Pet Travel Question: Pet-Friendly Airline Choices
Number of Pets: 2
Pet Type: Dog ; Cat
Pet Breed: Lab mix dog, 58 pounds; small black and white cat
From: near Roanoke, VA
To: San Francisco
We need to move at the beginning of July. I'd really appreciate if you help me decide between those two options:
1) Drive 4 and 1/2 hrs to Dulles Airport in DC and fly non-stop with United Airlines to San Francisco at 9:30 pm; the dog will come to the check in as extra baggage and then fly in cargo.
2) Drive 6 and 1/2 hrs to Cleveland, OH, spend the night in a hotel, and fly at 9:00 am with Continental non-stop to San Francisco. The dog will go in cargo.
The first option seems easier but I read that Continental has a better program for pets: Is that true? Is it worth the extra hours, money and stress?
Thanks,
Cristina
Hi Cristina,
Thank you for contacting us with your question! Continental is our preferred domestic carrier when it comes to shipping pets, as they make safety a high priority (check out our Pet Friendly Airline Spotlight for more info). That being said, sometimes it's more convenient to choose another airline, so it's up to you to ask questions, weigh your options, and consider what's most important to you. Keep in mind also that breaking up a trip into shorter legs isn't necessarily worse for the pet; sometimes having more breaks for stretching and resting - even if it makes the whole trip longer - can make the experience less taxing.
Please contact us if you have more questions; one of our Specialists would be happy to speak with you at greater length, and consider using our FaceBook page as a resource, as well. Good luck with everything!