Is it safe to send pets through the airport?

Kitaro: Is it safe to send pets through the airport?
I’m going to be hopefully staying with my boyfriend over the summer and I was planning on taking my cat with me. I’m just not sure how reliable the airport would be in handling pets and if it was too traumatizing for the animal.

Answers and Views:

Answer by jackjonesfoto
depends on what you are “sending”. when i travel with my cat, i only fly on airlines that still permit taking her on board with me. the do then have some strict rules, like you cannot bring the pet out and the pet has to be in one of those super small carriers that fit under the seat in front of you. they will also add a fee sometimes.

but, DO NOT ever, ever send a pet through the cargo where you check the pet at the ticket counter.

i have worked in commercial and corporate aviation. i can tell you that the baggage handlers DO NOT care about pets, and they will abuse or play with a pet because once they go behind the wall at the ticket counter, no one can see what is going on. i have seen pets die, pets be sent to the wrong destination, etc. i would never, ever trust a pet to go in the cargo section of a plane.

please… if the pet is small enough, take it on board with you.

good luck!!

Answer by silentnonrev
boy, I’m glad I didn’t work with Jack….the airlines I have worked for cargo, we were never less than careful with dogs/cats/whatever. If you are flying within USA, airline is not allowed (per feds) to accept pets when temperature at origin/transit/destination is over 85 degrees, so bear that in mind if you are travelling in high summer!