Non-Rev and Traveling with a Dog?

Avgirl

Avgirl

Well-Known Member
Any experiences or tips? It is interesting enough flying standby in of itself, but for those that have done this with their small dogs that can travel under the seat, did you really have to make a reservation in advance for the dog or just show up at the gate with the paperwork, just in case they ever really want to look at it?
 
Thanks. Definitely considering just getting a ticket. But, I guess I am wondering if anyone has been successful flying with their pet on standby?
 
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I'm not a 121 pilot but IIRC, the Captain has the approval authority for both non-rev and pets. Seems to me that trying to bring a pet on under a non-rev agreement might be pushing the good graces and tolerance of the crew.....

.... just sayin', I could be wrong :confused:
 
I've flown multiple times with my cats as pet in cabin while non-reving. I'd never even consider it unless it's a non-stop flight, less than three hours, and pretty much a zero chance of not getting on. Between that and nearly 13 years as a gate agent dealing with people doing it, please don't wait until the gate to tell anyone you have a PETC. Multiple times it caused issues with seating, ie exit rows or bulkheads, and at least once or maybe twice I had to deny the non-rev because we exceeded the limit for number of pets. While some airlines recommend it (and a few may even require it, check with the airline(s) in question first) I wouldn't go so far as to say it's necessary to call reservations and add the PETC when you make the listing (although it could aid your chances of being able to carry on without issue) at least tell them when you check in at the counter or stop by a customer service center before going to the gate. Best advice is contact the pass bureau/interline department for the airline you are traveling on and ask them what their procedure is and follow it no matter how silly it sounds.

As to the paperwork, domestically the airline agents couldn't care less really whether you have it or not. Your friendly neighborhood USDA and/or state agriculture agent (or whatever department the state put in charge of animal importation) may want to inspect the paperwork and your dog. Depending on their mood if you don't have it they could detain and fine you or they could potentially place your pet in quarantine and you in jail.

Internationally you better have all your i's dotted and t's crossed and have the paperwork ready at check in. Some countries have rather interesting requirements, ranging from certifications, pre-/post-travel quarantine, and in the case of Israel, pre-approval by their authorities. I learned that one after why had to deny travel to a woman who was taking her dog back to let it die in Israel. She didn't have her approval and couldn't travel and even she admitted that she didn't think the dog would live long enough to get it and was hoping both we the airline as well as Israeli customs would just let it slide since the dog was going there to die. She ended up traveling without the dog.
 
n156499000 said:
I've flown multiple times with my cats as pet in cabin while non-reving. I'd never even consider it unless it's a non-stop flight, less than three hours, and pretty much a zero chance of not getting on. Between that and nearly 13 years as a gate agent dealing with people doing it, please don't wait until the gate to tell anyone you have a PETC. Multiple times it caused issues with seating, ie exit rows or bulkheads, and at least once or maybe twice I had to deny the non-rev because we exceeded the limit for number of pets. While some airlines recommend it (and a few may even require it, check with the airline(s) in question first) I wouldn't go so far as to say it's necessary to call reservations and add the PETC when you make the listing (although it could aid your chances of being able to carry on without issue) at least tell them when you check in at the counter or stop by a customer service center before going to the gate. Best advice is contact the pass bureau/interline department for the airline you are traveling on and ask them what their procedure is and follow it no matter how silly it sounds.

As to the paperwork, domestically the airline agents couldn't care less really whether you have it or not. Your friendly neighborhood USDA and/or state agriculture agent (or whatever department the state put in charge of animal importation) may want to inspect the paperwork and your dog. Depending on their mood if you don't have it they could detain and fine you or they could potentially place your pet in quarantine and you in jail.

Internationally you better have all your i's dotted and t's crossed and have the paperwork ready at check in. Some countries have rather interesting requirements, ranging from certifications, pre-/post-travel quarantine, and in the case of Israel, pre-approval by their authorities. I learned that one after why had to deny travel to a woman who was taking her dog back to let it die in Israel. She didn't have her approval and couldn't travel and even she admitted that she didn't think the dog would live long enough to get it and was hoping both we the airline as well as Israeli customs would just let it slide since the dog was going there to die. She ended up traveling without the dog.
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Thank you so much for the tips! I definitely don't want to put anyone in a bad situation. There just seems to be a lot of confusion with the reservations agents at Delta, and since one flight couldn't work out, it makes things interesting with notifying gate agents.

Gate agents do really see a lot of weird situations.
 
