Bringing 10lb dog with me on a K1 visa

[HELP me please 17]

Which Airline should I buy my ticket from if Im bringing a dog with me? I am currently searching for flights but most of them have stop overs and Im not sure if I would want that since I have a dog with me but Im not sure how well my pet will do if we were stuck on a plane for 12 hours if I go with PAL. Is there an airline that is lenient with dogs?

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from General Immigration-Related Discussion to Off Topic; OP's question is about airlines and not about immigration processes.

[Lainie B 465]

Which Airline should I buy my ticket from if Im bringing a dog with me? I am currently searching for flights but most of them have stop overs and Im not sure if I would want that since I have a dog with me but Im not sure how well my pet will do if we were stuck on a plane for 12 hours if I go with PAL. Is there an airline that is lenient with dogs?

Where are the stopovers? If it is Hawaii, and the stopover is less than 24 hours, then they go to the Humane Society Pet Port at the Honolulu airport where they are well looked after. You can even go visit your dog there.

I have flown dogs on United, Hawaiian Air, and very soon Delta, throughout the Pacific. All good experiences so far.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Plan ahead is the key. Most airlines have a limit on how many animals can fly in the cabin. If you don't reserve a spot your dog won't be able to fly with you. Also make sure the dog has the proper medical history available.

[HELP me please 17]

The stop overs are guam and hawaii. Im concerned that my dog might go potty the moment we step inside the airports. Do you guys have any advice for me?

[Moomin 292]

Look for airports that have facilities for dogs outside(animal relief area). In Chicago after arriving, they had an outdoor fenced in area for pets to stretch their legs. I didn't have my dog in the cabin though. But she was let out during my layover in a dog facility and probably had more fun than I did waiting for 5+ hours. She was not dehydrated or showed any signs of being affected by the layover or the plane ride.

Best tip before traveling is to wear your dog out. Take her out on a 4 hour walk the day before/hours before your flight, play with her and get the brain all tired so she'll be more calm and resting while traveling.

Here's Hawaii for you: http://hawaii.gov/hnl/customer-service/pet-assistance

Well, Honolulu. You can click on the airports to the right on the link as well.

[HELP me please 17]

Look for airports that have facilities for dogs outside(animal relief area). In Chicago after arriving, they had an outdoor fenced in area for pets to stretch their legs. I didn't have my dog in the cabin though. But she was let out during my layover in a dog facility and probably had more fun than I did waiting for 5+ hours. She was not dehydrated or showed any signs of being affected by the layover or the plane ride.

Best tip before traveling is to wear your dog out. Take her out on a 4 hour walk the day before/hours before your flight, play with her and get the brain all tired so she'll be more calm and resting while traveling.

Here's Hawaii for you: http://hawaii.gov/hnl/customer-service/pet-assistance

Well, Honolulu. You can click on the airports to the right on the link as well.

Oh so they wont release my dog back to me but rather a dog facility. Thank you for this information.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Don't forget that you need a K-9 visa for the dog too. It's not hard to get. Your local veterinarian can help.

Edited October 6, 2012 by spookyturtle

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

Don't forget that you need a K-9 visa for the dog too. It's not hard to get. Your local veterinarian can help.

Witty

[Moomin 292]

Oh so they wont release my dog back to me but rather a dog facility. Thank you for this information.

You can probably have a 10 pound dog with you in the cabin in a small crate under the seat infront of you. Check with your airline because there are no set rules for all airlines. When your dog is traveling with you that way, you have the responsibility of him/her and you're the one to find the animal relief area.

Personally, I had to book my own ticket and pay for it and then call the airline to inform them of my dog traveling with me. I had to pay in the airport by the airline's counter.

Regarding the animal relief area; it really depends on the airport itself. I'd probably give the airport a call if I were you. My dog is quite big and had to be in an xxl crate. Just make sure you have all the required vaccinations for the dog. VJ also has a link; http://www.visajourney.com/content/bringing-animals-to-america#Dogs

[Lainie B 465]

You won't be able to take the dog in the cabin with you if you are flying through Hawaii. Doesn't matter which airline. Hawaii won't allow animals to arrive in the cabin. If less than 24 hours in Hawaii, it will stay at the Humane Society pet port at the airport. You will be able to visit him there, but you can't take the dog out of the pet port because of quarantine regulations. They will take the dog out of the crate and put it in a pen. If more than 24 hours in Hawaii it will go to the quarantine station.

If the dog has less than a 4-hour layover in Guam it will stay at the airport. I don't know if you can go visit the dog there. If the layover is more than 4 hours in Guam the dog will need to go to a private kennel (Harper Vet) and stay there in quarantine - I would avoid that if possible, as it is very expensive.

[HELP me please 17]

great information guys. Im planning on flying with United Air. I have stops at guam and hawaii and my final destination is NY. I only have 2 hr stopovers at guam and hawaii. I will be getting my dogs health certificate 10 days prior to my flight as well as an exit permit from the country's animal bureau. My dog has already been vaccinated against rabies months ago. Is that ok? Am I missing anything else? Oh and the crate, I was reading about it online and I read something about food bowls inside the crate. Can someone explain that to me please?

[Lainie B 465]

great information guys. Im planning on flying with United Air. I have stops at guam and hawaii and my final destination is NY. I only have 2 hr stopovers at guam and hawaii. I will be getting my dogs health certificate 10 days prior to my flight as well as an exit permit from the country's animal bureau. My dog has already been vaccinated against rabies months ago. Is that ok? Am I missing anything else? Oh and the crate, I was reading about it online and I read something about food bowls inside the crate. Can someone explain that to me please?

For the crate, you will have to check with the airline's specific requirements. For United check here:

http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/animals/kennel.aspx?SID=2DEEF351EA3C4BBB91C3F83748AEF500

[Lainie B 465]

great information guys. Im planning on flying with United Air. I have stops at guam and hawaii and my final destination is NY. I only have 2 hr stopovers at guam and hawaii. I will be getting my dogs health certificate 10 days prior to my flight as well as an exit permit from the country's animal bureau. My dog has already been vaccinated against rabies months ago. Is that ok? Am I missing anything else? Oh and the crate, I was reading about it online and I read something about food bowls inside the crate. Can someone explain that to me please?

The rabies vaccination will have to be current, so if it was a 1-year vaccination it has to be still valid.

You need to make sure there are two bowls (one for food, one for water) securely affixed to the inside of the crate door. They should be empty. Don't use those drip water bottles that attach to the outside of the door and feed into the crate, as they will most certainly get knocked and could spill inside the crate.

What is your final destination in the US?

[HELP me please 17]

Final destination is Newark. How do I affix the food and water bowls inside the crate?