Beardies on airplanes?

[misabella]

I will be going out of town for 2 months this summer and that's way too long to leave my Finley! Usually my dad or boyfriend takes care of him, but my dad won't do it for more than a week and my boyfriend is unable. I'd love to bring him with me to take care of him and he'd be happy to be with me and get the care he needs, but I'm scared to bring him on a plane. The ride is only 2 hours, but I want to make sure he keeps warm and doesn't get too stressed out. Has anyone flown with a beardie before? Or have any advice?

 

[AlphaDragons]

I havent heard of an airline that will allow you to have any reptile on a plane (unless something has changed recently). And personally (as the belly of a plane gets extremely cold while in flight) im not sure i would want to. But if the airline is allowing you to fly them. You will want to package the same way you would for shipping. insulated styrofoam box (they sell em on shipyourreptiles.com) with internal padding and your dragon in a snake bag. And use a single heat pack put between the box and the syrofoam(because of how cold it will get).

 

[kingofnobbys]

I doubt you'll be able to take him into the passenger cabin with you on any flight. Too many people are scared of reptiles even if he's kept in a small animal carrier.

Your only option is to take him on as board live cargo (he'd travel with the cargo in the hold of the plane0 and you'd have to collect him after collecting your luggage and before leaving the airport. (Kinda similar to how reptiles are shipped long distances here by air).

I think the experience will be very scary for the beardie and will stress him greatly.

 

[Rankins]

Yeah, reptiles do fine in a pressurized cargo hold. Just gotta make sure it's in an insulated box and has a heat pack. My reptiles can't be shipped by any other means than through delta air. Venomous can't be shipped via regular mail. Some have taken over 12 hrs to get to their destination. A couple hr plane ride shouldn't be an issue if packaged correctly.

 

[joef]

If I were taking my beardie on a plane, I would tell them that he's a service animal. I'm pretty sure that airlines will let you have a service animals with you on the plane. You would need something to keep him a bit warmer and comfy, but that's what I would do for my beardie if I needed to take him somewhere on a plane.

 

[traildrifterphalanx]

If I were taking my beardie on a plane, I would tell them that he's a service animal. I'm pretty sure that airlines will let you have a service animals with you on the plane. You would need something to keep him a bit warmer and comfy, but that's what I would do for my beardie if I needed to take him somewhere on a plane.

I personally would not go that route. There has been a known increase on people "faking" service/Emotional support animals and airlines do have the right to investigate. I think a lizard would throw red flags.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/travel/ct-fake-service-animals-on-planes-20161115-story.html

 

[Taterbug]

Yeah, claiming your pet is an ESA just to get around a fee or so they can travel at all is not cool.

Emotional support animals don't have the same rights or responsibilities a service animal would (the article seems to use the two interchangeably) but it's also kinda gross that the guy in the article takes it on himself to judge if the people "are faking a disablity" or not....

 

[traildrifterphalanx]

Yeah, claiming your pet is an ESA just to get around a fee or so they can travel at all is not cool.

Emotional support animals don't have the same rights or responsibilities a service animal would (the article seems to use the two interchangeably) but it's also kinda gross that the guy in the article takes it on himself to judge if the people "are faking a disablity" or not....

Yeah that was an a**hole move on his part, but the general article was interesting

 

[Rubixmommy]

Actually. My Rubix IS a registered Emotional Support Animal and they ARE allowed on planes, in the cabin. They do not have the same rights as Service Animals, so they may not be able to go in restaurants, and some other places like hotels. But they have to be allowed into any kind of home that you rent from a apartment complex or landlord. They cannot tell you no and if they do you can pursue it legally. You do however, HAVE TO have the proper documentation: a letter from the doctor diagnosing the illness they're needed for, their ESA badge and patches and their registered letter, or it's void! Hope this helps!

 

[traildrifterphalanx]

Actually. My Rubix IS a registered Emotional Support Animal and they ARE allowed on planes, in the cabin. They do not have the same rights as Service Animals, so they may not be able to go in restaurants, and some other places like hotels. But they have to be allowed into any kind of home that you rent from a apartment complex or landlord. They cannot tell you no and if they do you can pursue it legally. You do however, HAVE TO have the proper documentation: a letter from the doctor diagnosing the illness they're needed for, their ESA badge and patches and their registered letter, or it's void! Hope this helps!

Thank you for the info, Rubix! I just wanted to clarify I was not arguing that an emotional support animal would not be allowed on planes.

I understand that ESA animals do have some rights (as you stated above) however my concern was the idea of stating your animal is an ESA just to take them on board. If it's true, that's perfectly fine and I am not questioning that, but to just claim it without it being accurate is a true slap in the face to those individuals with real health/disability concerns.

 

[Rubixmommy]

Yes yes! Just wanted her to have the info since she had asked, wasn't a direct reply to anyone!

 

[traildrifterphalanx]

Yes yes! Just wanted her to have the info since she had asked, wasn't a direct reply to anyone!

no problem, welcome to the forum!

 

[Luvgym22]

Wat airline will allow me to travel wuth beardie

 

[traildrifterphalanx]

Wat airline will allow me to travel wuth beardie

You would need to check the pet policies of each airline. From my knowledge, there is not any specific airline that does anything differently than others regarding pets