transporting pets info
Hello everyone,
Thought this might be of interest to people who want to take their pet to the US. I just got off the phone with United Airlines. I have a flight booked with them for August and wanted to know how much it would cost to have my cat *added* to it. I really wanted to have the cat fly in back with the suitcases because I thought it'd be better for him, less stressful, more room and stuff. Well, it turns out that a lot of the major airlines have stopped transporting pets using that cargo space in back because there have been lots of *casualties* <shudder>. That means they will now only accept pets who can travel in the cabin with you. Obviously, the pet has to be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you and most airlines require you put the animal in one of these special bags, called *sherpa bags*. If you can't find the bags at your local pet store the airlines sell them for about $70. Now as I understand it, this is *not* a summer only regulation. The United Airlines person said this regulation has been in place since 2000 and was just extended again. Unfortunately, on their website it doesn't say anything about this. If you indeed have to transport a pet too big to fly in the cabin with you, you will need to use one of these animal transport services. Well, it was all news to me. A few years ago my cat was put in back with the suitcases although I really wanted him in the cabin. Lots seems to have changed since then. Oh btw, it costs about $120 to take a pet with you in the cabin (that's between Germany and the US for pretty much all major airlines). Safe travels to all. People and pets alike =). Jeannine |
Re: transporting pets info
Yea, I hear ya! When my Fiancee went back to the States from the UK last month, she
wanted to take her new Toy Poodle i had bought for her in England. We had to get the little thing booked for coming on the plane, then checked over by a vet and issused a health certificate. Then we spent about 3 weeks looking for a store that sells these tiny carriers! It wasn't easy, and most websites don't sell carriers this small either. We finally got all of this done, and took the dog to Manchester Airport and paid our £80 fee to let the pet on. It all went fine, and wen she got off the plane at the states, they never even asked for a health certificate or looked at the dog. But yea, we were also told the pet had to now come into the cabin with you during the summer months, and fit under the seat in front of you. Our Toy Poodle was just small enough to fit into the carrier ok and pass, but this little dog was smaller than most cats! Hmmm.. awe well. |
Re: transporting pets info
As an airline employee, several of the airlines have put embargos on live animals as checked baggage. The major problem is the US department of agriculture rules for transportation of warm blooded animals. The rule states that a warm blooded animal can not be transported if the temperature is above 85 degrees f at the origin, transferring, or final destination. This rule is in the best interests of the animal.
To limit the infractions of this rule, the airlines have taken the duty of forecasting temperatures from the ticket agents and suspended live animals as checked baggage. Cargo agents for some airlines are still able to accept animals as freight as long as the Department of agricultures rules are met. However, some of the airlines have also placed embargos on shipping live animals as cargo. The reason you are still able to take the dog on board the plane is that the animal is not going to be outside in the heat. You can get animals that are too large to place inside the cabin without the use of an animal transportation service. A person will have to call the different airlines and see if they can ship them as cargo. Of course this is going to cost more money. smartiegirl's Husband |
All times are GMT. The time now is 9:49 pm. |
Powered by vBulletin: ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.