?'s about flying with cats as carry-on

American Airlines site says one thing but they do another at the counter...the site said they do not require health certificates but that is the FIRST thing they asked us for on June 11th...Yes you just walk off the plane here...and the only ones that ask for any paperwork is the AA counter when checking it..
Ask any vet for a HEALTH CERTIFICATE ours cost $20 and $62 for our bird. Our Dogs came with us in cabin and the bird got here 2 weeks later.

Get to the airport early since it's first come first served for pets...i wouldn't take any chances and plus getting there early is better for going through security...

After checking in, you go through security you take the pet out of the cage and walk them through the "machine" and the kennel goes through the x-ray machine.

Any other questions let me know.

i've seen people fly with their small dog with them, is this a difficult thing to do? (beyond getting past the counter) are they considered a 'carry-on item'?

Yes you can take the pet kennel as your carry on in addition to a personal item (laptop bag, purse)...which pretty much equates to the pet kennel and another carry-on...it was 4 of us...one carried a pet and a laptop bag, another a pet and a wii fit box, another with a pet and a laptop bag and last person a backpack and huge purse

lol that sounds like it was a fun flight. thanks for the info!

wait... i did read your story... and it was funny 🙂

It was an adventure...Not looking forward to moving again...so glad we're here to stay!

Thanks Yearasta!

I am still undecided bringing them. We are only staying 10 days and they have never flown . . . I am imagining 3 cats just crying for 4 hours because they would not be able to cuddle , play, look out the window, stretch.

I will at least first call AA to see if yhey have already reached the animal reservation limit, I think they said 7 total on the plane - 2 in first and 5 in coach. Me and BF have coach seats but wouldn't you know they upgraded my 17 yr old nephew to 1st because bought his ticket so late? I already told him he's giving up his seat to one of us . . . he wants us to have a Guitar Hero match the night before we leave to win the first class seat . . . I suggested a cat litter box cleaning contest. BF just said he was taking the seat end of story 🙂

Just curious as to why you would want to bring your kitties for only 10 days - where are you staying??

Pia

I wouldn't put my cats thru that for just 10 days. I would find a petsitter or put them in a kennel. Just my opinion, I love my pets dearly and would rather keep them at home for such a short period of time.

We will be staying at our own house.

The only reason we are considering bringing them is selfishness, we miss them when we are there for more than a week. I know that may sound silly, but our cats are extremely social and more like dogs - they come when they are called, they perform tricks, they snuggle in bed, they lick your face . . . they are pretty strange cats. We love them.

BUT . . . I have been worried about the stress of travel on them which is why I have not already made arrangements (we leave Sunday). I really appreciate your advice since I have never traveled with them before. If it would be very stressful on them we will leave them at home. We have two sets of folks that come in and take care of them when we are away, but they both tell me one (the one I thought was the most social) never comes out from wherever he hides unless they stay very long or overnight. I just hate that my cats are hiding, they never hide. Another cat required emergency surgery when we returned from just 5 days away - our vet said he missed us and simply did not eat or drink - his urinary track was blocked and he would haved hours later had we not come home in time. He's on special food now which makes him extra thirsty - we haven't had problems since, but still . . .

I certainly understand about missing your cats and their side also when you leave them...lol.....its stressful either way I suppose. After hearing all of that I would probably bring them, its not that bad flying with pets. Its worth the piece of mind.

I'd recommend a pet/house sitter that would stay in your home , overnight, during the time you are away. It will likely cost you less than it would cost for the travel carriers and the travel fees you would have paid to bring them. The cats will get used to them after a day or two and they will be much more comfortable in their own home. And you will be stressfree here in the islands too.

Alert your vet to the fact you will be gone and authorize any treatment for your pets that might be required. Tell your cat sitter about the eating habits and drinking habits and have them leave out extra bowls of water. Call your sitter regularly to assure that all is well there. (for your own peace of mind)

Its probably too late to arrange the sitter now, but think of it for next time. Most vets and kennels can recommend reputable, bonded, and animal loving pet sitters. We have several really good ones here on island that I use when I travel and my pets are treated so good I think they sometimes wish I wouldn't come home. 🙂

Good Luck.

