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One final "Eff You" from this place (and a question)
Apparently, as of April 1st, KLM no longer accepts pets as carry-on baggage in business class internationally. ARGH. I just needed like TWO more months people! They are the only airline with a non-stop flight, FYI.
My options are:
1. Fly KLM anyway, check cat. They have a pet compartment directly behind the main cabin, I believe. Pros: Still fly nonstop, and business class. Cons: I don't know what the actual conditions are back there (dogs, noise, etc). I'd prefer to have my baby with me to calm her.
2. Fly KLM anyway, but book 2 economy plus seats instead of business. Pros: non-stop, still keep cat in cabin. Cons: 11hours in economy.
3. Fly another airline. Pros: Business class, keep cat. Cons: Adds an additional 3+ hours to flight and I'm not sure I can do that to the poor cat.
4. Book the KLM non-stop flight through Delta (which doesn't have the restrictions!). Pros: Get all the things!! Cons: Likelihood of being stopped by KLM agents and denied boarding.
I do love the little beast, so I am leaning towards option 2. Thoughts?
Re: One final "Eff You" from this place (and a question)
Option 2, add Ambien or other sleep aid so you are passed out during most of the flight and won't realize you're in economy "roughing it" like the rest of us paupers always are
So jealous you even have the option to fly business class!
I think Option 2 is the best though. You don't want the cat flying in cargo, especially if it's a hot day. Some airlines won't let animals fly in the summer because of risk of overheating while on the ground. I would only fly non-stop with a pet--the risk of my pet not making the connecting flight would be enough to make me die of anxiety all flight.
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We've flown with cats with us and in the pet compartment. The pet compartment flying isn't too bad, the cat was fine on the other end.
It's a tough call, if you were flying through the night (I'm presuming you're not because all our flights to the states are in the morning) I'd say go for business class and put cat in pet compartment. It's just easier to sleep and it makes your next day so much less stressful which in turn helps the cat.
Flying through the day with KLM means you have lots of movies to watch even in normal economy and normally decent service.
Yeh I can't make my mind up!
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Ditto this. As an anecdotal story. When I flew my cat from the US to Scotland we had to connect in London and clear through the PETS program. They said it could take forever so I should plan on a really long layover. Um yeah, whole process took like 30 minutes. They wouldn't take him for cargo because it was winter and they wanted to wait until the last minute to load him (being cold on the runway and luggage areas).
Anyway, so here I am with my cat in the terminal for like 4 hours - people walking by, noises, etc. The whole time he could see me he just looked at me and meowed. Finally I moved his carrier up against a wall then I put my coat over most of the rest of the holes so he couldn't see much of anything. After a while I didn't hear him anymore so I peeked and he had laid down and gone to sleep.
FWIW he flew cargo - US to UK, UK to France, France to Russia. He was fine on all the trips. Cargo is pressurized and climate controlled for pets.
I'd probably go with Option 2. Especially if you can afford to book an additional "seat" for her...though I will laugh at you.
I know I wasn't thrilled with the idea of putting our kitty in the pet area, so I can totally understand wanting to keep her with you.
Yes, yes I am a crazy cat lady who would book her cat a seat. Why do you ask?
Everyone has made really good points. Anyone who checked their pet . . . how long did it take to retrieve them? I just thought of another point in #2's favor, which is . . . . no paperwork to fill out in the beginning and just walk off plane and go home.
You are correct Mouse, it's a day flight. So the lie flat bed thing, while nice, isn't strictly necessary. I'm just being a princess about it, LOL.
The only time I had to fill out paperwork was for the initial flight into the PETS scheme in the UK, but that's the exception I think. Other times he was checked he just got a baggage tag like my suitcases.
Regarding picking him up - in France I had to claim him from a special luggage area - just a room next to the baggage claim. All the other times the luggage handlers brought him out to me by the luggage belt. Other than in France, I always had my cat before I had my luggage.
If I buy my own tickets I always fly economy, but I hate it! Especially such a long flight, if I could afford it, I'd always choose to fly business and have the cat in the pet compartment.
Honestly, though I love cats, I'm not a fan of them (or other pets) in the cabin, as they can cause allergic reactions. I'm only mildly allergic, but I notice cats in the cabin even if I haven't seen or heard them. I've seen people complain about a cat on board, which caused the airline to decide that the cat had to go in the pet compartment after all. If that'd happen to you, you'd have crappy seats AND your cat wouldn't be with you.
I'd choose option 1 or take the Delta option and just take your chances.
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What I'm looking forward to in 2012:
Eating our way through (northern) Italy on vacation
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