Delta Fares

Has anyone ever snuck their cat/small dog on a plane without paying the airline fees?

I've traveled numerous times on planes with my cat in an approved carrier in the cabin with me. He does well flying and I get to spend the holidays with him. Each time, I paid for a medical exam for him by my vet so that I'd have the medical certificate if they asked (they never did) and I paid the airline fees. Two years ago, the first time I flew, it cost $50 each way for his "reservation" and $30 for the exam, for a total of $130. The next time, it cost $75 each way and $30 for the exam, for a total of $180. Since I wanted to take him home for Christmas this year, I checked the airline pet fees and nearly fell out of my chair! Delta/NWA is now charging $150 each way for a pet and United is charging $175. The cheapest, USAir, is still charging $100 each way, but I don't fly them because they're almost never the cheapest airline for me. I recently bought a ticket on Delta for my flight home for Christmas and payed $250 for a roundtrip, but my cat's "reservation" would cost $300, more than my ticket! If I was flying United, it would cost $350! Now, I'm all for playing the rules, but this is crazy. And what's even more insulting, I pay all that money and my cat still counts as one of my pieces of carryon luggage! $300 and I don't even get to bring an extra bag! So I'm either going to board him (which now costs less than flying him even for a two- or three-week trip) or sneak him on the plane, but has anyone ever done that successfully? I wouldn't have to sneak him through security because the TSA people don't know and don't care what flight I'm on. How would they know if I have a reservation for him? And if I have a friend waiting to take him to a kennel in case my plan fails, what's the harm in trying? Has anyone out there ever done this? Ok, seriously, read the question. Don't send a stupid, knee-jerk reaction answer. If you don't own a pet and have never taken one on a plane, don't answer this question. I don't plan to send my cat through the x-ray machine! I'd walk through with him like I always do. My "guess" is that the only people who know if your cat is booked on a flight is the airline on which you're flying. Do the TSA guys know whether you've made a reservation for your cat? If not, why would they care if I have a cat with me or not?

Public Comments

1. I don't know how on earth you could get away with it since they scan all carry on and luggage bags.
2. Jesus. I hope not.
3. If you feel the need to take a cat on holiday with you maybe you need to just pay. Not that I can see why anyone would want to take a cat on holiday with them.
4. I know somebody who has. He got caught and paid major fines. Like seriously dont do it. Just leave your kitty behind.
5. I work for the TSA. The guys who pat you down and take away your shampoo. You won't get the animal past the security checkpoint. One of our officers was working in Rockford, ILL. a few years back. A guard on the x-ray called J. over and said, "Hey , Check this out"! there was a cat in a carry-on bag and he could see the skeleton. One of our managers worked in JFK Airport. A traveler tryed to come through with a live chicken. T said that wasn't allowed. Twenty minutes later the same guy comes back though with a dead chicken. That was allowed.
6. I don't think there's any way that you wouldn't get caught. I'm sure nowadays you'd have to show a boarding pass or something for your cat as weel. I bet the fine is more than the ticket. What you describe is absolutely ridiculous. (I mean the prices for the pet, etc) They don't make it easy on us anymore, do they? Leave your cat at home and ask a friend to take care of her while you're away.
7. The problem that I see for your plan is that the airline might routinely print something on the ticket if you are going to be traveling with a pet, just like they do now if you will be bringing a baby. You might get through security, but when you show up at the gate with a cat carrier, it might not fly. And if you try to take your cat without a carrier, the TSA people might say you can't do that. The other problem is that if this clever plan works on the way there, that doesn't guarantee it'll work on the way back. What would you do if you were thousands of miles away from home and they told you that you couldn't board the plane with your cat because your ticket doesn't include him?
8. You want to kill your cat? That's what you're planning. The xray scanners at the airport are not meant for living things. Yes, you cat will absolutely be found, and you will be sent back to the airline check in counter. At that point, you might miss your flight. If TSA doesn't catch you, the agent at the gate, or the FA sure as hell will. They've seen it all, and are NOT stupid. Just kennel your cat with the vet. Cheaper, good care, and get over it.
9. I'm a former Flight Attendant and although the one time I flew with a pet, it was declared, I once had a French passenger who snuck a small Yorkshire terrier on a transatlantic flight. I think she actually would have gotten away with it except for the fact that it smelled and other passengers complained about it. We pulled out the manifest and sure enough, no mention of a dog. I was also suspicious because they didn't have the approved carrier. Small dogs and cats go in a special carrier that goes under the seat. She had just stuffed it in her bag. We told the captain, who went back to have a word with her. Of course, he spoke French and they ended up talking about where she came from in France, where he had been... The other passengers were furious but there was nothing we could do. He was the captain... I guess she passed the dog through the X-ray. We didn't ask. When we landed, the ground agents were very happy to put a mention in her file for the return flight. So, I guess she didn't get away with it on the return. I think we wouldn't have bothered if she hadn't been so glib about all of it, and the fact that her dog smelled. In case you're curious, yes, it was a teacup Yorkshire and smaller than a cat. The animal has to be quiet and can't smell. Otherwise, they have to travel in the hold. I'm not sure if the fees are different for taking the animal in the hold vs. the cabin. You may want to check. To be honest, the vast majority of pets that I had on my flights were moving and therefore only going one way. I rarely saw animals flying with passengers for vacations or other short trips. So most people are only paying those fees one way and often, it's paid by the military or company moving them. That kind of means the airlines can charge what they want! The airlines are having a rough time fiancially and have been hammered with complaints on their treatment of animals so I'm not surprised that the fees have gone up. I'm sure the kennel will be cheaper, or do what our family used to and simply have someone come by your house. Unlike dogs, cats are okay on their own as long as they have food, water and either their box is cleaned or they can leap through a cat door.
10. TSA doesn't care if you paid for your cat or not, The fee is an airline thing. Once a passenger came throug with a cat trying to sneak it through and put it in a regular bag, and ran it through the xray. Being an animal person I was pist when i saw the cat on the screen, i asked to see the reciept for the pet fee they said they didn't have it so i made them go back to the airline to pay for it and told them when they came back up don't put through the xray. That's the only time i ever cared if someone paid for the fee, only cause they were a complete moron. Before you board, the ticket agent will probably want to see your reciept for your cat, so if you can't get it pass the ticket agent they'll make you pay the fee.
11. I'm not entirely sure if it would be noted on your ticket that you are bringing a cat. But if it is then you're screwed. But otherwise give your cat a dramamine and it will slip you dont have to worry about it meowing or purring or what not.
12. I read the question and have no knee jerk reaction thing going on. Time to face facts. You will get busted at some point. They might take your cat and deny you from flying. If you get past everything and try to board... they will say no. Your choice. Just go and have someone or a kennel take care of the cat. Or be that weird cat lady. If you can't afford the fee you should just be staying home.
13. Wow...your story is EXACTLY like mine. I am flying with my cat through delta too for christmas and i absolutely REFUSE to pay for it...im going to try the same thing and see if it works, i figure ill get him travel papers because worse case scenario if they stop me they might try to hassle me with travel papers and stuff..im leaving thursday so i will definitely post and let you kno