Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sweet_caroline]

Hi,
I still have a few more months left in Korea but wanted to get some advice from people here who have traveled with their pets back to their home country. I have a Shih Tzu that I adopted here (2nd love of my life) and he will be returning to the US with me. He's small enough to fit under the seat- would never fly a dog cargo if I could help it.
Any advice on pet friendly airlines? Tips in general? Sedative or no sedative?
Thanks!

[sarahsiobhan]

As a dog lover myself, I certainly understand your difficulty and I would hate to put a dog in cargo, but you also have to remember there are other people to consider in such closed quarters. Not all people like dogs, and some people are allergic. If you put a cat under the seat and my mother was sitting anywhere on the plane, she would be seriously ill. The air on planes is recycled and gets spread around. She is so allergic that is she were sitting beside you and you had a cat, she'd probably die. She is THAT allergic. I realize not everyone has allergies that strong, but some people do. That's why pets in general are not allowed in the cabin.

And don't even get me started on what would happen if it started barking.....people would be seriously pissed off.

It's sad, but dogs go below. I have never heard of a dog or cat being allowed in the cabin of a commercial airliner, but maybe someone else has and can better advise. I wish you luck.

[kimdeal54]

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=188796&highlight=

This is about travelling with a cat (small ones are allowed in the cabins of some airlines)... possibly applicable to a dog too. Best check with the airline you plan on flying with.

Edit: A quick Google search showed this, which could be useful for you.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-pets/885458-airlines-allow-pets-cabin.html

[mm]

I'm not sure sarahsiobhan knows what she is talking about.

Most airlines allow dogs to fly in the cabin. There are restrictions on some of the airlines (heat and cold embargoes) during the summer months and the winter months, not allowing dogs to fly as checked baggage. If you are flying in the fall or the spring, it shouldn't be a problem and since you say your dog is small enough to fly in cabin, then it really shouldn't be a problem.

I know that both United and Delta allow dogs to fly in cabin. I'm sure most of the other major airlines do as well, usually you can check there websites and they have information under the special needs travel section.

Sedatives are not recommended for dogs that are flying. I suggest you get your dog use to the kennel months ahead of time, so he/she won't feel nervous or anxious.

Also, I suggest getting a direct flight as possible. It is just easier on the dog.

Make sure you get all your paperwork done and you and your dog should be fine!

The animal rescue korea website should be more helpful to you for any question you have about flying with your pet.

Good luck!

[horton1]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100805/ap_on_bi_ge/us_airline_dead_puppies

If the dog is small enough to fit in his kennel under the seat then most airlines have no problem letting you bring it into the cabin. You will have to call ahead to make sure, as the airlines may only allow one dog in the cabin per flight. Of course, you'll likely have to pay extra.

After reading this, my mini pin will always fly in the cabin with me. He weighs less than 4 pounds, so he wouldn't fair too well in cargo.

[djsmnc]

[rollo]

cargo is the place for dogs. Yapping obnoxious dogs are bad enough in general but on a plane inviting murder.

[maryjanes]

If you sat next to me on a plane wanting to have your little dog under the seat or on your lap, I would complain until I was moved to First Class or you were off-loaded. Preferably the former. Animals go cargo, end of.

[conrad2]

Dogs do not belong in airplane cabins. Do you think its the Seoul subway system?

[Okibum]

A lot of my teacher friends fly every summer back and forth with their small dogs in the cabins. Most people never even realize there is a dog under the seat. The only time my friend had a problem is when she flew business class because she was bumped up and there is no space under the seat because of the way the seats worked. She had to give up her business class so that the dog could fly with her. You aren't supposed to put your dogs to sleep in the cargo area but when they are in the cabin it is okay to do so. You want to, PM me and I will give my friend's email who does this EVERY summer back and forth from Korea to Seattle.

[oldtactics]

Sitting next to a shedding dog for 13 hours would result in me needing emergency medical attention. Put your dogs in cargo or don't travel with them.

[CSlinguist]

oh my gosh I never thought of being on a plane next to someone with a dog, I really hope that doesn't happen to me. I'm one of the aforementioned deathly allergic people. If I get any fur on me I break out in hives all over and my eyes swell

I can understand that you don't want anything to happen to your pet but I'm sure they don't just throw them in the back and leave them there for 13+ hrs. But being in an enclosed space with a pet for that long is definitely a health hazard for the unfortunate ppl like me.

[sharkey]

I flew with my dog under my seat from Korea to Canada. It was a long haul and my dog was quite stressed, but I took her out and let her have some water and a walk wherever we stopped.

[potysgsxr]

My wife flew from Korea to Atlanta (with a layover in LA) last December for the holidays.

We have a small Maltese and she gets extremely stressed when she's put in any kind of enclosure so the vet gave us some sedatives to give to our dog.

We really didn't want to put her in the cargo so we opted to pay the extra $100 per flight and put her in her kennel and placed the small kennel under the seat.

My wife sedated our dog and she was out for about 4 hours from ICN to LAX. From there, she would not stop whining and whimpering. Each time my wife took her out to comfort her, she was told to put the dog back in the enclosure so she had to do everything she could to try and keep her from stressing out and whimpering/whining/barking. It was an extremely stressful trip.

From now on, if we have to take her on a plane we are DEFINITELY going to put her in cargo.

[sweet_caroline]

Thanks to the people that posted helpful replies that were not just chastising me for the preposterous idea of having my 7-lb dog under the seat. Of course I realize that many people have allergies (Shih Tzu's rarely shed and are actually pretty hypoallergenic, but anyway..) but am sure as hell not leaving him in Korea. I have NO choice but to take him on an airplane. Adopting him was a lifelong comittment and i'm just trying to find the most comfortable way for him to get back to his future home. Of course I don't want to piss people on board off with whining/barking etc., but I have heard horror stories about snub nosed breeds (bulldogs, shih tzus, pugs, etc) flying in cargo because many have breathing problems due to the elevation change. Again, thank you to the people that posted helpful replies.