Airline Guidelines for Traveling with Pets

When I flew from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. with my cat, Blade, I was terrified that she would throw up on the plane. I was also worried that I would sit next to someone with allergies. None of that happened. All I had to do was call the airline and ask how to proceed. My cat survived and is now speaking to me again. She didn't get sick on the plane or freak out when I carried her through the scanners, but she was shaking the whole time. While I think dogs probably travel better than cats, these days you can easily transport almost any pet.

Here is a list of major airlines and how they regulate pet travel.

JetBlue: your cat or dog stays with you at all times, but needs to remain in its carrier under the seat in front of you at all times. No other animals allowed. The cost is $100 each way. Only pet is allowed per person per flight and a weight limit applies to dogs, so make sure Spike comes in at under 20 pounds. JetBlue was also named Petfinder's 2010 Best Pet-friendly airline. However, this is not the airline for you if you have a large dog. They won't allow them in cargo either.

Southwest Airlines: small, vaccinated cats and dogs, in a carrier are welcome, for $75 each way . You're allowed to place two small animals inside one carrier as long as both are able to stand, sit, and move around comfortably within the kennel. The last thing you want is to bring a Tom & Jerry routine onboard an aircraft.

Frontier Airlines: the one U.S. airline that accepts virtually any small creature you can buy at a pet store save reptiles, amphibians, insects or arachnids/spiders, and they're allowed in the cabin (insert joke here about snakes on a plane). They also charge $75 per pet unless you check it as baggage, in which case it will cost you $150. I think the only airline that accepts fish is Alaska Airlines, where they are allowed to travel in the cabin.

Virgin Atlantic: my favorite. Virgina has the best frequent flyer program for pets. If you have a cat, small dog, or ferret, you can enroll them in the Flying Paws Club which awards gifts based on miles flown and awards points to their owner's account each time their pet travels on Virgin. Unfortunately, all pets must travel as cargo only, and not inside the cabin.

All pets must be carried through the screening devices at security and might also be subject to an intense pat down - of course, they might actually like that kind of attention. If you're traveling outside the U.S. just assume there are additional restrictions and bring along your vaccination records. Almost all airlines have a limit on the number of animals they allow on one flight. Call ahead or arrive early to make sure yours is one of them. You should also measure your carrier before flying. A good standard is generally about 10x15x20 inches and weighing less than 40 pounds.

During the extreme heat of summer and cold of winter, you may want to rethink flying with a large animal or large quantities of animals. Airlines in the United States are just not equipped to handle these situations and the Humane Society suggests it as a last resort. More than 150 animals have died between 2005 and 2010 according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The highest number of deaths occurred on Continental, but American Airlines was a close runner up. Both airlines, however, also have several positive user reviews online regarding passengers' positive experiences in traveling with their dogs. Check out the airline's web site before you fly or give them a call to let them know your plans.