Petfinder names the top 5 most pet-friendly airlines of 2009

Unfortunately I had a very bad experience flying with my pet on AirTran. I will never fly with my pet again on AirTran. My dog is 8 lbs. and typically very good, she hardly ever barks. We had seats in the very last row of the plane, which is also the loudest... especially for my dog as her crate was sitting on the floor.

My dog started barking because the loud noises and vibrations were scaring her, so I bent down and put my fingers through her crate door to calm her down. She calmed down and stopped barking, but the flight attendant saw and said I could not touch the crate. I was in the very last row, on the inside seat, and was trying to make the flight better for my surrounding passengers. I took my fingers away, and my dog started barking again, the crate stayed completely underneath the seat and I never opened it... so I put my fingers back by my dog. The attendant came by and yelled at my fiance and I four more times. The yelling made my dog more upset and bark more.

The AirTran attendant was very, very rude and made the situation much worse than it had to be. I told the attendant that it was no different than having my hand in my purse, but he continued to yell at me and threatened me that I was doing the same thing as smoking in the airplane, I would be fined, arrested and never be allowed to fly again. Never once did I raise my voice or talk back (besides the purse comment, but that was not rude). He was bullying us and was very rude.

It was a horrible experience, when it could have been fine if he didn't make such a big deal about it. The people around us said they would rather hear a barking dog than the attendant yelling at us repeatedly for no reason. The trip would have been much better if he would have "allowed" me to put my fingers through the crate door or even had the crate on my lap (with the door still closed). My dog would not have barked once if I could have done something like that.

I paid a lot for my pet to fly with me (a pet that is smaller than a purse, does not shed and has never barked or made a peep on a flight before) and we were treated very poorly by AirTran. I recommend you think twice before flying with a pet on AirTran. It was a horrible experience.

I think the temperature restrictions are because the airplane needs some requirements to take off, including the maximum weight permitted for takeoff which can be determined taking account the temperature. But I don't know why only AA applied on pets :)

We flew our 5 month old shih zhu in cabin on US Airways 10/01/09
they require you to leave the pet/carrier under the seat upon take
off and landing/ then allow the carrier on your lap as long as the dog stays in the carrier, I would suggest a sedative for your pet.
You may not unzip the carrier even to provide comfort for them.
It is very stressfull. they charge 100.00 one way /round trip is 200.00 The steward was unkind. I would not use the carrier again.

Hi Jose,

Thank you for the comment. Do you have a particular South American destination in mind? If so, you might find out which airlines travel to and from your destination and then use that as a starting point to check their websites to see if they allow Pit Bulls. Also, please be sure to keep in mind that customs restrictions may apply when traveling with your pet. Here's some additional information and tips on traveling with your pet. Good luck!

i would like to know if some 1 knows what airlines takes pitbulls, am traveling from N.Y.C. to South America....i have called A&A , united airlines, and continental, none of these want to take my dog...please if some 1 knows a way to take my dog, let me know, i would appreciate..thank you

I do not understand why American airline is amoung pet friendly.
They are rude and not friendly at all. I want to know why the managment let them to be this rude. My dog's hair was stock in the zipper and I could not close the case all the way. I ask the flight attendance to help me instead she gave me a written notice and said it is your dog not mine. I will change my credit card which is with this airline and never fly with them again.
The 2 attendance made me and my dog cry.

Excuse me? Your number 2 & 3 pet friendly airlines won't take dogs in cargo which means that excepting tiny dogs they won't take dogs at all. Friendly?

My Border Collies are frequent fliers - ten flights each. In the US they prefer Delta. Air France is okay - but no more than ok for International flights.

Donald McCaig

I recently adopted 3 dogs from a large animal sanctuary and all were flown to me (at separate times) on Continental flights. All arrived promptly and in excellent condition...each was delivered to me within 10 minutes of the plane landing. Staff in the baggage claim area knew they were awaiting a dog each time, and had all the necessary tools to assist with opening crates(which get secured with extra ties to prevent accidental opening of doors, etc) and breaking them down for transport home. Agents at the Live Animal Desk were also very friendly and helpful when called regarding tracking information.

The Pitbulls, unfortunately, have the reputation of being agressive and many people (including their own owners and their families) have become victims to them. For safety of employees, and others, they are restricted to smaller sized ones. I wouldn't blow the whole thing out of proportion. Are the large-sized Pitbulls also embargoed in other airlines? Or, just Continental? I'm curious.

