I thought this was a great site and others might want to see. The site is pet-friendly-travel-guides.com
Has info on
airlines SPECIFICALLY for people and pets travelling together!
Plus the
airlines that allow pets in carriers under your seat.
And the ultimate ...
CHARTERED FLIGHTS!
If anyone has tried Companion Air, or a chartered plane -could you tell us what it cost?
Traveling By Air
Try to avoid peak travel periods when delays are more likely. Also try to avoid stopovers or a change of planes. If your pet is small enough to fit in a carrier under the seat, you may be able to bring him along with you inside the cabin. (Many airlines allow a limited number of pets inside the cabin on each flight.) When making reservations, be sure to check with your airline regarding its current pet policies.
Talk with your vet about your pet's personality with regard to air travel. Your vet may suggest a mild sedative or strongly recommend against one. Some airlines will not accept an animal that has been sedated. Give your pet plenty of exercise before your flight. Place a blanket or cushion inside your pet's carrier along with a favorite toy or chew bone. Make sure your pet has access to water. Special water dispensers are designed to ensure that none spills in the crate.
Commercial Airlines: Pet Regulations & Fees
Be sure to check with your airline before making reservations to verify their policies regarding pets. The rules and regulations for commercial airlines change constantly. Following are some general guidelines.
Most airlines will allow live animals to travel as cargo in the pressurized, temperature- controlled cargo area of the plane. There are times of the year, however, when the airlines will not accept live animals as cargo when extreme temperatures could pose a health hazard to an animal left on the tarmac for extensive periods of time either between connecting flights, or before and after boarding. Some airlines permit small animals to travel with you as carry-on luggage in the cabin, however, many restrict the total number allowed per flight. There is generally a fee for checking your pet as baggage or taking your pet with you inside the cabin.
Companion Air - A commercial airline created especially for passengers and their animal companions who wish to fly to destinations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Animals generally remain crated but can be visited during flight. "Flex Scheduling" allows for routes to be adjusted around customer reservations. Luxurious Swiss-designed turboprop planes can seat six humans in the front and twice as many dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, etc., in the back. Call (866) 359-6978 or go to
Companion Air.
Continental Airlines - accepts live animals as cargo and small pets for travel in the cabin. Service animals are welcome on board or as checked baggage. Call the 24-hour Live Animal Desk at 1-800-575-3335 for details or go to
Continental Airlines - Traveling with Animals...
Delta Airlines - accepts live animals as cargo and small animals for travel in kennels that fit under passenger seat. There is an embargo in affect during the summer months from May 15th through September 15th for all live animals as cargo, however, Delta Air Logistics will accept pets during the summer embargo as long as the temperature does not exceed 85 degrees. Call Delta Air Cargo at 1-888-736-3738. http://www.delta.com/travel/trav_serv/pet_travel/index.jsp (broken link).
Jet Blue - Accepts small animals for travel inside the passenger cabin. Restricted to two pets on any one flight. $50 charge each way. Must fit under seat and must not exceed 20 pounds (including carrier). Carriers are available at JetBlue ticket counter for $20. Call 1-800-JETBLUE for reservations and additional information.
JetBlue - The Official Airline of Springfield
Northwest Airlines - accepts live animals as checked baggage. Will accept pets less than 15 pounds to travel as carry-on baggage in the cabin.
Northwest Airlines nwa.com - Products & Services - Cargo - Priority Pet
Southwest Airlines - does not accept live animals other than those trained to assist persons with disabilities.
Southwest Airlines Travel Policies - Animals and Pets (http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/animals.html - broken link)
US Airways - accepts live animals only on aircraft equipped with pressurized, temperature-controlled cargo bins, not on the Canadair Regional Jet or other US Airways Express aircraft. Call the Cargo Contact Center at 1-888-300-0099 for detailed information. Also accepts small pets as carry-on baggage. http://www.usairways.com/cargo/services/special.htm (broken link)
Pet Friendly Charter Planes
If you prefer a private charter As an alternative to a pet-friendly commercial airline such as Companion Air or sending your pet as cargo, some private plane companies will fly you, your family and your pet to your destination for a flat fee regardless of the number of people flying. The fees are usually more than commercial airlines would charge. However, the major advantage is that you can take your pet, regardless of size, inside the cabin along with you. For a family of four with a family pet, the fee could very well work out to be just slightly more than if you bought four coach seats and paid additional fees to fly your pet as cargo. This might be an option to consider for those with pet is too large to travel in the cabin of a commercial jet, or unable physically or emotionally to be able to travel as cargo.
We recommend two pet-friendly charter plane companies for this type of service: Air Journey and Blue Star Jets.
AIR JOURNEY is run by Thierry Pouille, a highly skilled and experienced pilot and travel guide who takes groups of pilots and their families on escorted journeys around the world. He has been flying for more than 35 years in all kinds of flying conditions. Thierry and his twin engine Bonanza are available to fly you and your family, including your family pet to just about anywhere in the continental United States. His fee depends primarily on the distance. He is an interesting and enjoyable companion who places safety at the highest priority. For more information go to
Air Journey or call 1-877-841-1551.
BLUE STAR JETS is the crème de la crème in private jet aviation. With more than 2,000 jets worldwide, they are available with just five hours notification. Their fleet includes all types of jets from Lears to Gulfstreams, even jumbo jets, and will provide you with just the right transportation to suit your particular needs. They have been touted by CNN, ABC, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal as being on the "cutting edge" of a changing industry as well as being one of the least expensive jet providers in the world. There are many different options including either membership in their Sky Program if you are a frequent flier, or you can hire a light, medium or heavy jet and crew by the hour. Go to
Private Jet Charter Flights and Charter Private Jet Services worldwide on 4 hours notice by Blue Star Jets for more information or call Blair Woodward toll free at 1-866-JET TIME.
