@Quercus:
I want to point out that I tried to do this a few years ago with Bella. She was perfect in the Sherpa, but she was WAY over the twenty pound weight limit. And, yes, they had me put the bag on the scale (dog+bag 20# limit). They also pointed out that she couldn't stand up, and turn around, as is their requirement. So, it can be kind of hit and miss with an adult dog…always have a back up plan. She ended up riding under the plane in her crate that I was bringing along anyhow. But I was a nervous WRECK!! She was fine
Things might be a little easier to deal with now that you can check in online...if the only place that anyone will check out the dog is security, they won't care how big your dog is (within reason!)...but the airline folks have to follow the rules if they see a violation.
This was on Northwest.
Exactly Andrea.. this happened to a friend of mine that was flying to the PNW to get her bitch bred…. and while she was just fine in the bag... they would not let her on the plane cause she couldn't stand up... (like you would want them to?).... and she too had to fly in a crate, but they had to buy one... from the airline... and that was not cheap. So it can be hit or miss depending on the airline and who is at the ticket counter.
NOTE:... this was again for an adult, not a 10wk old puppy...