Comments on: Which seat works best with an in-cabin dog? [Southwest 737-700] http://www.dogjaunt.com/2009/12/which-seat-works-best-with-an-in-cabin-dog/ Traveling with a small dog Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:35:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kate http://www.dogjaunt.com/2009/12/which-seat-works-best-with-an-in-cabin-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-26536 Kate Mon, 08 Aug 2011 18:19:30 +0000 http://www.dogjaunt.com/?p=2100#comment-26536 If you're truly worried, I've found that most airlines sell bags specifically designed to fit under their seats. They can be a little pricy, but it's not hard to look at the dimensions described and get another bag of that size. When I travel with my 15 lb Jack Russell, he fits in a rather large rolling pet carrier (22" long, 10" high, 18" wide) that fits very nicely under the middle seats on southwest planes that I have been on. Not all rows have the life vest boxes, so if you plan ahead enough to check in as soon as possible and to get a good boarding number, you can take a peek before you sit. If you’re truly worried, I’ve found that most airlines sell bags specifically designed to fit under their seats. They can be a little pricy, but it’s not hard to look at the dimensions described and get another bag of that size. When I travel with my 15 lb Jack Russell, he fits in a rather large rolling pet carrier (22″ long, 10″ high, 18″ wide) that fits very nicely under the middle seats on southwest planes that I have been on. Not all rows have the life vest boxes, so if you plan ahead enough to check in as soon as possible and to get a good boarding number, you can take a peek before you sit.

]]> By: Mary-Alice http://www.dogjaunt.com/2009/12/which-seat-works-best-with-an-in-cabin-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-26240 Mary-Alice Tue, 26 Jul 2011 04:27:30 +0000 http://www.dogjaunt.com/?p=2100#comment-26240 Hi, Janette! I was writing my response to you when our power went out this morning, so here's attempt #2. Your medium Sherpa bag will certainly fit under a Southwest seat. Keep in mind, though, that your puppy will grow.... Chloe is a small Cavalier, and as an adult, she can't fit in a medium Sherpa. You will likely need to consider a bigger carrier in a few months, so enjoy your medium Sherpa trips while you can! Hi, Janette! I was writing my response to you when our power went out this morning, so here’s attempt #2. Your medium Sherpa bag will certainly fit under a Southwest seat. Keep in mind, though, that your puppy will grow…. Chloe is a small Cavalier, and as an adult, she can’t fit in a medium Sherpa. You will likely need to consider a bigger carrier in a few months, so enjoy your medium Sherpa trips while you can!

]]> By: Janette http://www.dogjaunt.com/2009/12/which-seat-works-best-with-an-in-cabin-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-26193 Janette Sat, 23 Jul 2011 16:45:04 +0000 http://www.dogjaunt.com/?p=2100#comment-26193 I am about to go pick up my new 5 month old cavalier puppy. I haven't purchased the carrier yet, but am considering the medium sherpa bag. I know my puppy will fit in it, but will it fit under thew seat on a SW flight? I am about to go pick up my new 5 month old cavalier puppy. I haven’t purchased the carrier yet, but am considering the medium sherpa bag. I know my puppy will fit in it, but will it fit under thew seat on a SW flight?

]]> By: Mary-Alice http://www.dogjaunt.com/2009/12/which-seat-works-best-with-an-in-cabin-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-24624 Mary-Alice Tue, 24 May 2011 12:49:32 +0000 http://www.dogjaunt.com/?p=2100#comment-24624 Hello, Maryanne! It's just a fluke of my in-box review that I responded to Karen's comment (success in traveling on Southwest with a large Sherpa carrier) before I responded to yours (concern about traveling on Southwest with a medium Sherpa carrier). I love it that Karen's experience was good, but I myself prefer our slightly smaller SturdiBag (size large). The medium Sherpa carrier that you have is the gold standard of in-cabin carriers, size-wise -- I cannot believe that any airline agent would look twice at it, and if Chloe fit into one I'd buy it (even though I don't love the bag itself), knowing that I'd never have to worry about the boarding process. Let us know how your trip goes, and I'll keep my fingers crossed that your puppy stays the same easy-travel size forever! Hello, Maryanne! It’s just a fluke of my in-box review that I responded to Karen’s comment (success in traveling on Southwest with a large Sherpa carrier) before I responded to yours (concern about traveling on Southwest with a medium Sherpa carrier). I love it that Karen’s experience was good, but I myself prefer our slightly smaller SturdiBag (size large). The medium Sherpa carrier that you have is the gold standard of in-cabin carriers, size-wise — I cannot believe that any airline agent would look twice at it, and if Chloe fit into one I’d buy it (even though I don’t love the bag itself), knowing that I’d never have to worry about the boarding process. Let us know how your trip goes, and I’ll keep my fingers crossed that your puppy stays the same easy-travel size forever!

