Airline Travel with a BFA

[StephanieJean]

Good Morning everyone!
I have been looking around for more information about traveling by plane with your parrot companion. I am trying to find a carry on approved cage for Goo (by blue front) which would be large enough for him to fly from california to ohio and back, but small enough to be a carry on.

Has anyone had any experience flying with their birdy friends?

 

[birdmama61]

I hope this helps .
In-cabin pet kennels may be available at Continental ticket counters for $60.00. The dimensions are 18" L x 11" W x 11" H (46 cm L x 28 cm W x 28 cm H) for soft sided kennels.
In-cabin pet restrictions:

• Only one pet per passenger is allowed in cabin.
• One pet per flight is allowed in the front cabin (select aircraft only).
• Four pets per flight are allowed in the Economy cabin on all Continental Airlines, Continental Micronesia, Continental Express and Continental Connection (except flights operated by Cape Air) flights.
• One pet per flight is allowed in the Economy cabin for Continental Connection flights operated by Cape Air to/from San Juan, PR and within the state of Florida.
• Pets are not permitted on flights operated by Cape Air dba Continental Connection to/from Guam.
• Pets are not permitted with unaccompanied minors.
• Pets are not permitted in the BusinessFirst cabin of Boeing 757, 767 or 777 aircraft due to inadequate storage space under the seat.
• Customers traveling with an in-cabin pet on a Boeing 757-200 aircraft must be seated by the window.
• Customers traveling with an in-cabin pet may not be seated in the bulkhead or an emergency exit row.
• Pets are not permitted on flights to and from Hawaii.
• Pet must remain in the kennel at all times on board the aircraft.
• Customer is responsible to determine and comply with all state entry requirements which may apply.
• Advance arrangements must be made.
• Pets under eight weeks old are not permitted.
• Pet must travel on the same flight as the owner.
• No oxygen will be administered to a pet in the event of an emergency.

 

[tlouiselle]

I flew with my conure from Florida to Michigan and back. Airlines do charge for them to go under the seat...we were already paying for the dogs so I actually snuck the bird He was a saint. This is the bag that I have:

http://www.windycityparrot.com/thum...1/Sandy_Perch_First_Class.gif&maxx=350&maxy=0

It is GREAT. It looks like a purse and has a built in perch on the inside. There are rings to hang toys as well. I have been training my ringneck so that he can travel with us too. He goes into grocery stores and restarunts with us. Not one knows he is there.

Here is the website for their products. I was able to get my bay much cheaper through amazon.
..they have different ones for different size birds. If it is a softer bag it will fit under the seat of the plane easier than a hard plastic carrier

Sandy Perch® :: The finest conditioning perch for your birds! Made with 100% FDA approved ingredients

If you have any questions just let me know. I fly with my animals all of the time

 

[kerry]

I would check with the airline that you will be flying on & see what their regulations for birds flying are. I know that they have very specific regulations because I just flew a Red Fronted Macaw back to FL to his breeder & the airline Delta almost did not let him fly because they said that the carrier was not the airline approved one because it did not have a certain type of connectors linking the top & the bottom of the carrier together. He was flying back in the same carrier that he came to MN from FL in & they didn't hassle me on his trip TO MN. I was very stressed out because all the bird had done was scream when he was here & I needed him out of my house. They finally let him fly in that carrier anyway. I was incredibly relieved!

 

[StephanieJean]

Wow thank you all for such great and useful information. I LOVE the bag. That is fabulous.
Another question, do you need a vet certificate to fly with your bird in the cabin?
I know it may depend on the airline also.
Thanks again, I am so happy I joined the forum!

 

[StephanieJean]

I flew with my conure from Florida to Michigan and back. Airlines do charge for them to go under the seat...we were already paying for the dogs so I actually snuck the bird He was a saint. This is the bag that I have:

http://www.windycityparrot.com/thum...1/Sandy_Perch_First_Class.gif&maxx=350&maxy=0

It is GREAT. It looks like a purse and has a built in perch on the inside. There are rings to hang toys as well. I have been training my ringneck so that he can travel with us too. He goes into grocery stores and restarunts with us. Not one knows he is there.

Here is the website for their products. I was able to get my bay much cheaper through amazon.
..they have different ones for different size birds. If it is a softer bag it will fit under the seat of the plane easier than a hard plastic carrier

Sandy Perch® :: The finest conditioning perch for your birds! Made with 100% FDA approved ingredients

If you have any questions just let me know. I fly with my animals all of the time

Hi again, I am trying to find the travel bag but I cant seem to find the actual product on the Windy site or amazon. Do you have the name of the maker?
Thanks!!!!

 

[tlouiselle]

Airlines are strict. They seem a little stricter if the animal is flying by itself rather than a carry on. We have done both. I fly with my animals at least 4 times a year LOL(mostly the dogs, but the birds have gone too). I can't leave them when I visit my family. In my experience with carry on animals you let them know ahead of time because most flights say they only allow 3 in the cabin at once, then when you check in they sometimes glance to see the animal in the bag (I used to take all of my records with me but they have never asked for them so I really don't anymore...for a carry on). They are usually very flexible about the bag size going under the seat. My carrier for my dogs is a little larger than the regulations but I tell them this is the one I always use and it is soft sided so it is flexible. The first time I flew with it I was worried and the lady who checked me in said "no no its fine. It's soft sided so it can squuze under the seat"...it just depends on the person who checks you in. You will have to take him out and carry him through security, then put him back in his bag after.

What I did to get my birds used to the carrier was let it sit on the floor for a while, then I put it on the table with their stuff for playtime, they start to check it out...then put treats in there and toys for them to play. After sometimes I shut it slowly and carry them around the house talking to them with it (start out only short periods of time and increase it. You always want to stop the session on a good note). Then we do the car rides (I have someone else drive so they can go in it for treats and then perch on top of it if they want to escape for a minute). Then I took them for short visits into stores to test them. They both did very well...to the point where they just go sit in the bag and play now if it is out.

Also: whatever airline you are flying, go to their site and type "pets as carry on" or "pets" in the search area. It will take you to their policy

 

[Mayden]

Must admit, I don't know much about flying with animals (I imagine it's different in the UK anyway) but that bag is just fantastic... I would certainly invest in one!

 

[henpecked]

The issue with the vet check is if you are shipping the bird and want to insure it,they want a vet to say the bird is healthy so they don't have to pay for a bird that dies in shipping.Carrying a bird with you as a carry on doesn't normally need a health check but i would have a letter from my vet saying it is well and free from disease.

 

[tlouiselle]

Ha ha I LOVE this bag. It sure gets it's use. The birds use it as a "clubhouse" LOL.

 

[Abzeez]

I flew with both my parrots Northwest. I bought a carrier that was airplane approved, divided it, and one parrot on each side. It wasn't a problem and the parrots did fine. I just put some apples and oranges in with the, although they were more concerned with talking then eating. They were quite the hit.

 

[StephanieJean]

I found one that is similar, I love this! Do you think it is large enough for my BFA yet small enough for the plane?
40% OFF! Parrotopia Sandy Perch Bird Carrier - Wild Side Tote

 

[Riio]

ooohh! I like it!! I dont know if I can post it on here or not, so Im going to pm you, I found it cheaper!! :22:

 

[tlouiselle]

Can you send me the link too? I need it for my eclectus. I am flying in October for a wedding and he has to come since he will still be hand feeding