Personally, I would completely freak out knowing my dogs were in crates in the Cargo area of a plane, and I mean FREAK OUT!!!!  We've all heard the horror stories, yet people continue to travel the world with their precious cargo stashed below in the belly of the plane with the rest of the "baggage".  Call me dramatic, but I just couldn't do it.  I'll drive my truck, whatever my destinations distance with my fur kids next to me, breathing down my neck for the entire trip thank you very much. 

Do you know how pets traveling in cargo are handled and where they're actually kept anyway?  Probably not.  Here's some insite according to Animalplanet.

Even if your pet is a healthy pet, I don't think it's ever a good idea to put them on a plane.  Some snub-nosed cats and dogs have trouble breathing, and some dog breeds, such as Pugs, overheat very easily, making them less-than-ideal checked baggage.

Still, most airlines allow you to ship pets, unaccompanied, as cargo. The exact rules regarding their transport vary depending on the airline, destination and animal breed, but this method of transportation tends to see a pet confined to an approved carrier in a cargo hold.

Airlines allow customers to ship pets as cargo year-round in climate-controlled sections of the cargo hold, but often place restrictions on transport during particularly hot or cold weather conditions. The reason for this is that while the cargo area is temperature-controlled, other parts of the terminal may not be.

Baggage handlers typically strap animal crates in place and may wrap them with perforated air cushion rolls. Cargo hold size and conditions depend greatly on the type of plane and the airline that operates it. In many models, the baggage area takes up the level directly beneath the passenger cabins.

In the United States, airlines typically won't accept pet baggage if the forecast calls for temperatures bellow 45 degrees F (7 degrees C) or above 85 degrees F (29 degrees C) in order to meet regulations governed by the Animal Welfare Act. With proper acclimation certification, however, some animals may be permitted to endure hotter conditions or temperatures as low as 20 degrees F (-7 degrees C).

If you choose to bring your pets along as checked baggage, they will travel under the sam­e conditions as those shipped as cargo. However, if you bring them along as a carry-on, They will experience the same flying conditions as you do. The only difference is that while you get to recline back in your seat and snack on peanuts, your furry friend will have to remain inside its carrier for the duration of the flight. If your pet happens to bark or meow a lot in confined spaces, be prepared to endure some hateful looks from your fellow passengers.

Of course, for the truly pampered pet, chartered flights are always a pricier alternative. One company, Companion Air, even hopes to offer pet-friendly flights in which the animals ride in specially designed passenger cabins. 

They're not up and running yet but promise to make a public announcement when they're ready to take flight 3 months prior to first take-off!

So what airline is safe for pet travel? 

Here is Petfinder.com's annual list to help you chose:

Petfinder's 2011 Most Pet-Friendly North American Airlines

For travelers flying the friendly skies with their furry friends, getting to a faraway destination can sometimes be a challenge. To help pet parents navigate through many air travel pet policies, Petfinder.com released its annual review of pet-friendly airlines which outlines the best options for traveling in-cabin with animal companions.

This year, Petfinder.com expanded its review to include Canadian airlines in addition to the United States-based airlines researched in years past. Petfinder.com chose the airline that proved to be top-notch in six categories, including: most pet-friendly overall, best amenities for pets (and pet parents), best for transporting pet variety, best for budget-conscious consumers, best for flying multiple pets in cabin, and best for big furry friends. In addition, all pet-friendly airlines which made the ranking were required to have zero pet deaths in the past reported year according to official government reports.*

The following are the top 2011 airlines according to Petfinder.com:

