Wow, not at all freaking out here! :rolleyes:

Gotta find 2 carriers to transport PJ & Punky in. NWA says carriers must:



be 17"L x 12"W x 8"H or smaller

Leakproof

Ventilated on at least 2 sides

carrier + pet must not weigh over 15 lbs


http://www.nwa.com/travel/animals/carryonpets.html

I don't dare go much smaller the boys are 12 lbs 2 oz & 12 lbs 6 oz. Ideally trying to find soft sided carrier as they weigh less considering the boys are a bit on the hefty side. Checked out Petco, Amazon, looking on eBay right now. The sherpa ones they reccomend cost like $100 each! :eek:

Ideas on where else to look? Suggestions? Anything is appreciated! :nod: (I'm easily freaking out about this whole thing, me on an airplane, my boys leaving me.... :blush: )

i'd get the hard ones. they're safer, for one thing, & i think they weigh less. plus, less expensive, too!
but i found a sherpa one for $40!
sherpa kennel (http://www.petco.com/product/7873/Sherpa-Pet-Delta-Air-Lines-Deluxe-Pet-Carrier.aspx)

i'd get the hard ones. they're safer, for one thing, & i think they weigh less. plus, less expensive, too!
but i found a sherpa one for $40!
sherpa kennel (http://www.petco.com/product/7873/Sherpa-Pet-Delta-Air-Lines-Deluxe-Pet-Carrier.aspx)

It's too big. :( That's my problem...nothing is small enough.

And man, I'm feeling very guilty about cramming them into those little carriers, cuz it's a 3 hour flight. They'll be OK, but ya know...they're like little kitty jail cells. :lol3: (Mostly just freaking out that I'm getting on an airplane, don't suppose they make Feliway for people?)

The ones I'm seeing that are the maximum size are these Cabin Kennels:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.petco.com/Assets/product_images/2%255C2969521060B.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx%3FFamilyID%3D1798%26ShoppingGuideID%3D19%26ShoppingGuideElementID%3 D57&h=200&w=200&sz=46&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=uAN3SEj9j7EJBM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcabin%2Bkennel%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4DKUS_enUS253US254%26sa %3DN

It's too big. :( That's my problem...nothing is small enough.

And man, I'm feeling very guilty about cramming them into those little carriers, cuz it's a 3 hour flight. They'll be OK, but ya know...they're like little kitty jail cells. :lol3: (Mostly just freaking out that I'm getting on an airplane, don't suppose they make Feliway for people?)

The ones I'm seeing that are the maximum size are these Cabin Kennels:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.petco.com/Assets/product_images/2%255C2969521060B.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx%3FFamilyID%3D1798%26ShoppingGuideID%3D19%26ShoppingGuideElementID%3 D57&h=200&w=200&sz=46&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=uAN3SEj9j7EJBM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcabin%2Bkennel%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4DKUS_enUS253US254%26sa %3DN
well, the site says it's approved...
Sherpa Pet Delta Air Lines Deluxe Pet Carrier


Luggage quality, deluxe Sherpa pet carrier for small pets is airline approved for underseat use. Stylish, lightweight design conforms with commercial airline carry-on specifications.

the other one there said for pets under 5 pounds only!
& yes - there's a 'feliway for people'! rescue remedy (http://www.rescueremedy.com/) - it's not just for animals!

That's what's worrying me, that the Cabin Kennel says for pets under 5 lbs. only. I'm calling NWA tomorrow & expressing my concerns. I want to know if I can get one that's 15 x 10 x 10 or something & just smash it a bit under the seat or something. :dk:

8" high is pretty ridiculous!

My friend travels on NWA with her maltese all the time with no problem. I wonder if they are flexible on that size.

You could always take a carrier to the ticket counter ahead of time and ask if it passes.

Try Walmart for a soft-sided one. I'm not sure where I got mine but it was only like $30-40 at the most. That's what my rexes travelled in all the time I flew.

Are you going with the cats? If they are going alone, you cannot use the soft-sided carriers; they have to be in hard-sided in the cargo area. And you can only have one cat per person.

Are you going with the cats? If they are going alone, you cannot use the soft-sided carriers; they have to be in hard-sided in the cargo area. And you can only have one cat per person.

She's traveling with someone so they can each take a cat into the cabin with them.

The hard-sided ones seem safer, but the soft sided may make it easier to fit them under the seat (you can't expect a certain amount of space unless you know exactly what kind of plane you'll be on).

It will be a few tough hours, but they'll be so happy to get home :vibes: for a safe trip.