The dogs and cats with short noses are embargoed everywhere during the hot months, because they have problem breathing in the heat and stress.

About the death rate statistics... from the website provided I got this:

"According to government data, 23 animals died on airlines in the nine months from May 2005 through January 2006. Sadly, that's over 2.5 deaths per month. The carrier with the most egregious record was Continental Airlines, responsible for seven animal deaths. American Airlines is next with five animal deaths. In addition, 18 animal injuries were recorded, and four animals were lost. "

One can interpret statistics from one's particular perspective. But, the death rates should've been quoted in percentage, rather than with a number.

I mean, you cannot honestly compare a company that ships 100,000 animals per month and has seven deaths (.00007) to a company that ship 5000 animals and has five deaths (.001.)

The statistics should be more recent, as this is 2009... not 2005-2006.

To be relevant, I mean.

:)

I flew AirTran from Atlanta to Denver with Benny, a 19-lb doxie-chi mix - it was a good experience. They assigned me seat 31F which is a row of two seats in the very rear of the plane. Since there are three seats in row 30, the carrier and my feet didn’t have to squeeze under the same seat and I could make easy eye contact with Benny (through the mesh side of the carrier). I took him in the medium-sized soft-side Sherpa carrier, with the width and length within their published size, and after removing the wire frame from one end of the bag, it easily scrunched down to 8.5″ to fit under the seat. Removing the wire is probably not necessary.

I will definitely fly AirTran any time I’m flying with Benny!

I'm really upset to see Continental on your list. They have a pretty ridiculous and nastily worded breed 'embargo' on APBTs and mixes.

I'd expect to see animal lovers calling for a boycott, not recommending them.

But even if you think their other policies outweigh their breed bans, it should at least merit mentioning that a lot of your readers and their dogs aren't welcome at Continental.

Animal Restrictions

Here's the relevant part:

"Continental Airlines will accept American Pit Bull Terrier puppies which are between 8 weeks and 6 months of age provided they do not weigh more than 20 lb (9 kg). All American Pit Bull Terriers more than 6 months old or weighing more than 20lb (9 kg) will be refused. Crossbreeds with American Pit Bull Terriers are also excluded from this embargo. This embargo is due to the danger presented to our aircraft and our customers."

I wish the rankings and article had included pet deaths per airline as a criterion. According to http://www.ddal.org/campaigns/spotlight/, Continental had the worst record "in the nine months from May 2005 through January 2006", and it would be valuable information for pet owners to know if that performance had improved.

"Pet-friendly" means your pet arrives alive and well.

I tried having a kitten shipped from California to Pensacola using America Airlines, but AA have temperature restrictions. Meaning that if the temperature is over 85 degrees in any airport where the pet's plane lands, the pet cannot be accepted by AA. That includes all stops, and the departure and arrival airports. Temperature in Winter is 40 degrees.

Continental has no temperature restrictions, but they usually have more stops and fly the pet out of the way in order to get jets that have pressurized and air conditioned cargo space.

They deliver the same day and their rates are not as high-priced as the article above suggests.

Basic rates are $149 for a pet 0-9 pounds, and $199 over that. There is a $12 add-on fees (gas or something.) All together it was $161, which is about $40 less than what I was going to pay at AA.

I was satisfied with their service.

Just wanting to set the record straight about the Continental fees, and the temperature restrictions on AA.

I would like you to know that USAirways is one of the airlines that will not check pets like baggage. In the past there have been pets die from exposure before being loaded onto an airplane, some people put their pet in a too small carrier that they cannot stand in. Some puppy mills (They should all be non -existent) put four week old pups in a large cage to go wherever (to the idiot that buys from them) and the pet is terrified in their travel experience. So I am so glad I work for a carrier that does not allow pets to travel in this inhumane manner. Sandra Moore

well i have always wanted a pot bellied pig.but my parents dont agree they said animals in the country would eat it.But i think their so cute.they say what happens when they get older.well if it gets to big since we dont have the biggest house then we can sell it.i want one but im starting to think.. does it eat homework.or any thing a dog or cat might.do you have to house train it.cant i just put a leash on it and take it out. does it need to go for walks.i have a cat named harley he is lazy and thinks he is top cat. and a yorkie/poodle named sadie a she is a diva dog.would they get along with a pig.my mom says no because she is going to have a baby in six months.i think they would have fun plaing together. WHAT DO YOU THINK I SHOULD DO?????????????????????????????????????

Was interested to know why Southwest Airlines did not make your list. Is there something bad about their new service?