]]> By: Mary-Alice http://www.dogjaunt.com/2009/12/which-seat-works-best-with-an-in-cabin-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-24620 Mary-Alice Tue, 24 May 2011 12:14:22 +0000 http://www.dogjaunt.com/?p=2100#comment-24620 Hi, Karen! Thanks so much for the report! I've always regarded the large Sherpa bag as just too darned large, but there it is, working for you and your pup. Hi, Karen! Thanks so much for the report! I’ve always regarded the large Sherpa bag as just too darned large, but there it is, working for you and your pup.

]]> By: Karen http://www.dogjaunt.com/2009/12/which-seat-works-best-with-an-in-cabin-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-24589 Karen Sun, 22 May 2011 14:20:38 +0000 http://www.dogjaunt.com/?p=2100#comment-24589 I adopted a 12 lb. terrier/poodle mix and was apprehensive about how I'd get him home to visit his grandparents on SWA. Their web site says the dog has to be able to stand up and turn around in the carrier, yet he's 14'' tall and the underseat is 8.5''. My solution was the size large Sherpa bag, in which he CAN turnaround in, albeit a bit hunched over, yet it also fit under the middle seat easily because my dog was lying down. I found the front end of the bag was less flexible, so I positioned him so that his head faced that end, and the back end collapsed down to fit under the seat. That way, he could see my feet and legs as well and know that I was there. The employees gave me no problem. It was as if I was walking onto the plane with a black gym bag. Even the passengers next to me didn't notice I had a dog until they saw me cooing to him during the flight. I think $75 is a bit expensive to pay since you don't get a seat for that price and my flight was only 1 hour, but this was my trial run so I can take him on longer trips this summer. I was very happy with the large Sherpa and highly recommend it! I adopted a 12 lb. terrier/poodle mix and was apprehensive about how I’d get him home to visit his grandparents on SWA. Their web site says the dog has to be able to stand up and turn around in the carrier, yet he’s 14” tall and the underseat is 8.5”. My solution was the size large Sherpa bag, in which he CAN turnaround in, albeit a bit hunched over, yet it also fit under the middle seat easily because my dog was lying down. I found the front end of the bag was less flexible, so I positioned him so that his head faced that end, and the back end collapsed down to fit under the seat. That way, he could see my feet and legs as well and know that I was there. The employees gave me no problem. It was as if I was walking onto the plane with a black gym bag. Even the passengers next to me didn’t notice I had a dog until they saw me cooing to him during the flight. I think $75 is a bit expensive to pay since you don’t get a seat for that price and my flight was only 1 hour, but this was my trial run so I can take him on longer trips this summer.

I was very happy with the large Sherpa and highly recommend it!

]]> By: Maryanne http://www.dogjaunt.com/2009/12/which-seat-works-best-with-an-in-cabin-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-24557 Maryanne Fri, 20 May 2011 15:50:30 +0000 http://www.dogjaunt.com/?p=2100#comment-24557 Traveling with our new 7 lb puppy on Southwest in June. Purchased a Sherpa medium bag and putting her in get used to it now. Concerned with the height dimensions. Hopefully we will have good luck and a good first flight experience. At least it is a non-stop. Traveling with our new 7 lb puppy on Southwest in June. Purchased a Sherpa medium bag and putting her in get used to it now. Concerned with the height dimensions. Hopefully we will have good luck and a good first flight experience. At least it is a non-stop.

]]> By: Dan http://www.dogjaunt.com/2009/12/which-seat-works-best-with-an-in-cabin-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-23334 Dan Mon, 11 Apr 2011 04:19:17 +0000 http://www.dogjaunt.com/?p=2100#comment-23334 I have to say that I am surprised at the number of positive responses on the message board here about Carrying on to SWA. I was denied boarding to a flight because my bag (19x19x8) was deemed too large by the supervisor at a glance. They did not measure it. The second, back up, bag I brought (19x10x8) was denied because my dog was "too big" even though I was not given the opportunity to show the employees that he does fit(dachshund). They did not even allow me to see the SWA brand bag when I requested to do so. I would recommend heading over to American Airlines. The staff while checking is was respectful and courteous and the flight attendants were all swooning over how cute our Lou is. I will never fly SWA again due to a complete lack of professionalism (employees that wear shorts!?) and suggest you do the same. I have to say that I am surprised at the number of positive responses on the message board here about Carrying on to SWA. I was denied boarding to a flight because my bag (19x19x8) was deemed too large by the supervisor at a glance. They did not measure it. The second, back up, bag I brought (19x10x8) was denied because my dog was “too big” even though I was not given the opportunity to show the employees that he does fit(dachshund). They did not even allow me to see the SWA brand bag when I requested to do so. I would recommend heading over to American Airlines. The staff while checking is was respectful and courteous and the flight attendants were all swooning over how cute our Lou is. I will never fly SWA again due to a complete lack of professionalism (employees that wear shorts!?) and suggest you do the same.

