First off, the cargo hold of the plane is pressurized, heated and cooled
to the same temperature as the rest of the plane.  So that is not really a
factor.  The problem is that often cargo and luggage is left sitting on a
hot tarmac or un-airconditioned part of the terminal for quite some time.
 
You are also right to not want to take your ferrets on a two week cross
country car trip during a time that much of the country is still
experiencing highs in the 90's, especially when you don't have a/c.  (Bet
that changes quickly when you land in FL)
 
The best thing you could do is to have your parents keep your ferrets for a
few months into October or so, when temperatures are somewhat more moderate,
and then put them onto a DIRECT flight counter to counter.  That means that
they will be on a specific flight, they *might* be in the pax compartment,
and they will be taken by your parents to the check-in counter an hour
before flight time and picked up by you in the main terminal (as opposed to
cargo) in the special baggage office (ie the place you would report lost
bags or claim skiis, etc.).  That way they will not be setting around an
uncooled air cargo terminal and put on whatever flight they have room for
them on, with no guarantees as to which day they will be arriving.
 
They must have a health certificate issued by a vet no more than 10 days
prior to commencing travel and proof that rabies vaccination has been given
within the previous year.
 
I would strongly urge you to fly them non-stop (not DIRECT- that does not
nessecarily mean non-stop) even if it means you need to drive to an airport
further from home to pick them up on arrival.  I know there are directs into
Orlando on US Airways and Delta and into Miami on American.  My choice would
be into MCO on Delta.
 
-Anne
[Posted in FML issue 2357]