I used a Samsonite to bring Penny home under the seat in front of me. You can fnd them here: http://www.designerproducts.com/

I do know a hard sided carrier will NOT fit under the airline seat. I had one that was flat but only used it once for a kitten. An adult cat would not be able to fit into it and be comfortable. I got rid of it and went to the soft-sided ones. Besides you can sling them over your shoulder and carry the cat (under 10 lbs) :)

I used a Samsonite to bring Penny home under the seat in front of me. You can fnd them here: http://www.designerproducts.com/
Even those are too big. :rolleyes: Thanks for the link Betsy, they are some I've been looking at. Going to call the airline shortly. I e-mailed them & basically got a worthless response. :lol3:

Mine is 16" (long) x 10" high. But it doesn't have a name on it to tell you what brand. The airlines NEVER measured my carrier.

I got my soft sided carries at Wal-Mart the brand name is Bergan and it says right on the tag that they're airline approved.

ETA: I don't remember how much I paid for them but they weren't that expensive.
The have two handles..one you can carry by hand and the other to carry it on your shoulder.
Both ends un-zip...BTW...that's the only carrier that Annabelle isn't afraid of and they are much lighter then the hard ones I used to have.

Gracie - can you go meausre yours? That's probably where I got mine (had it for more then 10 yrs :))

Even those are too big. :rolleyes: Thanks for the link Betsy, they are some I've been looking at. Going to call the airline shortly. I e-mailed them & basically got a worthless response. :lol3:when you call, ask them specifically if the carriers approved by other airlines for pet in cabin are too large. if they say no, make sure they notate that in your PNR [passenger name record, btw]. also, make sure they are aware that their requirements are drastically different from competing airlines [i.e. Delta] & ask if there's any particular reason why that is so.
[used to be a travel agent]

Gracie - can you go meausre yours? That's probably where I got mine (had it for more then 10 yrs :))


Sure,
They're 17 inches long.
13 inches high and 10 inches wide.
When I got mine they had smaller ones and bigger ones...I bought the middle sized ones...I really should have got a bigger one for Elliott...that boy is rather "fluffy":lol3:

I have a Samsonite soft-side that was $20 at Big Lots and said it was Airline Approved. I have taken Stimpy to the vet in it and he's 17 lbs.:dk:

Our other one is a Petmate that my sister didn't want, but I don't know if it's Airline Approved. It's actually a bit taller than our other one, so it's been designated as Stimpy's new carrier.:D

Raven:angel: was 12 lbs when he was healthy and travelled in the Samsonite just fine. It was always in the car though.

Here's a link to the Bergan website...mine are a little different than these, but I think they might work for you.
http://www.berganexperience.com/comfortcarriers/index.html

I just called & talked to someone @ NWA. She herself has flown with cats on NWA. Told me that the sizes are more "guidelines". Basically, any carrier airline approved should be OK. She reccomended a soft sided ones as the plastic solid ones sometimes don't fit under the seat (and then kitty doesn't fly). She told me they won't measure, but obviously if the carrier is way too big I won't get on the flight. She did say they will check to be sure that it is under 15 lbs, they will be weighed. :nothappy: I'm worried that they will weigh too much, so I'll be keeping a close eye on food intake for awhile.

I saw some in Wal Mart for $18. Might go pick a couple up.....or else there's a few really cute pink ones of eBay I like. :lol3: Might get my guys some new pink carriers.

(As a side note - there are like $600 carriers on eBay!? WHY would someone pay that much for a carrier? :rolleyes: )

I just called the pet store nearest to me (an hour away). They have the Sherpa carriers & that's about it. $55 for the medium size, which is 18"L x 11"W x 10.5"H. Smashable size to fit in the plane, I think. That's for pets up to 16 lbs.

With all the bells & whistles, it weighs 3.8 lbs. Without the handle & bottom pad that makes the bottom solid, it weighs 2.8 lbs. That's pushing it size wise with PJ's weight especially.

Going to try to get one of the Wal Mart carriers if they're OK sizewise....and get the boys weighed in it to see where we stand with those. Esp. considering those carriers are $18 vs. $55 for the Sherpa.

People who are nutz or have money to waste will buy a $600 carrier. Probably to put their $10,000 Ashar cat in :):lol3:

note I bought a bergan at walmart for Sylvie he ate it ... I willl weigh my two that ARE Approved supposedly ... I will send them if they will work... PINK IS Fine with me :)

Was gonna mention that when in WalMart on Saturday I did check out the carriers and they are $15-30 depending on type.

I know my vet would let me bring the furries in to be weighed in their crates for something like this. And he would probably write their weight on letterhead if there was any chance it would help.

Not going with NWA to fly, will take flights that have layovers instead because those airlines don't have weight restrictions.

