I'm excited!  Although their official policy does not allow ferrets (only
cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and potbellied pigs!), at least one person at
Continental Airlines was willing to grant a "special exception" and approve
my taking two ferrets in an underseat carrier, in the cabin of the plane.
It's been noted on my reservation record, and I just got back from
purcahsing the tickets, complete with onboard pet surcharge ($50 each way).
 
At the suggestion of the reservation agent, I called Continental's customer
service number, 1-800-WE CARE 2, and spoke with Mr.  Lane (5:45 pm Eastern
time, Monday, 20 Nov.).  He quoted their policy at me and suggested that I
write them and ask that it be changed.  When I asked if there were some
faster way to get approval, he put me on hold for about 15 minutes, then
returned to say that a special exception had been granted, and I was all
set.  (Mr.  Lane didn't even know what a ferret was, but I reassured him
that they were commonplace, healthy, quiet, and small, "about the size of a
3-month-old kitten".)
 
If you're trying to make holiday travel arrangements with your ferrets, you
might want to call Continental's customer service and ask to speak with Mr.
Lane.  If he gets 5, 25, or 100 calls in the next few days, perhaps he --
and whichever supervisor he keeps asking for exceptions -- will be convinced
that there's enough reason to change the policy.
 
Even if you're not planning to fly soon, you can write them and suggest that
their policy be changed.  Apparently they added potbellied pigs recently, in
response to customer requests, so there is hope.
 
Continental Customer Service
3663 North Sam Houston Pkwy.
Suite 500
Houston, TX 77032
--
- Pam Greene
Ferret Central <http://www.optics.rochester.edu:8080/users/pgreene/>
            or ftp to ftp.optics.rochester.edu and look in pgreene/
            or send INDEX FERRET in email to <[log in to unmask]>
[Posted in FML issue 1386]