• Best Amenities for Pets (and Pet Parents): JetBlue. For the second year in a row, JetBlue’s superior JetPaws program landed the airline in top place for the pet-friendly amenities category. The customer-focused airline provides travelers with a pet carrier baggage tag, a travel “petiquette” guide, 300 TrueBlue points each way, and a comprehensive e-booklet with pet-friendly hotels, restaurants, parks and animal hospitals in some of JetBlue’s major cities.
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• Best for Transporting Pet Variety: Frontier Airlines. Frontier allows the most diverse variety of pets in cabin, including domesticated dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and small household birds.
• Best for Budget-Conscious Consumers: WestJet. Included in Petfinder.com’s review for the first time, WestJet tops this category allowing small dogs, cats, rabbits and birds to travel for $50 each way in-cabin. Coming in a close second, AirTran Airways allows domesticated dogs, cats and birds to fly in cabin for $69 each way.
• Best for Flying Multiple Pets in Cabin: Frontier Airlines. Another exceptional airline in this year’s review is Frontier Airlines which allows up to 10 pet containers on each flight. While only one pet container is allowed per person, if you have nine other human friends traveling with you, the entire group can travel with up to 10 small four-legged friends. Remember to book your reservation in advance so the whole family can fly together!
• Best for Big Furry Friends: Pet Airways. The only airline with a sole clientele of “pawsengers,” Pet Airways can accommodate some of the biggest pups in town, as well as smaller animals such as cats, rats and guinea pigs. With the maximum height allowance being 34" from the floor to the top of “pawsengers’” shoulders, pet parents of Mastiffs, Newfoundlands, Great Danes, Great Pyrenees, and all those mixed breeds in between should rest assured that their colossal canine can fly comfortably.

“As the proud parent of a huge pet family, I know how important it is to find a way for your pets to travel safely and comfortably with you, whether across the country or across the state,” said Betsy Banks Saul, the co-founder of Petfinder.com. “All too often we hear stories of pets dying or getting injured while traveling in a plane’s cargo. We feel strongly at Petfinder.com that you should only travel with your pet in the cabin with you when flying, which is why we continue to review and promote the pet policies of airlines each year. We hope that this list can be a resource for those traveling with your pets.”

The ASPCA recommends careful planning when your pet will be flying in an airplane's passenger cabin with you.

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•  Here is a RECENT pet travel horror story! 

• Dog Dies During Air Transport

• by Jo Singer of Petside.com

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• Sadly, it seems that another beloved pet shipped in cargo (in a case reminiscent to that of Jack the Cat) has died.

  According to Click Orlando WKMG Local 6, a healthy four-year-old pug named "J" died after possibly freezing to death while being transported in the cargo hold on a Delta Airlines transatlantic flight from Moscow to Orlando, Florida. John Von Achen, Jr. and his wife, Julia, are devastated by the loss of their dog, whom they considered a member of their family.

  “He's part of our family," Mr. Von Achen said. "I'm heartbroken, devastated, destroyed. They killed our dog.”

  The Van Achen's boarded the flight from Moscow to Orlando, with a stop in New York on November 1.

  "I saw him in Moscow," Mr. Von Achen stated. "He was fine. Then, he gets off the plane, his body's like a popsicle."

  Von Achen's wife Julia noted that it was extremely cold on the plane, with some passengers even asking for second blankets. They continually reminded staff that they had a dog on the plane, but staff assured them that "J" would be fine, saying that the compartments were pressurized and temperature-controlled. Nonetheless John and Julia suspect their dog froze to death on the 11 hour flight.

  Morgan Durrant, a Delta spokesperson said the airline has been experiencing "challenges" flying pets safely.

  "It seems the airlines are not equipped and they're not really set up to handle pets, but they take the money anyway," Mr. Von Achen said. "I'll never fly with a pet again."

  Speaking on behalf of Delta, Durrant said the airline “regrets that [the death] happened and wants to make it right." He suggested that a necropsy be performed to determine the exact cause of death, but the Von Achen's refused the offer. A settlement has not yet been reached.

  Make it right? How can the death of an animal that was entrusted to an airline to safely transport their beloved pet ever be “made right?” As far as this writer is concerned, no amount of financial restitution can ease the pain and suffering that those who have lost a pet while traveling experience.

  As far as I am concerned, shipping pets in the cargo hold carries far too many risks to assure a safe and secure journey. If we must travel with a pet by air, I think it best to fly with them in the cabin where they can easily be observed and cared for.

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Find out what airlines are doing what with your pets...

Our favorite source for information on Pet Airline Travel is definitely PetFlight.com

2011 Airline Pet Incidents

Below is a list of all incidents involving the loss, injury, or death of a pet during air travel or shipping.
Information current as of November 2011.