Conure on airplane

[bryann]

Hi all,

I'm planning on moving across country in January and taking my 3 year old green cheek conure with me. I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on taking him on an airplane with me? Any affordable (and airline approved) carry-on travel cage recommendations? I use a hamster cage to take him to the vet but that won't cut it for a 5+ hour trip.

Thanks!

 

[clark_conure]

A member just recently did this, I'll have to look it up but it's not a big deal, several years ago a dude with a cat in a pet carrier was next to me on a flight.

i'd use a pak o bird or any generic travel cage just bring fresh water and treats and pellets....I'll have to dig back to the begining of summer I think but there was no problem with it.

 

[Scott]

Placing your GCC in a small airline approved carrier and travelling in the cabin is far preferable to shipping as freight. Most but not all airlines accept birds in the cabin, but regulate the number per flight. Please make your reservation early to ensure acceptance, and visit the airline web site for detailed instructions. Most will specify the maximum sized carrier that will fit in the seat in front of you; this shouldn't pose difficulty with your bird. For this reason, you will need to avoid a bulkhead seat (a wall or partition in front of the seat) and some airlines prohibit carriers in window/door exit rows.

Good luck, let us know how it goes!

 

[clark_conure]

here we go http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/69844-s-o-s-traveling-my-sun-cornure.html

and http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/70243-ollie-going-plane.html

should give you good advice

 

[shellaves]

Placing your GCC in a small airline approved carrier and travelling in the cabin is far preferable to shipping as freight. Most but not all airlines accept birds in the cabin, but regulate the number per flight. Please make your reservation early to ensure acceptance, and visit the airline web site for detailed instructions. Most will specify the maximum sized carrier that will fit in the seat in front of you; this shouldn't pose difficulty with your bird. For this reason, you will need to avoid a bulkhead seat (a wall or partition in front of the seat) and some airlines prohibit carriers in window/door exit rows.



Good luck, let us know how it goes!

I like this advice. A few years ago I traveled with two golden Conures in an airline approved carrier under my seat, so they wouldn't have to go cargo. We traveled well together, they kept absolutely quiet and I kept the carrier fully covered so they would feel safe. They knew that they were with me because they could hear my voice and I would peek in on them.


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[Sunnyclover]

I took my sun conure Ollie on a 6 hour plane ride 2 months ago. I flew on Alaskan Airlines and had no issues at all. You DO have to tell them when you book the flight because if they don't have enough carry on pet spots on the plane they will either not allow your bird to board or make you put him in cargo. The cargo option is terrifying so please don't let that happen. On Alaskan Airlines they did not require a 10 or 30 pet health certificate (you have to get a health check from a vet) but many do require it. I got one anyways because some states require them also for pet transportation from state to state. They wouldn't let me take Ollie out of his cage but I was able to hold his carrier and pet him during the flight. He is wonderful and was very quiet on board but he is really really well behaved and he travels a lot with us in the car and we take him on outings a lot. If you don't take your bird on outings and in the car I'd suggest you start because it will be much easier when you get to the airport. A bird who's never been out or in public can easily panic at the airport with all the people and possibly if your bird is going off like a siren while trying to board a plane they might not let you on and they do the bird might also freak out the whole flight. It's important to do so e dry runs in public places 1st. If you have any questions please feel free to ask because I recently did fly with my bird.

 

[DerTier]

DO NOT SHIP ANY ANIMAL AS FREIGHT CARGO ON A PLANE. They get treated like actual cargo, including sitting on 100* + tarmac for hours, freezing to death in the non heated cargo bay (they do sometimes heat it properly but its rare), or being lost.

I talked to someone recently who had their dog die from sitting for hrs on the tarmac while they delayed the plane trying to get off and rescue their dog

 

[cottngton]

DO NOT SHIP ANY ANIMAL AS FREIGHT CARGO ON A PLANE. They get treated like actual cargo, including sitting on 100* + tarmac for hours, freezing to death in the non heated cargo bay (they do sometimes heat it properly but its rare), or being lost.

I was thinking about the same. But now I'm sure that I won't ship my parrots as a freight cargo. TBH, I can't believe that they actually do this crazy **** with animals. It's like - it's obvious that the animal won't survive it. Not so long ago, my GF had found private jet rentals for a good price, and she keeps telling me that we need to take a private jet. Maybe it's the truth, I don't know. There is nobody to look over for our parrots. And that's why we didn't have a vacation for about 2 years now.

 

[Scott]

Most airlines in the U.S. have improved pet handling and refuse transportation during weather extremes. Some have embargoes based on the calendar and arrival/departure cities.

Highest points of risk are waiting planeside to board and after arrival, waiting for transport to terminal. Some airlines have climate controlled vans that shuttle animals to each gate, but I have also witnessed breaches of rules. My preference is to not ship by freight, rather fly in cabin with owner or courier.