Reddit reviews Sherpa Travel Delta Air Lines Approved Pet Carrier, Black, Medium (Frustration Free Packaging)
We found 10 Reddit comments about Sherpa Travel Delta Air Lines Approved Pet Carrier, Black, Medium (Frustration Free Packaging). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Perfect for traveling in style and comfort by plane or car, for an adventure or just a trip to the vetPatented spring wire frame allows the rear end of the carrier to be pushed down several inches to conform to under-seat requirementsMesh windows for ventilation, roll down flaps for privacy, top and side entry with locking zippers for safety, padded adjustable, no-slip carrying strap, seat belt/luggage strap, machine-washable faux lambskin liner, Delta luggage tagSide pocket for convenient storage of treats, leash, bags, or anything else your furry friend might need on the goApproved for use on most airlines and included in Sherpa’s Guaranteed on Board program.Carrier is intended for safe and comfortable travel; the pet will not have excess room to move aroundSize medium is for pets up to 16" L x 10" H and up to 16 lbsCarrier measures 18” L x 11” W x 10.5” HDo NOT select the carrier size based on weight only. Choose the carrier size based on your pet’s measurements first, then make sure not to exceed the maximum weight limit.
I got a softshell carrier with a lambswool bottom, so I leave it open where the cats hang out and they regularly use it to hide and take naps. softshells are also better for stowing your cat under the seat in front of you on an airplane. getting them in is no problem - to get them out I simply let gravity do the job by rotating the carrier so the opening points towards the floor. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000633ZOY
I flew with my bunny in-cabin on a United flight a few months ago for a coast-to-coast move. I had a good experience with them. I could not find any other airline that allowed rabbits in the cabin in the US. You can even add your pet online (125$ fee/pet) on your reservation. But, I still called afterwards to make sure it was OK. I suggest you buy your tickets early since you have 2 bunnies and they accept a limited number of pets per flight.
When I arrived at the United counter to check my luggage, I told them I had my bunny with me and they only asked if I paid the pet fee. It was really simple. The tricky part is going through security since you'll have to take your bunnies out of their carrier and pass through the metal detector with each of them in your arms. My bunny was wearing a harness so we could hold him tightly while outside the carrier. After that, we were not asked anything about the rabbit for the rest of the trip. But, I would carry a health certificate from your vet just to be sure. Anyway it's a good idea to see a vet a few days before the trip to make sure your bunny is healthy and ready to fly.
I paid an extra $ to get the "Economy Plus" seats with extra legroom and I'm glad I did, otherwise it would have been very tight with my carrier. I was able to put the carrier between my legs after take off to check on my bun, pet him a little and give him some water. This carrier filled the entire space under the seat. Based on the picture of your bunnies, I don't think the two of them would fit comfortably in one carrier, unfortunately.
I second the idea of taking critical care with you, and make sure they eat and drink something on that day and poop. It is a stressful experience, but it should be fine if you are well prepared.
Have a safe trip!
This (the size and manueverability of the dog) was not something that was checked when I flew a few times with a dog in a carrier. But keep in mind the reason for it is so that the dog can remain comfortable by repositioning itself and not cause an issue on the flight.
If you do decide to transport the dog, consider helping it reposition mid flight.
Also, are you sure you have the max size carrier? The duffel sized carrier we had was capable of housing a dog larger than 15 pounds.
This delta bag in medium is rated for dogs up to 16 pounds. And while above the size limit, it should not be an issue if you dont make it one.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000633ZOY/ref=psdcmw_3024188011_t1_B005GYUM0I
As long as they're small (mine was a Japanese Spitz) it's all a breeze but I have major issues with my pets going in the baggage area :(
Also, you have to buy the airline accepted pet carrier to be able to keep your pet on board :)
I have this Sherpa it's awesome!
But unfortunately we only used it once and my current dog is 30 pounds so definitely can't fit there
We also relocated cross country with 2 cats last year, one being a Maine Coon. We flew with Delta. Make sure when you book your flight, the plane is big enough where he/she can fit under the seat. We had to rebook our flight because our original plane was too small.
We bought this carrier:
Sherpa Deluxe Pet Carriers
Make sure you get the medium size. We originally bought the small but it was too small for our Maine Coon.
We also took our cats to the vet before moving. I think you need to take them to the vet and get them cleared for flying, might be an airline regulation. We asked about sedating at the appointment. Sometimes it could give them more anxiety, so our vet gave us a little bit of sedation medication to give them to see how they do on it. They also gave us some pheromone wipes to wipe the carrier with, it supposedly calms them down. You might want to try that.
