Reconfirming Flight Reservations for Pets
By Carolyn Miller, Guest Writer
I’m a former travel agent, so I know the value of reconfirming reservations. For 8 years now, I’ve traveled with my 11 lbs. dog as an in-cabin pet between Central America, where I currently live, and the USA.
One year we decided to fly American Airlines to the USA with a plane change in Miami. I made the reservations by telephone for my husband and myself, as well as an in-cabin pet. The agent assured me our reservations were in order and the pet reservation was cross-referenced with our reservation. Since I’d booked far in advance, we ended up having a few schedule changes. Each time I called American Airlines, I verified the in-cabin pet traveling with us, using the confirmation number I’d been given.
Imagine my shock upon departure. I was flatly told that in-cabin pets were not allowed. Prior to travel, I’d spoken to no less than 6 American Airlines agents and was able to produce a log of whom I’d spoken to, at what date and what time. I’d reconfirmed all flights and the in-cabin pet the previous day. The gate agent was adamant we could not travel with an in-cabin pet. We spoke to a supervisor who said they’d be willing to send our dog in a “free crate” in cargo.
Living in a tropical country means that there is an “embargo” on travel with pets during the hottest months of the year, exactly when we were traveling. No way was I putting our small dog in cargo under these or any circumstances, especially when the Miami destination was equally as hot. I pointed this out to the supervisor … who said he would make an “exception” in our case! This was not acceptable.
I suggested they just rebook us on the Continental flight connection leaving about the same time. He didn’t want to do that. Given that the supervisor had my log of names and calls and confirmation numbers in hand, he could only agree that I’d been given bad information. Ultimately, he got special permission from the pilot of the plane to allow us to fly with our in-cabin pet.
But that is not the end of the story. I spent the month in the USA trying to rebook our return to Central America with American because again, they were adamant that the in-cabin pet could not fly this route. I spoke with supervisors in Dallas, I wrote letters and sent my documentation. In the end, American Airlines booked a Continental flight for the last leg of travel. This meant we flew American Airlines from our departure city to Miami and then changed to Continental Airlines to fly to Central America. This necessitated two in-cabin pet charges, one for each airline, and a re-booking fee. Keep in mind that NONE of this was our fault and we ended up paying more than $200 additional on the return flight.
No less than 6 American Airlines agents had confirmed our in-cabin pet and round trip reservations and yet we were terribly inconvenienced and incurred extra expense on something not at all our fault. Subsequent letters to the American Airlines headquarters in Dallas were answered by form letter.
The moral of the story is to reconfirm all flights, take the names of the agents you speak to, and be sure you have that information with you at the gate. If not, you could be turned away as almost happened to us. Despite the inconvenience and extra expense, at least our small dog was spared going in cargo.
The inspiration for PetFlight.
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Comments
My husband and I , recieved first class tickets from the Kids to fly from Indianapolis IN to RENO NV , last Christmas , US AIR. The kids also paid for our 2- 7 lb toy poodles to fly first class.Our Cooper had a reaction to the medication the vet gave him and began to perspire and pant heavily. My husband held him in his lap and he calmed and went to sleep- all the while never bothering other passengers that had paid good money for the flight. The stewardess started screaming and loud enough that all the plane heard her- You have to put that animal in the case under the seat or I will report you to the FAA- My husband tried to explain the pet was sick and having a hard time – anyway , never to fly again with our little guys – I wish they would start a pet fight where the stewardess had to be in case under the seat !
Lori, I’m sorry that your pet got sick, but a dog must remain under the seat and that is FEDERAL LAW. The airline is not permitted to bend the law as it is not theirs to make.
Lori,
I agree put the stewardess in a case under the seat I hate the stupid rules for small dogs. Jennifer you must not have pets or kids.
1st, Jennifer did not need to be so mean and unthoughtful with her response. I concure that she must not have kids or pets. On my flight last week (US Air) twice the filght attendent yelled at a mom because her 4 yr old took too long in the bathroom. Like airline service, flight attendents have become rude, unprofessional and mouthy. I agree with putting them under the seat! I get my own damn soda…
I need to fly with my 15 lb. dog and am very fearful of experiences decribed above. I hope I can find a solution. What is the best airline for flying with small doggies?
Hi all, I must say I am quite shocked by North American airlines and the stewardesses on them. As well as U.S. laws for that matter. I don’t think I would recommend any North American airline. Nor any North American airport either for that matter due to all the paranoia and excessive security checks. Face it, most of us just want to travel and are not going to cause problems.
Therefore I avoid flying to or via the States.
Fly a non-US airline if you can! Get better service! I haven’t flown with a pet but I have flown with an infant and never had a problem with European or South American airlines.
Cheers :)
Something tells me none of you would have the guts to be so rude to Jennifer in person, only behind a computer screen. Internet or not, mind your manners.
Yvonne… that was uncalled for. Jennifer was very polite and showed compassion for the pet. You on the other hand… well, look up Mrs. Manners when you get a minute.
Yup, the law is the law and the airlines need to do their part or they are liable. The Stewardess should have handled it much better, but didn’t. She was right, even if she had a lack of compassion.
I’d expect more of a stew, and forum guests.
Grace and peace.
Jennifer wasn’t being mean, rude and it’s plum wrong just to assume that just because she doesn’t automatically agree with you as far as having your dog out and not following the rules, doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have animals or kids. What a stupid assumption. Your animal has to stay in the crate, under the seat, point blank. When you have people doing things like this and breaking the rules then it leads to airlines preventing people from bringing their pets in cabin. And who suffers? All of us that follow the rules. I agree, the stewardess shouldn’t have been that damn rude and had no need to be loud either, definitely uncalled for, but rules are in place for a reason and if we don’t want to lose our pets’ flying privileges then please follow them.
Hi, I would just like to be able to fly from Maryland to Miami and back with my two small Chinese Crested Dogs. How in the world can one find a crate that will fit under a plane seat and what kind of iddy biddy dog could fit in it? Any real advice about flying with two small dogs with out having to put them in cargo? Kind regards, Michelle
I fly all the time between florida and new york. There are crates that meet the requirements of many major airlines but once you get on the plane the dimensions are much smaller. The dimensions that they place are probably for the over head compartment and for for underneath the seat. I usually sit in the first row with the extra leg room option and place the crate in front of my feet. Side comment about what started this whole thread. Although there is a so called rule for having all in cabin pets in there crates, these rules can be over looked if you are traveling with a service dog. With this said there was no need for the flight attendant to have reacted in such a way.
The steward’s & stewardess’s can be a lot more sympathetic and overlook things when they see it’s not causing any problems.
We don’t need them explaining anything to us & they just make the airplane more crowded.
We can have an extra stub(s) on our tickets that we hand in to get our own drinks, ect. The co-pilot can call out our seating rows for this, so as we won’t all go at once:)
We go through & pay a lot to travel nowadays and we don’t need these rude people treating us like crap!
Let’s just rid ourselves of them & their useless jobs!