:cross: that you find a good flight, Nat. What an ordeal this has been to set up.

When I first adopted Matilda, I used this soft sided carrier:

http://www.petmate.com/Products/Soft-Sided-Kennel__21314.aspx

It was plenty big enough for her. She only weighed about 8 lbs at the time but is the same size she is now (just less dense :lol3: ). I can't imagine a 12lb cat not fitting in it. I bought it at PetSmart for $30-40 IIRC.

Even if the dimensions are too large, remember that it smooshes down.

Wow, not at all freaking out here! :rolleyes:

Gotta find 2 carriers to transport PJ & Punky in. NWA says carriers must:



be 17"L x 12"W x 8"H or smaller

Leakproof

Ventilated on at least 2 sides

carrier + pet must not weigh over 15 lbs


http://www.nwa.com/travel/animals/carryonpets.html

I don't dare go much smaller the boys are 12 lbs 2 oz & 12 lbs 6 oz. Ideally trying to find soft sided carrier as they weigh less considering the boys are a bit on the hefty side. Checked out Petco, Amazon, looking on eBay right now. The sherpa ones they reccomend cost like $100 each! :eek:

Ideas on where else to look? Suggestions? Anything is appreciated! :nod: (I'm easily freaking out about this whole thing, me on an airplane, my boys leaving me.... :blush: )

I hope you don't mind, but I have to speak up here. First of all, at 12lbs ea. your cats are going to be extremely cramped in any carrier that has to fit under an airplane seat and they won't be able to move around in the carrier at all which is not good and not safe. They have to be able to move around, even if it is just to change positions.

Even if you put them in a soft carrier, they will be seriously squashed under the airplane seat. I travel quite a bit and please believe me, there is not a lot of space under those seats.

I am loathe to suggest flying your babies in cargo, but in this case, since it will be only a 3 hour flight, it might be better. In cargo they will have to be in a hard case carrier, but at least you can put them in a much bigger one that they can move around in.

Check with the airline you are flying with to make certain that their cargo flights are safe for pets. I.E. the cargo area has to be pressurized and temperature controlled.

Your other option would be to drive.

Shanynne
Extreme Kitty Lover

Since there are two of you flying, and sitting together I hope, as soon as the stewardess had done the seatbelt check, someone could be pulling the cats out from the seat and on the floor next to my feet. Not that I would ever do that of suggest it. :nod:

Get the seats with more leg room - the first row behind the bulkhead or the one with escape door. Or, if the flight isn't full, the stewardess may let you move to an empty row and put the cat up on the seat - if you ask nicely.

Be sure that when you book you let them know there are two cats - for some reason I was thinking a limit of one on a plane, but that may be old info.

And see if you coud first to get them settled before all of the people come in.

Since there are two of you flying, and sitting together I hope, as soon as the stewardess had done the seatbelt check, someone could be pulling the cats out from the seat and on the floor next to my feet. Not that I would ever do that of suggest it. :nod::yeah:

Get the seats with more leg room - the first row behind the bulkhead or the one with escape door. Or, if the flight isn't full, the stewardess may let you move to an empty row and put the cat up on the seat - if you ask nicely. only problem w/that idea - no 'under the seat' - the idea is that they're under the seat in front of you!

Be sure that when you book you let them know there are two cats - for some reason I was thinking a limit of one on a plane, but that may be old info.

And see if you could first to get them settled before all of the people come in.there was a limit 15 years ago - not sure if there still is. i'm assuming Nat's checked on that.
definitely request 'pre-boarding'!
btw - dollar general down here had soft-sided carriers the other day for about $12-$15 each.

Not a chance are they going in cargo. I will fly them as carry-on only or not at all. Yes, it will be slightly cramped, but I plan to pull them out from under the seat as soon as no one is looking. :lol3:

We're flying nonstop 3 hours flight with NWA. Sharky found some carriers that will work perfectly. As for number of pets per flight restriction, looked into that already. :)

Not a chance are they going in cargo. I will fly them as carry-on only or not at all. Yes, it will be slightly cramped, but I plan to pull them out from under the seat as soon as no one is looking. :lol3:

We're flying nonstop 3 hours flight with NWA. Sharky found some carriers that will work perfectly. As for number of pets per flight restriction, looked into that already. :)

It's your cats and your decision, but let me assure you that your cats are going to be more just *slightly* cramped, they are going to in pain and unbearably unconfortable. I can't stress that enough.

Second you will have to have one seat for each cat.

Third, you will not be allowed to sit where ever you want. A specific seating area will be designated for you and your cats.

