Flying with Continental

Continental offers two ways for your pet to fly, with you, or as cargo.

To have your pet fly in the cabin with you, it will cost you $125 each way, and tickets can be booked online or by calling. As with other airlines, the amount of pets allowed per cabin is limited. Young pets (under 8 weeks) cannot fly, the pet must stay in the kennel, no exit rows.... this all sounds pretty similar to the other airlines. This is the only airline that I have seen that makes a mention of seeing-eye dogs, noting that they are welcome on board or as checked baggage.

If you ship your pet as cargo, Continental has a plan called PetSafe. Using this, you can track your animals online, or can travel as QuickPak which has same day delivery. Continental seems to treat your animals as animals (and not as cargo). They also have a program where you can earn 1 frequent flyer mile for every $ you spend on transporting your pet (does not apply to the fee for in-cabin travel).

Another bonus- In Houston, Continental operates and on-airport kennel at its cargo facility. Continental can provide grooming and kenneling services for your pet. The fees are expensive compared to other boarding facilities, but the convience of having it in the airport (and having it perhaps your flight gets delayed but your pets does not make it a great service.

So Continental offers what the other airlines do, but earns extra points for making special provisions for seeing-eye dogs and for having an on-airport kennel in Houston.

If you're thinking about travelling with Continental, please look at their site to determine the details. Also, make sure to book early.

http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/travel/animals/default.aspx