For the most part, cruise ships, trains and buses do not accept pets on board. There is, however, a fun new way to travel and tour various destinations with your pet. Rovin with Rover, a company that organizes and implements day and overnight bus trips for travelers and their canine companions, is based in Ohio. You can horseback ride at a dude ranch, float on a river raft, picnic, tour Niagara Falls, and more – all with your dog! Go to
Rovin' with Rover - Tours for you and your canine companion or call (888) 757-4584 for details.
Pet Shipping
Sometimes it is just not feasible to take your pet along with you when you travel. But that does not mean he cannot be with you once you reach your destination. There are many reputable pet relocation services from which to choose. One of those we particularly like is Jet-A-Pet. Founded in 1987 by Mel Goldman, a professional handler and active member of the Professional Handlers Association since 1967, Jet-A-Pet offers a full range of relocation and animal care services. Go to
Jet-A-Pet pet travel relocation international animal transport for more information.
Personalized Travel Planning Service
Researching and advance planning can make for a much more enjoyable trip. But navigating through thousands of names and other bits of information can be confusing and time consuming. That’s why the travel planners at "www.pet-friendly-travel-guides.com" are available to assist you with your itinerary. They have driven and flown far and wide, through all kinds of conditions and to every kind of destination imaginable. Their invaluable experiences will help you quickly sift through the thousands of destination and accommodation choices to put together the perfect vacation plan for you and your family
Things to Think About Before You Go
If you are traveling by car and driving long distance, your pet's needs are very different than if you are traveling by air. Before you pack for your pet, you need to consider where you are going, how you are getting there, how long it will take before you arrive at your destination, and the duration of your stay. Some of the items you might want to bring along include your pet's:
Bed
Toys
Chew Bones & Treats
Harness (to attach to a seat belt if traveling by car)
Crate
Water & Food Bowls
Food
Medicines
Health Records
Grooming Items (Shampoo, Brush, etc.)
Identification
Your pet’s identification should be clearly marked on a tag attached to his collar with his name, your full address and telephone number including the area code. Carry a recent photograph with you of your pet and write a complete description including his markings, color, weight, and age in case you become separated.
Also, before you travel, be sure to discuss your plans with your vet to ensure your pet has had the proper vaccinations for your destination, and is up-to-date on all vaccinations and heartworm medicine. (Did you know there is a vaccination against Lyme’s disease?) And be sure to call ahead to verify the pet guidelines of every place you stay.
Traveling By Car
Before you take a long road trip together, be sure your pet is accustomed to riding in the car and does not get carsick. Use a restraining harness that is securely fastened to a seat belt, or place your pet in a crate for safety. Should you stop short or have an accident on the road, this could prevent a serious injury. Try to place your pet on the shady side of the car in the back seat. If they release, air bags can kill your pet. Stop every three hours to give your pet a chance to relieve himself and get a little exercise. Provide fresh drinking water and snacks along the way. NEVER LEAVE YOUR PET ALONE IN A CLOSED CAR, and never leave your pet alone in a car even with the windows open when the temperature outside gets over 75 degrees. Be sure to put your pet on a leash before letting him out of the car. If you are in an area away from automobile traffic and your pet responds well to voice commands, this may not be necessary. Only you know your pet well enough to decide. Driving more than six hours per day can be exhausting and stressful for your pet. Be prepared to stop overnight on the way if you a driving a long distance to your final destination.
Pet Friendly Car Rental Agencies
Many car rental companies allow pets. Some of them include:
Advantage
1-800-777-5500
Car Rentals - Rent A Car - Rental Cars | Advantage.com Enterprise
1-800-RENT-A-CAR
Enterprise Rent-A-Car: Rental Cars at Everyday Low Rates
Alamo
1-800-GO-ALAMO
"Alamo Rent A Car is one of the largest value oriented rental car companies offering lowest rate guarantee for leisure vacation car rental deals, business rentals and discounted weekly specials in over 1000 locations including Orlando, Miami, Florida Hertz
1-800-543-4173
www.hertz.com
Avis Rent-A-Car
1-800-230-4898
Avis Rent A Car, Inc. National Car Rental
1-800-CAR-RENT
"National Car Rental offers expedited rental car service for business car rentals, vacation rental cars and low weekly specials in over 3000 locations serving the most popular domestic and international travel destinations by providing quality vehicl
Budget Rent-A-Car
1-800-527-0700
Car Rentals from Budget Thrifty
1-800-THRIFTY
Car Rentals - Rent A Car - Rental Cars | Thrifty.com
Dollar Car Rentals
1-800-800-3665
Car Rental - Rental Cars - Rent A Car | Dollar.com
Note that most automobile rental companies do not have any policies against having animals in their vehicles. You might run into a problem, however, if damage is done to the car's interior because of your pet. We recommend that you check with the car rental agency prior to renting the vehicle to confirm their pet policies. Oftentimes the vehicle will need to be cleaned prior to its return. Policies may also vary by location, even with the same car rental company.
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I bet you can get them to refund your ticket. Tell them that she is diabetic and needs to be near you so you can monitor her health and give her insulin as needed. I'm sure they won't want to risk having her die on their flight. They should be understanding since they've only started this policy of not allowing pets in the cabin as of late last year. This is from their website Pets in the cabin service is no longer available on Air Canada, and has been entirely discontinued as of September 18, 2006. I would think the worst case scenario would be that instead of a refund, they'd give you credit for the amount of your tickets for a future flight. 