I've mostly taken my cats on Delta and Alaska with one trip on US Airways. Delta it was simply a case of making sure the PETC info was in the reservation before boarding. I just added the PETC info one night bored at work before my trip and that was that. On Alaska it was required to make a "reservation request" for them, basically an automated pre-departure counting system that returned a "listing has been created, advice passenger pet is standby, yada yada yada" message. Most ticket counter agents didn't know how to create the request, mostly because of the fact that Alaska has been slowly taking reservations functions away from counter agents, but a short call to reservations will fix it if the counter agent's can't find how to do it. I can't remember what I did on US Airways, although I had a res agent friend of mine do the listing for me and she said it was all taken care of so I don't know what she did, if anything, to the reservation.

Like almost everyone I know who did/does the job, after 13 years I could write quite an interesting book about some of the weird stuff I witnessed when I was a gate agent. My wife still does the job and quite often as she is telling tales I'm reminded how little I miss the job itself. However, after two years away from the airport I'm looking forward in some ways to returning to the land of the crazies in a few months, although this time I will be on the other side of the door at departure time.
 
n156499000 said:
I've mostly taken my cats on Delta and Alaska with one trip on US Airways. Delta it was simply a case of making sure the PETC info was in the reservation before boarding. I just added the PETC info one night bored at work before my trip and that was that. On Alaska it was required to make a "reservation request" for them, basically an automated pre-departure counting system that returned a "listing has been created, advice passenger pet is standby, yada yada yada" message. Most ticket counter agents didn't know how to create the request, mostly because of the fact that Alaska has been slowly taking reservations functions away from counter agents, but a short call to reservations will fix it if the counter agent's can't find how to do it. I can't remember what I did on US Airways, although I had a res agent friend of mine do the listing for me and she said it was all taken care of so I don't know what she did, if anything, to the reservation.

Like almost everyone I know who did/does the job, after 13 years I could write quite an interesting book about some of the weird stuff I witnessed when I was a gate agent. My wife still does the job and quite often as she is telling tales I'm reminded how little I miss the job itself. However, after two years away from the airport I'm looking forward in some ways to returning to the land of the crazies in a few months, although this time I will be on the other side of the door at departure time.
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Ideally, I would like to have a ticket, but should I find myself in the situation where getting a last minute ticket is too expensive even at the discounted rates, it is good to know what to expect, and how to make things as flawless as possible. Well, and most convenient for the gate agents and crew.
 
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dustoff17 said:
I'm not a 121 pilot but IIRC, the Captain has the approval authority for both non-rev and pets. Seems to me that trying to bring a pet on under a non-rev agreement might be pushing the good graces and tolerance of the crew.....

.... just sayin', I could be wrong :confused:
Click to expand...

Yeah, you're wrong. Captain has no input or say about non revs. As for pets, as long as they meet the carrier's rules, not much to say there either.
 
SurferLucas said:
It can be done ;)

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_55d5d4a7e4b055a6dab2ff59
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How completely wonderful.

55d6019c14000077002e37cb.jpeg


Well done.

I liked this the best:

“I believe in redemption,” Zanowski says. “We can all do something to solve the problems we see in the world. It doesn’t take money. It doesn’t take charm. It just takes love.”
 
Cptnchia said:
Yeah, you're wrong. Captain has no input or say about non revs. As for pets, as long as they meet the carrier's rules, not much to say there either.
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Sucks MotherD has taken away so much of your authority. Most places a captain has final authority over boarding of all passengers, revenue and non revenue. They just better have a damn good reason for denying somebody.
 
Avgirl said:
That is the sweetest story ever, and so cool that you were involved with that happy story. How did they find you to get your help? Do you still keep in touch with the people that adopted him?
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Gemma is a good friend of mine, she had originally asked me to help her find a way to get to TUS and back same day to retrieve Dylan. I had a Sunday off, so I offered to do it...since I can carry on a pet as a non-rev, and I'd be in uniform, so I knew TSA would help me with figuring out how to do screening with a pet. It worked out really nicely, and I was able to do it same day. :)

A Life Aloft said:
How completely wonderful.

55d6019c14000077002e37cb.jpeg


Well done.

I liked this the best:

“I believe in redemption,” Zanowski says. “We can all do something to solve the problems we see in the world. It doesn’t take money. It doesn’t take charm. It just takes love.”
Click to expand...

