Moving across country with 3 cats, suggestions?

I will fly (Indiana -- California), and one option is to take the cats
as "checked luggage". Problem is that most airlines only accept 2
carriers, and do not allow 2 pets/carrier.

Another option is to ship the cats separately as air cargo, but I'm not
sure how expensive that can be.

A pet moving company not an option because they're too expensive.

If anyone has any suggestions or tips, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks!

"GeorgeR" wrote

|I will fly (Indiana -- California), and one option is to take the cats
| as "checked luggage". Problem is that most airlines only accept 2
| carriers, and do not allow 2 pets/carrier.
|
| Another option is to ship the cats separately as air cargo, but I'm not
| sure how expensive that can be.
|
| A pet moving company not an option because they're too expensive.
|
| If anyone has any suggestions or tips, I'd be very grateful.

Take the two on the plane and pay whatever extra it costs for an extra
"bag". Probably the cheapest way.

I will fly (Indiana -- California), and one option is to take the cats
as "checked luggage". Problem is that most airlines only accept 2
carriers, and do not allow 2 pets/carrier.
Another option is to ship the cats separately as air cargo, but I'm not
sure how expensive that can be.
A pet moving company not an option because they're too expensive.
If anyone has any suggestions or tips, I'd be very grateful.

Ask a student who's going home for their holidays to take one for you?

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Pat wrote:
"GeorgeR" wrote

|I will fly (Indiana -- California), and one option is to take the cats
| as "checked luggage". Problem is that most airlines only accept 2
| carriers, and do not allow 2 pets/carrier.
|
| Another option is to ship the cats separately as air cargo, but I'm not
| sure how expensive that can be.
|
| A pet moving company not an option because they're too expensive.
|
| If anyone has any suggestions or tips, I'd be very grateful.

Take the two on the plane and pay whatever extra it costs for an extra
"bag". Probably the cheapest way.

You mean take one as carry-on luggage and the other two as checked luggage?

"GeorgeR" wrote

| Take the two on the plane and pay whatever extra it costs for an extra
| "bag". Probably the cheapest way.
|
| You mean take one as carry-on luggage and the other two as checked
luggage?

That hadn't occurred to me but it might work. What I was thinking was that
you could buy a ticket for the third cat and have it go on the same flight.
But your solution seems even better.

Are you traveling by yourself? Each person can take a cat as carry-on if
the carrier fits under the seat. There is a maximum of cats per cabin so
you have to check that in advance.

I know people who did not want to check their animals in the belly of
the plane, so they flew back and forth to Alaska about 4 times with them
as carry-ons until all animals were delivered.

Rhonda

GeorgeR wrote:
I will fly (Indiana -- California), and one option is to take the cats
as "checked luggage". Problem is that most airlines only accept 2
carriers, and do not allow 2 pets/carrier.

Another option is to ship the cats separately as air cargo, but I'm not
sure how expensive that can be.

A pet moving company not an option because they're too expensive.

If anyone has any suggestions or tips, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks!

Rhonda wrote:
Are you traveling by yourself?

Yes.

I know people who did not want to check their animals in the belly of
the plane, so they flew back and forth to Alaska about 4 times with them
as carry-ons until all animals were delivered.

****, that's expensive as hell. Might as well pay a professional service
to do that for you, it'll cost less (I was quoted $1400 for 3 cats!)

"GeorgeR" wrote in message
m...
I will fly (Indiana -- California),....
If anyone has any suggestions or tips, I'd be very grateful.
Thanks!

Hi, George,

In the last year, we have moved from the East Coast to the Northwest, where
we stayed until the end of February of this year. Then we moved from the
Northwest to Texas.

Our two cats, Cinder and Rosie moved with us.

For each of these moves, we rented a car with a one-way, unlimited mileage
contract.

Each cat has her own large size hard sided travel crate, big enough for a
small litter box and additional room for the cat to move around.

We went to a few key chain motels and picked up their directories, which let
us know what was in each town where we might stop and that accepted pets.
Then, we signed up for the rewards programs so we could get points for a
free night or airline miles. Also, ask if they have any discounts, such as
AAA or AARP or whatever memberships you might have. Oh, yeah, ask for a
first-floor room so you won't have to climb stairs.

The downside was that some places charge extra per pet, so it's a good idea
to call ahead (if you have a cell phone) when you are pretty sure where you
will stop so that you can get the best deal.

Most places (even the "budget" type chains) have what they call a
continental breakfast. It's not much, but you can get coffee, juice,
cereal, packaged pastries, sometimes fresh fruit, sometimes a fresh waffle.
It's free, so we saved some money on breakfasts.

Ask at the desk if they have a baggage cart you can use. It really helps to
transport the crates and your luggage between the car and the room.

Good luck with your move.

Annie

I will fly (Indiana -- California),....
If anyone has any suggestions or tips, I'd be very grateful.
Thanks!

We're moving our 4 halfway across Canada in July. We did it four
years ago, too, moving the opposite direction. We elected to drive,
so that our animals would be in our care at all times and not
entrusted to airline or train or bus personnel. We were able to stop
to give them food, water and litter box access when they needed it,
not when it was convenient for the travel company. We used the net in
advance to find out what hotels would let us stay overnight with our
cats, we put the litter box in the bathroom, and we swept up well
after ourselves.

Smokey got a large dog carrier so he could have a litter box 24/7
(cars make him have to go.) The kittens were just 6 weeks old on the
last move and so they got water in a bottle to nurse at gas stations
pretty much every hour so they wouldn't dehydrate in a hot car in the
summer. Nocturne hates the fuss of a car trip and she just wants to
be left alone in a small box, then given some privacy with a litter
box in the hotel at night.

I would ask a lot of questions of an air carrier. Myself, I don't
think I would be comfortable entrusting my cats to air personnel.

--Fil

Thanks Annie, but I'll have to fly. IN-CA is only a 6 hour trip.