Thanks Chance for saying flying may not be too bad. I will think more about it today.

Lifetime, we travel a lot and are lucky to have family and friends that watch them for free. One couple stops in for an hour or so a couple times during the week during the day - they also water the plants. The other couple is actually my BF's adult son and girlfriend who stay at the house several (not every) nights while we are away, so that's set up and they have authorization with our vet so all that is good . . . but the cats apparently are not crazy for them. I never realized it until last week when the son came over for dinner and one of the cats, Bully, just disappeared. That's really weird for him. I called and called for him but the cat never came out until son left. Son said they never see Bully when they stay over. Rocky, the one with the anxiety issues, is always around, the second cat, Jerry, holds back for about a half hour but then he's fine but Bully just avoids them all together. I was shocked because Bully is the most snuggable one - he's a lap cat, always purring and he's licker. If son had not confirmed it, I would have certainly guessed Jerry was the hider.

The other couple called me during the last trip because they could not find Bully for over an hour and thought he may have gotten out of the house. They scared the heck out of me while I was in Gallows Bay Hardware. I told them to shake the food can and then pop open a can of moist food to entice Bully . . . the trick worked but for 15 minutes I was a nervous wreck, I was so concerned I lost my little snuggler.

So I am torn . . . I know at home they are safe, but I know they miss us and we miss them. I know taking them may be stressful during the flights but they'd be fine once we let them out of their carriers. Hmmmm. Still undecided . . . one of the problem of being a Libra!

We flew here with our two cats as carry on and our three dogs in cargo. I was worried about the cats meowing and being stressed out. But they were completely quiet the whole trip. They were stressed out but i think being next to us and being able to reach in and pet them and comfort them made them know overall everything was ok. I think being around so many strangers help keep them quiet in a weird way. For instance my cats will meow the whole way to the vet with just me in the car, but when ever there is someone else in the car next to them they keep quiet.

I would not bring them if it was only for 10 days. my little dog got me thrown off the plane in Charlotte. He had ripped the mesh screen and was sticking his head out just before take off. He never barks and is a great dog, he just wanted to see me/. The flight attendent was haveing a bad day.

hey SunorSki

About flying with cats...If you are connecting via AA to American Eagle...if I remember correctly (I moved here 8 yrs ago and brought my cat with me) there is a 2 pet limit for pets brought on board. And because of that restriction, I changed my American Eagle flight and went with Cape Air. I had many long frustrating conversations trying to get to the bottom of what exactly the policy was on American Eagle, and it changed depending upon whom I spoke with. One person said 2 pet limit, another one said no pets in the cabin, only in cargo. So I switched to Cape Air, which let me keep my cat on the seat next to me (in his carrier)

Also, I think you pay an additional $75 per pet to bring them on AA and that price might be higher now. So for three cats you're gonna pay alot and you def. won't be able to bring all three on board if you go with American Eagle. I don't even know if Cape Air would allow all three cats on board. They might go in cargo, and that would be pretty traumatic for a cat, even one on tranquilizers.

I don't think it wil be worth the hassle...and I would recommend that you get a good cat sitter instead.

Ahhh I skimmed the part about it only being for 10 days. I would definitely say no. It usually takes cats a week or two just to feel comforable in a new house, let alone the stress of flying.

We have decided NOT to take them this time . . . maybe when we can stay at least a month.

I can tell you AA was no help on the phone, we literally read the web page together and could not determine whether health certificates were required or not. When I mentioned someone (thanks Yearasta) online mentioned it was asked for only at the AA check-in counter, the phone agent said " I guess you need it then".

I did get reservation numbers for two of the three just in case we changed our minds after sleeping on it, but I will cancel them in the AM so someone else can have the space. IslandJoan you were correct about only two animals on AA Eagle flights. The fares are $100 per cat each way . . . so add it up with a vet visit and we are easily at $500 to take 2 cats. We decided we'd rather leave BF's son a couple hundred as a tip instead.

Thanks all for your advice. We will miss them like we normally do, but they give us reason to want to come home 😉

We flew with 3 dogs on AA Eagle from SJU-STX 2 weeks ago...seems like AA customer service is lost.