Serious answers only please! Moving to NJ from CA w/ 4 cats. Is it safe to fly our cats thru airline services?

Question

Our original plan was to travel via mobile-home to have our cats safely with us. But that has changed and we have to fly. There are many Pet Transport companies experienced to take care of our cats travel for us but what is the difference from Airline pet travel services and specialized Pet Transport services?

Answer 1

We fly with pets bewtween Florida and Boston all the time. It's fine...don't worry! Check with your airline to find out what their rules are. Usually, you can bring one cat as a carry-on per adult flying, provided they are in approved carriers that will fit under the seats. The website for the airline you are taking should state what the size limits are for pet carriers on the plane.

The other cats can be sent in the climate controlled cargo area. They have a special climate controlled room where they put pets so they don't suffer...it's not like the old days, but they do charge a premium for it Expect to pay more for the cats you put in cargo than the ones you put under your seats, but it varies by airline. Typical is $50-$75 for pets i the cabin, but anywhere from $100-$250 per pet in the climate controlled hold.

Buy your carriers well in advance and let your cats creep in and out of them to get used to them...it'll be less stressfull to them/ You also may want to check and see if it's actually cheaper to put all the cats together in one large carrier in the hold instead of the seperate ones...I don't know the rules on that but I do know dog breeders who do it to ship puppies.

Answer 2

Personally, I would trust a Pet Transport service before i would trust an airlines.  Be sure to take out pet insurance on the animals and take pictures of your healthy cats, just in case.  

All the Best

Answer 3

Honestly, I would not travel with them anywhere but a small carrier right there with me in the cabin.  You just hear too many horror stories about pets being lost, abused and even killed in transport.

Answer 4

its costs lots of money to ship. My two cats were floan in from Texas to Michigan. NJ-CA is a long flight, though. I don't know how well that would work. Keep in mind that its loud in the cargo area of a plane, and sometimes hotter (though I think that now most planes have climate control) do your research on this too... like get in touch with who ever you are going to travel with, and find out as much as you can about the plane. And if they don't answer your questions, nag them until you find someone who will. :)

Answer 5

I don't know but i've seen birds been air mailed to a post office.

Answer 6

Other than terminology, there seems little difference.

You are right to consult a professional company, as the airlines change their requirements, rules, and fees almost daily.  And with 4, that really is not a do-it-yourself task.

Check with your vet, and perhaps even with the SPCA in your area for any references or comments about companies.

Answer 7

I can speak for flying animals on an airline, I used to do it daily, worked for an airline.  The main thing that I can tell you is to verify everything ahead of time.  During this time of year if the temperature is to hot the animals will not fly.  So it is better if you wait until fall.  I believe that if it is over 85 at any point of the trip they will not put them on the plane.  When I would do it part of the paper work was to pull the weather forecast.  Its not required but some people would get tranquillizers to ease the stress.  They also need food and water to be sent with them, you don't have it the pet won't go.  The animal in the carrier must be able to stand in the carrier and be able to turn around.  The carrier also has to be hard sided with no opening on the top.  There are many requirements when doing this, to many to list.  There is not much to worry about when doing this, in the time that I did it I personally never seen anything bad happen.  There is a difference between flying the animals as baggage and as cargo, even though they are in the same spot on the plane. There is probably a pet embargo right now with animals as baggage.  Check with the carrier you are wanting to use and look at their website.  Good luck and your kitties will be fine!  And do whatever makes you the most comfortable either pet transport or airline.

Answer 8

Dont worry about it, they will be fine.