Louis and head to NW Louisiana on Dec. 7 (I'm all about that 49th day!). We've looked at multiple methods of getting her here. Southwest flies directly from St. Louis to Dallas-Love and to Little Rock, both about 3 1/2 hrs drive for me; but I'd have to drive, fly, fly back, drive home. Could fly her from STL directly into Memphis, but 5 1/2 hr drive in either direction for me. Could fly her Delta Dash from STL via Memphis on into Shreveport. BUT...I am worried to death about her making the connection in MEM. There's a 2 hour layover, but Delta assures me she will be well-cared for during the loading process and during the connecting process. Flying her directly into Shreveport on that Friday would be ideal...she would arrive about 3:00 pm and since I am a teacher, I can pick her up right after school and be with her all weekend before I have to return to school on Monday. (My husband is home during the day.)

Have any of you flown your new pups on a connecting flight? Problems? Praises?
Please reassure this new "mama"!

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Is driving out of the question? Not sure where you are, but isn't Shreveport to St. Louis only about 9 hrs?

Last puppy I picked up I flew from Vegas to Atlanta, a very good friend of mine picked up my puppy for me in SC and then picked me up at the airport. I flew back to Vegas the next day with the puppy as carry on bag. She was a big girl but she fit under the seat in front of me just fine. I believe there maybe a weight limit for dogs in carry on but double check with the airline.

I have also had them shipped but try to make it a non stop flight even if I have to drive several hours, less chance of the puppy getting lost. And I have also driven 12+ hours to pick up a puppy, that by far is the best way to do it, less tress on everyone.

My husband flew with a friend to take a pup from Dallas to Phoenix (then they went on to Las Vegas!!!) a few years ago.
I, too, am worried about the "under the seat" requirement...what happens if "puppers" doesn't fit?

I flew home with a puppy (7 wks) in a soft sided dog carrier form Dallas to Buffalo with a stop over in Detroit. No one even knew there was a puppy under my seat. He got to air out well outside before entering the terminal, let him run around a bit in the boarding area, everybody loved him. Put him in his "carry-on" kennel (it's like a gym bag with mesh sides) got on the plane and he slept the entire time. Way less stressful than anticipated and was actually quite enjoyable. Your call fly out and get him/her.

Thanks, guys! I just haven't had a peace about the connecting flight situation. Looks like I'm going to drive to Dallas, fly to St. Louis, make the "great puppy swap", fly back to Dallas and drive home. Doesn't hurt that I love Dallas, so an early morning trip over the day before and the opportunity to do a little shopping is by no means a bad thing! :-)

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Originally Posted by jeff t.

Ted, when the pup travels in the cabin I assume the pup in the soft side carrier has to be stowed under the seat in front of you during take off and landing. Have you had any issues with the size of pup and amount of space under the seat ahead of you?

J.

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Jeff

No issues. I make sure I wear out puppy before flight and do not let her nap until we get on plane.

I book window seat - largest under seat area, and fewest people to disturb. Slide carrier under seat. Leave one side protruding. Unzip part so I can pet puppy during flight

Voila!

And what a great bond is started between you and pupppy on that trip. I did it once-with my black boy Trooper and would do it again if I could- but it will depend on how far it is-

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Originally Posted by Margo Ellis

I believe there maybe a weight limit for dogs in carry on but double check with the airline.

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There is, it is 25#'s I do believe. I just went through this just this past July. Someone from New Jersey flew in to Illinois to pick a pup up and turned around and flew back to New Jersey two hours later.
He made it a one day trip and brought no luggage with him when I met him at the airport with the pup.

Flown from P'Cola FL to Minneapolis, MN up and back in the same day 2 different times to bring my pups home. Breeder met me at the airport. Worked great !!!
It was a great start to the bonding. I flew Delta once and AirTran the other.

I had pups shipped into XNA via Delta from Idaho and there was no direct flight. The pups went through Minnesota before ending up with us and all were just fine. I would recommend Delta.