Having trouble flying my dog north

We adopted a sweet dog, checked with a travel agency about taking her to the US. We were told it was not a problem, the fee would be about $150.00 US dollars. We checked with the vet, set up an appointment for her out going physical, picked up the kennel that the airlines requires. Today we went back to the travel agent with payment, she was on the phone with many people from the airlines. It turns out that rules have changed and you have to go thru a "pet broker", the travel agent worked very hard to get all of the information for us. It would take 3 to 4 days for our dog to get from Guadalajara to Minnesota, they only fly that way on certain days, the dog would be in airports in the kennel for all of that time. The pet broker said that the dogs are well taken care of (really?) and they can not fly her into the airport closest to our home but one 3 hours away. Has anyone heard of this before? The travel agent was certainly surprised!

Something about this sounds familiar. You may want to contact your airline (and maybe a few others) directly and see what they say.

Really, you have heard of this before?

How big is the dog. Generally, there are three categories. Small dogs can go in a travel kennel and stay with you. Dogs up to 80 lbs can go as baggage, and I assume that's what you had in mind. There are restrictions to that, however, and they include time of year and such like. Dogs larger than 80 lbs must be shipped as cargo, and that's when you need a broker. This was the story when I last inquired. (I have a 90LB dog!)

So how large is the dog, and When are you planning to travel?

Yes. People somewhere were complaining about it too. I believe it was on Facebook Expats in Mexico or Expats Ajijic . . .

Canada_Mike, she is 40 pounds and we were originally told that she could go baggage but today we were told that the rules have changed and we have to go thru a pet broker. That changes a 13 hour trip for her to a 3 to 4 day trip. Who has the heart to put a dog in a kennel for that long? I intend to keep trying to find a solution but our plane tickets are purchased and I would like to see her on the same plane that we are on. What are other people doing?

Call. The. Airline!

I agree it's not particularly helpful to ask this group because it all is dependent on the particular airline - each has their own rules. Time of year , size of dog , prohibited breeds, size/types of carriers etc etc .
[Personally I fly frequently to NYC via a direct Volaris flight - just returned yesterday from latest trip - with my dogs. One is 8 lbs & goes under the seat. The other is 22 lbs & travels as baggage. Never a problem , never a hassle. Volaris staff is very attentive & dogs none the worse for wear.

( except once when I tried to fly with a borrowed soft carrier that was too large - my fault for not measuring . Volaris rebooked us for the next day's flight no charge)

I received an email from United just now saying that their rules about dogs as baggage or cargo changed on March 1st. I have also just read where the airlines were having too many dog deaths as cargo or baggage so they are using apparently special planes for the animals so that is why it takes so many days more for them to reach their destination. Well I certainly do not want anything bad to happen to her.

Looks like you have to choice. Also sounds like your doggie will be safe and that's the most important part.

Buen viaje!

hogline wrote:Canada_Mike, she is 40 pounds and we were originally told that she could go baggage but today we were told that the rules have changed and we have to go thru a pet broker.  That changes a 13 hour trip for her to a 3 to 4 day trip.  Who has the heart to put a dog in a kennel for that long?  I intend to keep trying to find a solution but our plane tickets are purchased and I would like to see her on the same plane that we are on.  What are other people doing?

Who/where are pet brokers?

Maybe there is an alternative of finding someone going near where you are going by car and taking your dog.

My worry would be that I read too often of pets dying when shipped by airlines, and when this happens, the airline simply apologizes for the inconvenience.

Problem Child wrote:Maybe there is an alternative of finding someone going near where you are going by car and taking your dog.

My worry would be that I read too often of pets dying when shipped by airlines, and when this happens, the airline simply apologizes for the inconvenience.

A pet suffering is my worry also. Is there any site where you can ask if someone driving up can take something for you?

Mar. 24 2017

Trailrunner wrote:Mar. 24 2017

What does that mean?

The date of this thread.

Trailrunner wrote:The date of this thread.

OOPS! I need a remedial class in attention to details.

I see what you mean.