Flying with birds (no pun intended)

[MissLou]

I will be in Spain with daughter for 1 month this Summer, and I really don't want to leave MissLou behind. What is involved in flying with birds? Is it possible? Do they go in cargo in a crate? Can they travel in the cabin with you? What kind of documents are needed? What has been your experience with different airlines? TIA!

 

[JerseyWendy]

I am not familiar with the rules of importing birds into Spain, you would have to check those out.

I "flew" with a cockatiel in tow to Germany and back in the 1990s. It was a piece of cake. Sparky (the tiel) was in a travel carrier, which was with me in the cabin. All I needed was a vet check no older than 10 days.

 

[lquan]

You have to call the international airline to find out about bringing bird into Spain and back. The only US airline that allows small pet in the cabin for domestic is Delta. There is a charge each way for bringing your bird. Delta charge $125 each way for domestic. They only allow 2 pets per flight. It is first come first serve. The sooner you reserve, the better change your bird can be on your flight.

I took my conure from CA to NC and back in the past summer. No health document was required. But I had to call in to reserve and to find about the pet carrier requirements.

 

[Birdman666]

Be careful with this one.

Domestically, I'd say not a problem. However, if you leave the country and go international, you might subject your bird to US Customs quarantine for as long as 30 days coming back... which is really, really bad.

And I don't know what Spain's import export rules are. I know you would have to have a vet health certificate when traveling internationally, or you wouldn't get back in with him.

Stuck in a small cage with strangers, no toys, strange food, surrounded by potentially other sick birds... Much better to board him, than subject him to quarantine!

 

[Birdman666]

Actually, I thought this post was going to be about the skydiver who trained his falcon to fly with him... that's literally flying with a bird!

 

[kiwiS]

Wow! That's fantastic!! If you don't mind would you mind if I asked you for a little more detail on that trip?

What airline did you take? Did she make a lot of noise ? Did you get to take her out any time?

What did you do to prepare for her flight? How about time at the airport - checking in and all that. How did you handle security check-in - did you just take her out of the carrier, or did they let you carry it through (instead of going through the X-ray belt).

I guess things are probably different now..but it's still nice to know we can take our pets at least some places around the world!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Wow! That's fantastic!! If you don't mind would you mind if I asked you for a little more detail on that trip?

What airline did you take? Did she make a lot of noise ? Did you get to take her out any time?

What did you do to prepare for her flight? How about time at the airport - checking in and all that. How did you handle security check-in - did you just take her out of the carrier, or did they let you carry it through (instead of going through the X-ray belt).

I guess things are probably different now..but it's still nice to know we can take our pets at least some places around the world!

My husband was in the Army, and we moved from Oklahoma to Germany. Sparky was neither banded nor microchipped. Before ever leaving the US I had my (army) vet sign, stamp and date a CLEAR photo of Sparky, stating that she was domestically bred.

We flew Delta (both going TO Germany and coming back 3 years later).

Each trip for Sparky was $125 (I guess those fees haven't changed). Getting her into Germany was a piece of cake, they barely even gave her a second look.

Going back was a bit more complicated as she had no band. I had to call the Import/Export Vet at JFK Airport, and informed him WHEN we'd be arriving as he had to verify I was bringing back the same bird that I left with. A vet check was needed prior to leaving Germany (couldn't be older than 10 days) The same photo that was already stamped and signed, was stamped and signed AGAIN (by military vet in Germany). The "inspection" fee at JFK was $150.

Sparky did GREAT in the carrier. She chirped and whistled, and yes, I did let her out during the flight, but held her close to me so nobody would notice. :54:

She wasn't the only "pet" accompanying us. We had 2 HUGE dogs in the belly of the plane. We certainly didn't travel "lightly".

Oh, lastly, she was NEVER checked by an Avian vet. Both times the Army vets simply looked her over, and signed off on the paperwork.

 

[JerseyWendy]

I will be in Spain with daughter for 1 month this Summer, and I really don't want to leave MissLou behind. What is involved in flying with birds? Is it possible? Do they go in cargo in a crate? Can they travel in the cabin with you? What kind of documents are needed? What has been your experience with different airlines? TIA!

I don't think you can take MissLou with you. Looky what I just found:
http://www.mapausa.org/eng/nc_4.htm

 

[MissLou]

That's a bummer. But thank you SO MUCH for taking the time and sharing!! I guess I'll have to start training a pet sitter now. She'll only be ~6months old when we leave, and I'm worried it might hurt our relationship (that sounds so crazy when I type it out).