Does anyone have experience bringing a cat on a plane from Italy to the U.S.? Delta tells me it is a fee of $150 paid only once - but I fly on Alitalia, Air France, and Delta. Delta tells me to pay Alitalia but how do they split that fee up? I know I have to bring papers and the kennel must be a certain size, but if anyone has any experience (or has had any snafus) I would like to know, so I can be better prepared to deal with any problems.
I can tell you I am nervous about getting through CDG with little time and a cat. It's hard enough running there without any live creatures on you.
Decobabe has done it although she brought 5. You need to call the Italian consulate of your area and get their requirements, forms, etc. You will need to go to the vet within a certain amount of days of travel for a check up and a rabies shot. Are you moving over?
Cristina A San Franciscan in Siena Read my report on the Palio di Siena
All the info is on the Italian Embassy webpage. They've made it easier and cheaper since I came -- rats. It was so complicated when I did it I had to use a service to help, so the total bill for inspections, carriers, vet, etc. was about $2000 for 5. If you want to take it into the cabin, I thought that was free. That's all the carryon you get, though. Alitalia will not fly animals between November 1 and March 1. That's why I had to drive from Milano to here. I had a ticket from Milan to Perugia but the refused the cats. BTW, my cats adore Italy and Italian food. They clawed open the panettone and ate it yesterday.
Posts: 2733 | Location: Umbria | Registered: 13 September 2001
Shannon -- you need to call each airline on which you will be flying and get up-to-date information "from the horse's mouth" about this. I did it for Nancy since we did her airline tickets.
Different airlines have different rules. I can't emphasize enough how important to talk to each airline. You cannot rely on other people's experiences -- the airlines change their rules and regulations willy-nilly. Just call the main number for international flights on each of the airlines you will be on, and then ask the person to read you the rules about transporting pets, or to tell you a number to call in order to get that information...some of them have special departments to deal with it.
SALLY WATKINS, Certified Travel Counselor sally@century-tvl.com www.sallywatkins.com My business depends on referrals - please tell someone today!
Judy, I'm guessing you are talking about Italian greyhounds -- Right? I'm trying to visualize our 85 lb greyhound, Dusty as carryon. However, if that were possible, I might be able to convince my husband to come with me more often!
Sally's advice is good. Airlines have changed their policies A LOT since 9/11. Before 9/11, the typical policy was that you had to pay for a ticket each way for each pet (usually $75 or so) but most airlines limited the number of pets they allowed on any given flight (they still do AND they enforce it more). I have a friend who used to take her little dog all over the world. That dog had much more frequent flier mileage than I'd ever have. Usually she'd be able to sneak the dog (in a sherpa bag) on board without paying for a "ticket" -- a tag that goes on the outside of the sherpa bag (or she'd just take an old "ticket", put it on the bag and no one would question her). The trick was to get the dog past security. She knew the security situation in many different airports in the US and Europe and could advise anyone on what they needed to to -- where they could sneak their animals on (ex: Atlanta) and where they absolutely needed to pay (ex: LaGuardia) and get a "ticket" for the pet.
Since 9/11 everything's changed and seems to continue to change daily. Definitely call the airline and make sure you speak with the people who know the international regulations. I'm dogsitting right now for this same friend's dog (she's in Europe) because, for this specific trip, it would have been too costly for the dog to accompany her.
Good luck.
David, usually in NYC
Posts: 4786 | Location: New York City | Registered: 15 June 2001
Thanks for all the advice. I called Air France and got a really helpful guy who told me that if Delta has confirmed I will have a pet on board, they have already checked (and confirmed) with both other airlines.
Also, I will print out details about bringing a pet from both Alitalia and Air France's websites, and bring them with me.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Thanks for all the advice. I called Air France and got a really helpful guy who told me that if Delta has confirmed I will have a pet on board, they have already checked (and confirmed) with both other airlines."
This may seem obvious, but i would also verify the actual dimensions of the permitted carrier. I flew recently on delta and on jet blue and for the life of me I can't remember which one had the problem. Someone got on after buying a ticket for a small dog. The carrier would not fit completely under the seat and they want the owner to either put the dog in the overhead compartment or in with the baggage. Since they had connected from another airline, they were irate and held up the flight. All the while,the cabin personnel held the approved size which was smaller than i had ever seen before. Eventually, somebody "important"came and said the plane would not leave unless they made an appropriate decision. Finally they left with the pooch, threatening to sue everyone involved.
Posts: 1098 | Location: Rochester, NY and Bonita Springs, Fl | Registered: 18 September 2002
>> I called Air France and got a really helpful guy who told me that if Delta has confirmed I will have a pet on board, they have already checked (and confirmed) with both other airlines.>>
Shannon -- don't take that as necessarily true! I've been in this business too long to believe that everything an airline clerk tells you is accurate information. Call back and ask someone else at Air France and see what he/she says - and GET his/her name and agent sine. (they will know what that means)
SALLY WATKINS, Certified Travel Counselor sally@century-tvl.com www.sallywatkins.com My business depends on referrals - please tell someone today!
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