TheCatSite.com › Forums › Our Feline Companions › Care & Grooming › Having a panick attack regarding airline approved carriers!
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Having a panick attack regarding airline approved carriers!

post #1 of 43
6/10/08 at 9:00pm
Thread Starter 
Wow, not at all freaking out here!

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

  1. be 17"L x 12"W x 8"H or smaller
  2. Leakproof
  3. Ventilated on at least 2 sides
  4. 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!

Ideas on where else to look? Suggestions? Anything is appreciated! (I'm easily freaking out about this whole thing, me on an airplane, my boys leaving me.... )
Reply
post #2 of 43
6/10/08 at 9:59pm
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
Reply
post #3 of 43
6/10/08 at 10:09pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by laureen227 View Post
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
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. (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?imgu...US254%26sa%3DN
Reply
post #4 of 43
6/10/08 at 10:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by white cat lover View Post
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. (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?imgu...US254%26sa%3DN
well, the site says it's approved...
 Sherpa Pet Delta Air Lines Deluxe Pet Carrier

\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t \t\t\t\t\t
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 - it's not just for animals!

Reply
post #5 of 43
6/10/08 at 10:50pm
Thread Starter 
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.
Reply
post #6 of 43
6/11/08 at 5:05am
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.
Reply
post #7 of 43
6/11/08 at 5:24am
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.
Reply
post #8 of 43
6/11/08 at 6:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45 View Post

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 for a safe trip.
Reply
post #9 of 43
6/11/08 at 6:55am
I used a Samsonite to bring Penny home under the seat in front of me. You can fnd them here: http://www.designerproducts.com/
Reply
post #10 of 43
6/11/08 at 9:42am
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)
Reply
post #11 of 43
6/11/08 at 12:42pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GingersMom View Post
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. 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.
Reply
post #12 of 43
6/11/08 at 1:08pm
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.
Reply
post #13 of 43
6/11/08 at 1:09pm
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.
Reply
post #14 of 43
6/11/08 at 1:10pm
Gracie - can you go meausre yours? That's probably where I got mine (had it for more then 10 yrs )
Reply
post #15 of 43
6/11/08 at 1:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by white cat lover View Post
Even those are too big. 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.
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]
Reply
post #16 of 43
6/11/08 at 1:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45 View Post
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"
Reply
post #17 of 43
6/11/08 at 1:27pm
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.

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.

Raven was 12 lbs when he was healthy and travelled in the Samsonite just fine. It was always in the car though.
Reply
post #18 of 43
6/11/08 at 1:40pm
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/comf...ers/index.html
Reply
post #19 of 43
6/11/08 at 1:42pm
Thread Starter 
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. 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. 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? )
Reply
post #20 of 43
6/11/08 at 2:50pm
Thread Starter 
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.
Reply
post #21 of 43
6/11/08 at 4:37pm
People who are nutz or have money to waste will buy a $600 carrier. Probably to put their $10,000 Ashar cat in
Reply
post #22 of 43
6/15/08 at 10:37pm
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
Reply
post #23 of 43
6/16/08 at 6:53am
Was gonna mention that when in WalMart on Saturday I did check out the carriers and they are $15-30 depending on type.
Reply
post #24 of 43
6/16/08 at 7:15am
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.
Reply
post #25 of 43
6/16/08 at 10:19am
Thread Starter 
Not going with NWA to fly, will take flights that have layovers instead because those airlines don't have weight restrictions.
Reply
post #26 of 43
6/16/08 at 10:24am
that you find a good flight, Nat. What an ordeal this has been to set up.
Reply
post #27 of 43
6/19/08 at 12:19pm
When I first adopted Matilda, I used this soft sided carrier:

http://www.petmate.com/Products/Soft...el__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 ). 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.
Reply
post #28 of 43
6/19/08 at 1:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by white cat lover View Post
Wow, not at all freaking out here!

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

  1. be 17"L x 12"W x 8"H or smaller
  2. Leakproof
  3. Ventilated on at least 2 sides
  4. 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!

Ideas on where else to look? Suggestions? Anything is appreciated! (I'm easily freaking out about this whole thing, me on an airplane, my boys leaving me.... )
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
Reply
post #29 of 43
6/19/08 at 1:17pm
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.

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.
Reply
post #30 of 43
6/19/08 at 3:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mom of 4 View Post
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.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mom of 4 View Post

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!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mom of 4 View Post
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.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Care & Grooming
TheCatSite.com › Forums › Our Feline Companions › Care & Grooming › Having a panick attack regarding airline approved carriers!