Beardie on a Plane

[herpfreak]

What do you guys think of beardies traveling by air?

I'm going away this summer to stay with some relatives for 2 or 3 weeks. I do have friends that love Budo and would be glad to care for him, but I'd like to have a fun vacation, and I can't have a fun vacation unless my baby is with me. And no I would NEVER put him underneath the plane with the baggage and dogs and cats. But people bring small dogs on planes, right?

I wouldn't feed him several days before the trip. We usually have to take 2 different planes, about 1 1/2 hours each. I would put him on a leash so he could stretch his legs between flights but other than that I would never let him out of my arms.

What do you guys think? Would the pressure hurt a beardie? Have you heard of any beardies on planes?

 

[VEGASLIZARD]

I looked into taking Scorch on an airplane because I am planning to travel for spring break. You are a nervous flier right? Who wouldn't be lately. If you have a doctor's note saying Budo is a service animal (calming your nerves as you hold him because you are afraid of flying) they have to let him travel in the cabin with you. Just put him in a pet carrier to get him on the plane. Breeders airmail babies to people all over the country and they don't get to travel in the pressurized cabin, so I would say in the cabin should be fine. I know that if you have a small dog they ask you to give them a sleeping pill so they don't bark and bother people on the plane. The nice thing about our kind of pet is that no one can complain about noise!

 

[herpfreak]

Well... really, I've been flying many times a year since I was born (what can I say, I'm travel-obsessed)... but who knows? I might suddenly realize that I am terrified of planes.

Yes, that's why I'm thinking they can't object to me taking him. I wouldn't feed him for at least a day before the trip (his stomach would be reeling anyways), so there is little to no chance he'd poo on me, but even if he did, I'd be prepared.



Now I have more problems. My relatives live in the Midwest, where is it pretty humid. Is a few weeks of humidity a problem?

Also, I will bring his halogen bulb, but will he be ok for a few weeks without his ReptiSun, or should I not risk it? I'll still be dusting his crickets.

There is no possible way I can bring out his 4x2x2' amazing custom palace. Would he be ok in a 40 gallon breeder tank? Like I said, just a few weeks, and I'd have him out most of the time. I'm also going to set up a little fence in their backyard to let him loose in every day, and I'll bring a leash for exploring.

Wow, the more I think about this the more I think its perfect. I'm not looking forward to all the stares at the airport, but I will have so much fun if he comes too!!

 

[munchkins9802]

I would also check with your airline to make sure they will allow it and get it in writing that it is okay. I would hate for you to get to the airport and they not allow him in the cabin with you at all

 

[VEGASLIZARD]

You need the uv bulb unless you are going to have him go outside after eating to get the uv naturally. I am not sure about the humidity issue, except if you are concerned you may not want to let him outside too long. Ease him into it so it is not stressful and I wouldn't leave him outside unattended.

 

[Ethelia]

Watch out for Samuel L Jackson.

 

[VEGASLIZARD]

:laughhard: That gave me a good belly roll! I don't remember lizards in that movie, but maybe he is afraid of all reptiles now. :roll: Watch out for that lizard he might smell something that gets him excited and bite somebody's booby! :laughhard:
As a person who was raised with snakes I thought that SOP was one of the most unrealistic movies. The whole snake hormone thing in the flower so they could go CRAZY. I guess allot of people out there feel like Indiana Jones and have a phobia... for me the movie was more of a comedy than anything else. Watching all the stupid ways they found for the snakes to attack people, and the giant anaconda eating the chihuahua was unforgivable. I wonder how our other snake enthusiasts feel?

 

[lacy_black]

I liked snakes on a plane, but yea really an anaconda wouldn't even notice a chihuahua let alone bother eating the annoying little ankle biter.

 

[erdeem]

Last Christmas I wanted to bring Bill to travel by plane as well, I did some research, but got no answer. My research stop when I found a nice teenager neighbor that willing to babysit Bill while I'm gone.
So.. If you have any news about how to bring beardie on a plane, that would be great . Keep us posted!

 

[Smid]

I'm up here in Canada and recently ran into this issue - I called one of our National carriers (Westjet) and they said not a chance - it was against their policy to bring a reptile on a plane. I asked them why and this is the poor response I received.... reptiles are not aloud in the cabin because of peoples stigmas against reptiles and the fluctuating heat on the aircraft. I tried to explain that I would have her out of site (more than likely next to me under a sweatshirt) so that would rule out both of their issues but no go. It made me quite upset as they do allow small dogs, cats, rabbits and birds! which people are allergic to. So, to make a short story longer - I wrote my first strongly worded letter to them and ended up driving.

Liz

 

[herpfreak]

I will call some different airlines and ask... but first I think I should ask my relatives, who aren't particularly fond of reptiles, but they've only seen Budo once. I'm sure he'll cast his magical charm on them soon enough.

I'm up here in Canada and recently ran into this issue - I called one of our National carriers (Westjet) and they said not a chance - it was against their policy to bring a reptile on a plane. I asked them why and this is the poor response I received.... reptiles are not aloud in the cabin because of peoples stigmas against reptiles and the fluctuating heat on the aircraft. I tried to explain that I would have her out of site (more than likely next to me under a sweatshirt) so that would rule out both of their issues but no go. It made me quite upset as they do allow small dogs, cats, rabbits and birds! which people are allergic to. So, to make a short story longer - I wrote my first strongly worded letter to them and ended up driving.

Liz

That's terrible! I know people who have a terrible fear of dogs. And dogs, cats, rabbits, and birds all smell ghastly if they have to urge to go (I'd make sure Budo did his buisness before the trip), and all of them except for rabbits make a ton of noise! Beardies don't smell or make noise!!!!!! Maybe I'd understand if it was a snake (I've met a lot of people that loate snakes (I don't get why!), but nobody that's been scared of an innocent beardie), but not a harmless thing like a beardie!

 

[MarianaL87]

I called my airline and contacted the airports id be using and everyone flat out said no. No ifs ands or buts. Even tho their pet policy clearly states that all small domestics can fly, EXCEPT for fowl. Apparently a small beardie isnt considered a small domestic.

I will on the other hand, see if i can find a loop hole with the whole nerve calmer buddy approach. Wish me luck 8)

 

[Trickseedog]

Maybe they confuse reptiles and birds. After all, birds are decended from certain dinosaurs How to educate the ignorant masses on the wonderful merits that we all know and love about our scaley friends?!

 

[instabilus]

good luck! if you do manage to get him on, where in the midwest are you heading? i'm in nebraska and we just don't take them out on days its overly sticky, and they're fine

 

[VEGASLIZARD]

Try calling them back and asking them what their policy is on service animals. They will tell you that you have to have a doctors note, etc. Then tell them that your service animal is a one pound lizard and ask them if they have a problem with that. They will not. If you have a doctor's note stating that your lizard is a service animal they can not refuse to allow him on the plane because that would be discrimination against a disabled person and that is illegal. I called Southwest airlines with this approach and they said no problem as long as you have the doctor's note.