transport dogs to USVI

[tkeithlu]

I have an aquaintance who is moving to the USVI from the US in August to take up teaching school. Flying there is fine for her and her family, but they have two dogs and that is the wrong time of year to transport dogs in the cargo bay of an airplane. Does anyone have an idea as to how she can get her dogs to the USVI?

[Cheechako]

Buy a seat for each dog.

[JPA Cate]

You could see if any of the airlines offer "paw flights." They are on offer here. They are pets only, plus the flight crew. The deal is, though, they require the owners to be waiting at the destination to which the pets are being flown. Lord only knows how much they cost.

Ann

[Montanan]

Reference: https://www.starwoodanimaltransport....virgin-islands

Or in the alternative:
How large are the dogs? Can they fit into an under seat carrier? If so just bring them aboard as a carry-on.

[contrail]

At least recently, airlines were only allowing pets in the cabin, not the cargo bay. So, they would have to fit in an underseat carrier. Check with the airlines, but they were pretty strict about this, at least fairly recently.

[redneckrob]

It's expensive but with charter flight you can usually take your pets with you in the cabin. I would recommend either getting the shortest flight you can, i.e. from MIA or trying to find an empty leg flight.

[sepharad]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Buy a seat for each dog.

I have yet to meet an airline who will sell a seat to a dog. I have asked.



I found one cruise ship from New York to Europe...PERIOD.



Train within the US, even in cargo, is done. Airline (and surface) travel with animals has become consistently more difficult and restrictive.


There are animal air transport companies, for the extremely wealthy.


Information at airline websites is convoluted and conflicting. I am talking major airlines who cannot get their act together.


It was not like this 40 years ago.


My most recent transport to Europe was on Lufthansa. It was (as much as you are allowed to observe) ok. The dog came out pretty rough at the other end.

[sepharad]

Most airlines will allow a carry-on dog, In an approved carrier, under the seat. PERIOD. This is something from the size of a chihuahua to a teacup poodle. Industry standard is 9 inches tall, but can be as low as 6 inches. The animal cannot come out of the container.


Some airlines accept cargo pets. Waits are LONG, before boarding, during layover and upon arrival. Typically the animal goes in the box hours in ADVANCE of loading the cargo. During my layover in Frankfurt, the dog was supposedly watered and exercised.
I was not allowed to contact or visualize the dog during layover.



Upon arrival in Portugal, it took them well over half an hour to produce the animal.


Clearance with the State vet was a chore in the US. A certificate from my vet was required before driving to another state to visit the REGIONAL "State vet" since the US is apparently no longer capable of providing one in EACH state.


Your friends not only need to dot their I's and cross their T's, they need to interrogate everyone in advance.


KLM, for example, has a pet policy they proudly announce, once you can find it. They fail to point out that it is only available on certain flights at certain airports...why?...because as many airlines do, they book you on their airline, but you FLY on some other companies plane, who DOES NOT accept cargo pets.


Serious detective work advised, and they are wise to fly based on the temperature unless they want to risk dead dogs.

[patfarrell1949]

The problem here is high temperatures in August...airlines generally will not accept pets in the cargo hold during these times. If the pets do not exceed 20 pounds each (limit for American and United I think, they can be carried in cabin...if so make sure to book early since they limit the total number of pets on board and each passenger can only bring one pet). If the pets exceed the weight limit, they won't be able to be transported commercially because of the temperature issue. Charter or commercial pet transport may be the only flying options.

[tkeithlu]

Thank you all. I used to be peripherally involved in moving endangered lemurs overseas. They got first class tickets on Air France. Yeah, August in the tropics is the real problem - I would not risk one of my dogs in a cargo hold then, and maybe not at other times.