Fourth, you will not be allowed to take them out of the carriers!!! It is NOT an option! Not only that, how will anyone NOT notice you are taking the cats out from under the seat? You could be kicked off the plane! And if the plane is already airborne, you could face disciplinary charges when you land. This is serious! Remember all the bruhaha with Southwest over the girl with the mini skirt???? Airlines don't mess around, there's not getting around their rules!

If you don't want to have them in cargo, and again, normally I would never consider this option, but it is after all only a 3 hour flight, much different than 9 or 10 hours. Your next option for your cats safety and least amount of pain and discomfort is to have them completely sedated for the duration of the trip.

Sedation is the option I like the least because it is never healthy or good to do that to them.

What I suggest, go to your pet store, buy the carrier you plan to put them in, (you will need one for each cat, but just buy one) keep the receipt, so you can get a refund on your carrier later. When you get home put one of your cats in it and see how well he fits in there. When you see with your own eyes how cramped he will be you will change your mind ... I hope! That's how I made my decision to drive and not fly on my last trip. But that trip would have been a 9 hour flight so for my babies that was not an option!

But it's your choice. Please give this some serious thought.

Shanynne
Extreme Kitty Lover

YES I assure you it has BEEN WELL THOUGHT OUT... See one of them has a MEDICAL issue that the VET will not give a HEALTH certificate for him to be flown in CARGO ... I have the carrier s... NOTE THIS has BEEN MONTHS in planning;)... My 7 month old and my 15 lb dog both fit in the carriers I am mailing...

The airlines ARE NOT specifing where she is sitting only a limit to cabin type ie coach or first class... MANY MANY animals of there size regularly fly.. I just made a trip and saw at least 5 animals in the cabin and 3 of the 5 were bigger than these typical house cats ...;)

Fourth, you will not be allowed to take them out of the carriers!!! It is NOT an option! Not only that, how will anyone NOT notice you are taking the cats out from under the seat? actually, the suggestion that was given was that the carriers be taken out from under the seats... not that the cats be removed from the carriers.

actually, the suggestion that was given was that the carriers be taken out from under the seats... not that the cats be removed from the carriers.

When I investigated the possibility of flying with my cats, and I researched thoroughly, I was informed the carriers would have to remain under the seat the whole time.

Also every airline I checked with clearly stated "the animal has to be able to move comfortably within the carrier".

I'm just trying to express my concerns, but it seems the original poster has already decided.

The only other option left is driving or hiring a company that will drive them. There are such companies out there.

Shanynne
Extreme Kitty Lover

I am not arguing this point. You can continue if you'd like Shanynne, but it will not get anywhere. You probably dislike me greatly for making this decision, but honestly I don't care. I looked at my options & made the best choice knowing "my" cats.

I am not arguing this point. You can continue if you'd like Shanynne, but it will not get anywhere. You probably dislike me greatly for making this decision, but honestly I don't care. I looked at my options & made the best choice knowing "my" cats.


I don't dislike you one bit;) I was simply trying to help based on the information you shared, particularly concerning the size of your cats and my personal experience (my cats were 10 & 12 lbs at the time & barely could fit in the airplane approved carrier). However, whatever decision you make in the end is in your hands. You gotta do what you gotta do;)

And yes I guess I can come across strongly sometimes, but that's only because of my love and passion for cats. :heart3:

Shanynne
Extreme Kitty Lover

I didn't respond earlier because I thought the cats were going by cargo - now that I have re-read, I believe the cats will be travelling in cabin? If so....

http://www.sturdiproducts.com/4111/xcart/home.php?cat=1

Very very pricey but the choice product for Cat show peeps who travel!

Adilah - We looked at those carriers soooo many times! They're quite $$ IMO, but looked well worth it. Not sure that those are the ones sharky is sending me, though.

NO I am sending these...http://www.jbpet.com/Travel-Gear-Back-Pack,714.html in blue.. if those do not work then I will fork out the $$ for the others

NO I am sending these...http://www.jbpet.com/Travel-Gear-Back-Pack,714.html in blue.. if those do not work then I will fork out the $$ for the others
:cross: those work. IMO, they look like they'd be easy to get squirly kitties into! :lol3:

I wanted my new boy to be flown as carry on, but Northwest Airlines stressed to me that he would remain under the seat at all times. I was hoping to have the carrier on my lap, because of the space issue under the seat. I don't see a problem with it, but they wouldn't budge on it. :(

Adilah - We looked at those carriers soooo many times! They're quite $$ IMO, but looked well worth it. Not sure that those are the ones sharky is sending me, though.

I personally own the Sturdi show shelters and I can tell you they are amazing! I'm thinking I'll have to pick up at least a couple of those carriers when I get to the US for the Internationals....;)