I don't know how flying your dog on a short trip would be like. But I flew my dog from the US to Germany and it was absolutely HORRIBLE! I know this doesn't really pertain to you but maybe it will alert others in my situation what they can expect could possibly happen.
Buddy was six when we came here. I was very concerned about what it would be like for him even before we ever came. Especially since we flew from KY to GA and then from GA to Germany. Everything even started off messed up. We got to the first airport with our brand new kennel that I called and asked the airport if it was ok to use for International flights. They said yes. Well when we got there to check him in, they said his kennel couldn't be used on International flights and that we needed another one. The one we purchased said it was approved for International flights as well as when we called and asked to be certain. We had no time nor way to get to a pet store for a new one. Well then one of the old guys who was there to check him in said they had a carrier in the back that had been there forever but it could be used and we could make a trade with my new one. I had no other choice but to say ok. So he says he would put Buddy in the new one while I was inside filling out all the paperwork. I did that and then went back out in the hanger to find the kennel he was put in empty and apart. Buddy was on the loose out on the runway!!! I nearly had a heart attack thinking he'd get killed out there by an airplane or I wouldn't be able to catch him again. Finally we got him back safely. The man hadn't put all the screws in the kennel he put buddy in so it came apart while he was in there alone. THEN we got on the plane to GA and then a 9 hour flight to Germany. Once we got to Germany Buddy had been in his kennel for approx. 12 hours straight. It then took 5 more hours for us to get to the other WING of the airport where they keep all of the animals. We had to take a car to get there. And wait around for them to clear his paperwork etc. So now he has been in his kennel for a total of 17 hours!! Continued in next post..