]]> By: Mary-Alice http://www.dogjaunt.com/2009/12/which-seat-works-best-with-an-in-cabin-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-19431 Mary-Alice Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:07:18 +0000 http://www.dogjaunt.com/?p=2100#comment-19431 Thank you, Mari! And thank you so much for your excellent, detailed report -- it's really helpful to hear stories like yours, especially about traveling with a pretty big small dog (heck, it's easy to travel with a tiny dog! it's the ones that push the limits that make us wring our hands). I'm so pleased that everything worked out so well for you and your girl on your flights! Thank you, Mari! And thank you so much for your excellent, detailed report — it’s really helpful to hear stories like yours, especially about traveling with a pretty big small dog (heck, it’s easy to travel with a tiny dog! it’s the ones that push the limits that make us wring our hands). I’m so pleased that everything worked out so well for you and your girl on your flights!

]]> By: Mari http://www.dogjaunt.com/2009/12/which-seat-works-best-with-an-in-cabin-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-19412 Mari Thu, 30 Dec 2010 01:50:38 +0000 http://www.dogjaunt.com/?p=2100#comment-19412 First off- Thank you so much for this site and reader comments! We were traveling with our puppy for the first time and found all of the most crucial information here. We just traveled from Boston to San Francisco for the holidays on SW, with our 19lb bulldog puppy. We first purchased the large Sherpa bag, but it didn't seem flexible enough for a potential 8.25" height. We wanted to purchase the SturdiBag, but didn't have enough time to get it shipped. We ended up getting the large Bergan Comfort Carrier, and were happy that it was only about $40 because we knew this would be the only trip that our puppy would fit in it. All of the flights went well, and the bag fit wonderfully on all 4 planes. Our puppy was a little cramped when she stood, but fit comfortably laying down. She slept much of the time, but we traded chew treats to keep her busy as well (bully rings seemed to last the longest!). We didn't have enough time to let her go to the bathroom between connections, but she held it and we did keep water from her the morning of the flight until during the last part of our travel day. All of the SW employees were friendly, they put a tag on our bag to show that she was paid for, and sometimes flight attendants didn't even notice we had carried her onboard. We took the middle seat, as it did have slightly more under seat room than the window seat. It did get a little warm for her on a few of the flights, but flight attendants were happy to provide us ice cubes to cool our little girl down. After we paid our $75, we were a little surprised that nobody weighed her, inspected how comfortable she was in her carrier, or asked for any health records (although SW doesn't officially require a health certificate). All in all we were very happy with our experience with SW and pleased that our puppy was a good little girl for both cross country trips! First off- Thank you so much for this site and reader comments! We were traveling with our puppy for the first time and found all of the most crucial information here.
We just traveled from Boston to San Francisco for the holidays on SW, with our 19lb bulldog puppy. We first purchased the large Sherpa bag, but it didn’t seem flexible enough for a potential 8.25″ height. We wanted to purchase the SturdiBag, but didn’t have enough time to get it shipped. We ended up getting the large Bergan Comfort Carrier, and were happy that it was only about $40 because we knew this would be the only trip that our puppy would fit in it. All of the flights went well, and the bag fit wonderfully on all 4 planes. Our puppy was a little cramped when she stood, but fit comfortably laying down. She slept much of the time, but we traded chew treats to keep her busy as well (bully rings seemed to last the longest!). We didn’t have enough time to let her go to the bathroom between connections, but she held it and we did keep water from her the morning of the flight until during the last part of our travel day. All of the SW employees were friendly, they put a tag on our bag to show that she was paid for, and sometimes flight attendants didn’t even notice we had carried her onboard. We took the middle seat, as it did have slightly more under seat room than the window seat. It did get a little warm for her on a few of the flights, but flight attendants were happy to provide us ice cubes to cool our little girl down. After we paid our $75, we were a little surprised that nobody weighed her, inspected how comfortable she was in her carrier, or asked for any health records (although SW doesn’t officially require a health certificate). All in all we were very happy with our experience with SW and pleased that our puppy was a good little girl for both cross country trips!

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