It was one of the cooler things I've done in my flying career, and I wasn't even flying the plane. I was just doing what I could to help. Gemma had sent me a picture of Dylan, knowing that I have a major soft spot for them as well. She's a wonderful gal, and she keeps me up to date on Dylan.
Dylan is living out in Sequim, WA...on the water and has a German Shepherd brothe. This was Dylan while she was still awaiting adoption, and after her face got better:
1609597_1147533448610075_8399572157102002225_n.jpg


I'll see what others I have and upload them later if y'all would like to see.
 
SurferLucas said:
Gemma is a good friend of mine, she had originally asked me to help her find a way to get to TUS and back same day to retrieve Dylan. I had a Sunday off, so I offered to do it...since I can carry on a pet as a non-rev, and I'd be in uniform, so I knew TSA would help me with figuring out how to do screening with a pet. It worked out really nicely, and I was able to do it same day. :)



It was one of the cooler things I've done in my flying career, and I wasn't even flying the plane. I was just doing what I could to help. Gemma had sent me a picture of Dylan, knowing that I have a major soft spot for them as well. She's a wonderful gal, and she keeps me up to date on Dylan.
Dylan is living out in Sequim, WA...on the water and has a German Shepherd brothe. This was Dylan while she was still awaiting adoption, and after her face got better:
1609597_1147533448610075_8399572157102002225_n.jpg


I'll see what others I have and upload them later if y'all would like to see.
Click to expand...

Those ears! It would be cool to see more pics. With all the bad news out there, who doesn't need a happy story?
 
n156499000 said:
I've mostly taken my cats on Delta and Alaska with one trip on US Airways. Delta it was simply a case of making sure the PETC info was in the reservation before boarding. I just added the PETC info one night bored at work before my trip and that was that. On Alaska it was required to make a "reservation request" for them, basically an automated pre-departure counting system that returned a "listing has been created, advice passenger pet is standby, yada yada yada" message. Most ticket counter agents didn't know how to create the request, mostly because of the fact that Alaska has been slowly taking reservations functions away from counter agents, but a short call to reservations will fix it if the counter agent's can't find how to do it. I can't remember what I did on US Airways, although I had a res agent friend of mine do the listing for me and she said it was all taken care of so I don't know what she did, if anything, to the reservation.

Like almost everyone I know who did/does the job, after 13 years I could write quite an interesting book about some of the weird stuff I witnessed when I was a gate agent. My wife still does the job and quite often as she is telling tales I'm reminded how little I miss the job itself. However, after two years away from the airport I'm looking forward in some ways to returning to the land of the crazies in a few months, although this time I will be on the other side of the door at departure time.
Click to expand...
As far as traveling with pets Hawaai has rules that are pretty similar to international.
 
Cptnchia said:
Yeah, you're wrong. Captain has no input or say about non revs. As for pets, as long as they meet the carrier's rules, not much to say there either.
Click to expand...
OK, I'm wrong. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I picked up on this information both here on JC and watching the dynamics in various airports. I've been witness to Captains telling a passenger "NO" with regards to pets on flights. Things must have changed. My bad :(
 
My ex-girlfriend used to nonrev with the cats on Delta all the time. There was never really an issue except the cat got really scared at first. You can read all the requirements on Deltanet and there is no charge. Pretty much as long as it fits in an approved carrier you're good. I'd recommend this one because the size is guaranteed to fit your pet under the seat. I was gonna take my dog once but when she didn't fit in the carrier we knew she couldn't go.

https://m.bedbathandbeyond.com/m/pr...Et7tuL85-tnnGIDsAum04JoTaH7DbNnlZBBoC4Zzw_wcB


Edit: i assumed you're trying to take the dog as a carry on? I have no experience with a pet that goes in the cargo
 
RORO said:
My ex-girlfriend used to nonrev with the cats on Delta all the time. There was never really an issue except the cat got really scared at first. You can read all the requirements on Deltanet and there is no charge. Pretty much as long as it fits in an approved carrier you're good. I'd recommend this one because the size is guaranteed to fit your pet under the seat. I was gonna take my dog once but when she didn't fit in the carrier we knew she couldn't go.

https://m.bedbathandbeyond.com/m/pr...Et7tuL85-tnnGIDsAum04JoTaH7DbNnlZBBoC4Zzw_wcB

Edit: i assumed you're trying to take the dog as a carry on? I have no experience with a pet that goes in the cargo
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Thanks for the tips! Definitely as a carry on. He can't go in cargo. That is the exact carrier we have! The only time he didn't fit into his carrier was with this incident. ;) Cone heads can't fit. :D
12717309_1762506807313531_1048568269820122698_n.jpg
 
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