One of my cats peed so you might want to get pee pads like someone suggested.
Good luck!
I went with Delta, as well. There are a few other options but the most direct flight at the best price was Delta. United, American, and AirFrance also allow pets. The only airline I've ever used that actually weighed him, checked the dimensions of the carrier, etc. was Bangkok Airways.
For the Delta flight, we purchased the Delta-branded Sherpa carrier. It was technically too large for one leg, as each plane has individual size requirements due to the dimensions of under the seat but since it was a soft carrier and the booking agent warned me about it but no one gave us a problem and I think it being branded and a soft carrier is what helped.
The other comment covered feeding them, but I might be able to offer advice for flying on a plane with an animal.
I haven't flown with a rabbit before, but I have flown with a cat several times. The carrier fit under the seat (though you may have to use a soft carrier, rather than a hard plastic one. The plastic ones often aren't small enough to fit under the seat, especially if you have both in them).
Unlike what the other person said, they will not let you put them on your lap during take-off and landing, so they MUST be able to fit under the seat. Make sure you aren't seated in an exit row. This is the carrier that I used for my cat (10 pound mainecoon), it should fit both your rabbits unless they are very large. It easily fit under the seat, and she had enough room to comfortably move around inside it. I like it more than some of the other options, because it has mostly closed sides/dark mesh (and the flaps on either end that you can open or close) so they can feel safe and less exposed.
When it comes to going through the security checkpoint, they will likely make you take them out of the carrier and walk through the metal detector with them in your arms. I highly advise getting some sort of harness for them just in case. I'm almost positive they won't let you keep them in the carrier through security. If you're worried about taking them out (bunnies are more easily stressed out than cats), you might be able to call the airport and ask them? See if they'll let you take the carrier through the metal detector. Rabbits are different from cats, so the protocol for them might be different. They absolutely cannot go through the x-ray machine.
I also gave my cat anti-anxiety medication prescribed by her vet (basically a mild sedative to make her really sleepy so she would be less stressed out), but she was still really stressed and scared. I'm not sure if the same thing can be done for bunnies, you could try talking to your vet about it?
Good luck with your move and traveling!
I have been a rider-only for over 2 years, and have had a dog for 6 years. I've had a CBR and a Shadow Sabre. I used an airline travel bag like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Sherpa-11721-Delta-Carrier-Medium/dp/B000633ZOY
strapped down on top of some generic soft saddle bags.
Here's my result:
http://imgur.com/Mtj5BED
I have a picture of her in that square dog bag, but can't find it. This particular picture is a SCUBA gear configuration I had used, then found a more efficient way.
Security isn't the issue. The actual flight is. If your dog is small enough to fly as a carry-on, it's usually a fine experience provided it is crate trained and deals with stress well. Is your dog generally bombproof in other situations? Don't take it if it isn't, because flying can really suck for dogs.
If it needs to be shipped in cargo... don't do it unless you have to. Just board it here in DC instead. Cargo is such a crapshoot.
As a carry on, the requirement for almost all airlines is that the dog must be able to fit entirely under the seat with enough room in its carrier comfortably stand up and move around (example from Southwest). Realistically, that means that the biggest dog that can do this is 20 pounds. This is an example of the largest size carrier that will fit under the seat - it's small, only 18" L x 10.5" H x 11" W. Your dog CANNOT leave the carrier for the duration of the flight, even if it whines or is very upset. It looks like you have a corgi? Measure your dog out, but it could very well be too big if it's in the corgi standard size.
Even as a carry on, it can be a huge hassle. When you book, you need to make sure the aircraft you're on has enough room for a pet. If you get rebooked or the flight is canceled or the aircraft changes.... well, it's on you to make sure it's still okay for your dog. The airline won't always check for you.
My boyfriend and I took our cat from the US to the Netherlands and then to Russia, our final destination. She went in the cabin with us, in one of those handbags to carry a pet in. The first flight took 8 hours and she freaked out for the first 30 minutes or so. We took her to the toilet 3 or 4 times so she could walk a little bit, drink water, etc. By end of those 8 hours, she started freaking out again naturally. The second flight wasn't too bad because it was only 4 hours.
We had to get her the right documents (which depends on the country you're flying to) and made sure to buy a ticket with airline companies that allowed pets in the cabin. Also, we had to call the airlines to let them know we were bringing a cat and pay a fee when checking in at the airport (by the way, you should be at the airport as soon as check in opens). Overall, it was doable but not too easy.
Edit 1: Forgot to add that we stayed in the Netherlands for a few days.
Edit 2: THIS is the pet carrier we bought.
Edit 3: Language.