I recently brought home a new Belgian Malinois puppy! I left on an adventure to pick him up from TX over the busy Christmas holiday season and boy did I have an adventure! My family watched my flights out and back and said we flew over all the storms there and back – which explained all the turbulence!

The day before I left TX, there were severe storms with tornadoes and high winds. So when I got to the Houston airport the morning of Monday 12/28 to fly home, the airport was PACKED due to all they cancellations the day before. With the help of Christine, I got my bag checked in using an automated kiosk and then headed to the looong security line. I continued on my own, the puppy in the sherpa bag and my carry-on bag.

In the security line I kept the puppy in the puppy bag – as unhappy as he was! I was worried to have him out as he was a large puppy and I was afraid they’d tell me he was too big to take on the plane. I pulled him along on the ground and he seemed to like that! Once I got to the front of the line, I was asked to take the puppy out anyways! So from there on, he never went back into that bag! He didn’t meet a single person he didn’t like and there wasn’t a single person that didn’t like my puppy!

I held him at this point as walking on a leash was not one of his skills yet! When I got on the plane, the flight attendants fell in love with him!! Taking pictures and giving me ice, etc. I handed him to my seat mates – a nice couple who missed their dog at home and he never left them the whole trip! He snuggled up and slept on their laps the whole time. I asked the flight attendant if I had to put him in the bag for take off and she whispered it was ok to keep him out if no one minded. There were crying babies and toddlers, but a very quiet puppy!

This flight was VERY bumpy – like a drop that felt like I was on the worst amusement ride ever! After one big drop, I didn’t feel so good. Tried to take slow breaths and relax, but I felt it coming. I grabbed the little paper bag and yes, I had to throw up on the plane in my seat! Sigh! Luckily the nice couple next to me still had the puppy and looked away to give me some privacy. I was fine after that and was happy to get off that plane!

Arrived at the Chicago airport around noon to many delays, but my flight was still on time back to Rochester. Met many families trying to get to FL, Hawaii and Germany to name a few. Well, that changed and my flight was cancelled. Mad rush to long lines and kiosks to rebook. I got a flight to Buffalo later that day so waited it out. That flight was delayed another 2 hours and until it was eventually cancelled around 6pm. Once all the flights out that day were cancelled, I had to rush to rebook. The best flight was 7:15am direct to Rochester the next morning but it was all booked at that point!! I could only get that flight out on Wednesday or take a flight through Newark to make another connection to Rochester. The flight from Newark to Rochester was a VERY SMALL ~10 seater plane and I couldn’t even imagine doing that!! Every delay in a decision lost me another seat on another flight. By 7pm all that I could get was a flight out to Erie PA at 2pm on Tuesday. Every time at the kiosk, puppy laid down at my feet and waited patiently!

In the end roughly 3000 flights were cancelled that day! The storm left Chicago and it cleared up, but moved to where I was flying so they were still cancelled. Many unhappy travelers that day but I can’t count the number of people who came over to visit with puppy and said he made their day a little brighter!! A very few correctly identified him as a Malinois – with some showing me pictures of their Malinois. I could barely walk anywhere without people wanting to play, pet or coo over him :).

As for pottying … I used the family bathroom and put some towels or pee pads down and waited him out until he pee’d. At one point I walked all the way to where there was a doggie relief area. I was hearing about areas to run around and lots of grass and it was a REAL DISAPPOINTMENT! About the size of a small bathroom with 2×3′ rectangle blocks with grass. I’m not even sure it was real grass! Nothing happened there. As soon as we left, he promptly pee’d on the floor in the airport walkway!

I got a hotel using the airport accommodation voucher they were giving out. Most hotels did not take dogs but finally got one 30 minutes away at a 5 star Hilton for $75 and no pet fee (there was one but they never charged me). Another 45 min wait for the shuttle to the airport! 7 hours later after waiting in the airport with a puppy, I got to my hotel room! My checked in bag had all my stuff – clothes, toiletries, puppy food, etc. I normally have a few extra things in my carry-on but with puppy it was stuffed with all HIS stuff! Got room service and hoped for the best as he slept loose in the room!

I got up at 4am and checked flight availabilities online and found 8 seats available on the flight out that morning at 7:15 to Rochester! Costing $500 – $700 and no way to process a free rebooking online!! I called the United # and had a 60 minute wait. I kept my phone on speaker while I waited and showered. I checked online again about 45 minutes later and only 4 seats left and the price had dropped. I decided to just buy a new ticket for $325 and just before I hit purchase, an agent came on and was able to rebook for free! I scrambled out of the room to get a taxi and off to the airport I went, getting there about 5:45am.

Another madhouse at the airport!! Got my boarding pass and got in the looooong security lines. After some waiting I was told dogs had to go through the Security line 3 so off I went to stand in another line. I found some people with dogs and waited with them. Another worker spotted adorable puppy and chatted up a storm with us. I made sure it was ok to be in this line as I found out it was for Premier fliers. She wasn’t sure and went to check and came back and took us all (me and the group of 3 with 2 Yorkies) through the fast lane through security. Cuteness is NOT overrated! It really comes in handy sometimes!

By now, the puppy is a pro at walking on a leash and was dragging me through the airport as we made our way to the gate!!! Boarded my flight – a small jet with 1 seat on one side and 2 on the other. I had a single window seat and there was NO way he’d fit in that bag under the seat. Didn’t ask and was never told to put him away – he rode on my lap the whole time! Great crew on both planes that really made a huge difference in 2 long days of traveling!

Seeing Ken and Ryan at the baggage claim area was a wonderful welcome for us weary travelers! I do have to add that my husband suggested I just get a hotel and relax and rebook the next morning when the flight was initially cancelled at 1:30. I had to admit later that he was right!

So what did I learn on this adventure?

1. Cuteness counts! Thanks to an adorable puppy we got some really good perks on this trip!
2. You need strong arms for carrying a puppy for many hours and many days!
3. Puppies can brighten anyone’s day – especially on the worst days!
4. Puppy and I have a lot of endurance and resiliency!
5. My hair can look pretty good with no brush or hair products! (See? In the picture above?).

P.S. My bag finally arrived today (Wednesday) and was delivered to the house! What did I need in there anyways????