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@cmbknyc: sounds good! I have done both cabin and cargo flying with my dog (puppy then adult) and just make sure you have extra time at the airport in case anyone hassles you or slows you down. Mostly they just make you take the dog out to walk through security but that can be problematic- at least it was with my puppy. Also try to get an aisle seat if possible!

Most of the horror stories I think are about pets flying in cargo. Our dog has flown with us cross-country in the cabin a number of times and it has always gone well. It sounds like you have everything you need, although I'd be careful about sedating a dog just in case they get sick and vomit since they can choke.

I swear by Alaska Airlines for larger dogs in the cargo hold. I researched airlines and Alaska was the only one with a climate controlled (and maybe pressurized, too?) cargo hold. My dog has flown on a 5-6 hour direct flight about 3 RT flights. She's definitely got more flyer miles than my nieces and nephews! LOL

I always fly non-stop. From Seattle to Philadelphia.

You are not suppose to tranquilize your dog since they are unable to maintain body temp but my vet has recommend that I give her a benadryl about 30 minutes before the flight to get her drowsy and calmer.

Other than that, she does very well. Like I said above, she has been on a plane and in the cargo hold 6 times! My dog is about 49 lbs so she's too big to fly in the cabin. She's a shar pei mix but she does not have the scrunched up nose like pure shar pei's and other dogs do that make those breed not eligible to fly.

Alaska requires you have food and drink cups in the cage. I bring a little bag of food and small plastic water bottle with water that I can bring to the aiport. Fill her bowls before they take her away. (Use a disposable water bottle so you can toss the container before you go through security.) The first time I flew, I had to leave my dog to find a container and a water fountain to get water for her bowl. She was barking her head off so I know to come prepared.

Cages should be held together by screws. Sometimes they zip tie the door and the crate to make sure they can't get loose.

I know others say they would never fly their dog in the cargo hold but Alaska is the one airline I've used and feel comfortable with.

Oh, my dog is a barker when she can't see me. So she actually walks into the airport with a leash. It's so cute. I did get yelled at my security one time about her having to be in the cage but I said that she will bark if she isn't. At the last minute, after Alaska does the dog check, that's when I put her in the cage. Seattle Alaska reps are pretty good with this.

I did meet a chocolate lab that flys with Alaska all the time, too. The owners took her to every trip. I think the dog was going to Mexico for a weekend trip.

I only fly my dog when it's cheaper to take her than to board her. It's $100 each way to fly her vs. $45 per day at a boarders. So we usually fly her home if we are gone for more than a week.

Good luck. I'm sure your pet will be fine.

ETA: Oh, I see that your dog is small enough to fly in the cabin. I have no advice. I wish my dog was small enough to fly with me in the cabin.

@spaniellove: Oh, yeah. When we first got her, her separation anxiety was pretty bad where I put her in doggie daycare for the first few weeks we got her. She does better now. She won't bark when we leave the house but she will watch us walking out to the parking lot. It's so cute. She will cry A LOT when I get to the door and cry when I get inside. She just misses me so much when I leave.