Taking large dogs on the airlines??

[Float Pilot]

We need to move out of Alaska. I have been here 66 years..
Anyway, one of my dogs is 101 pounds and the other is about 85 pounds.
Has anyone recently flown large dogs out of State ? I need to get them to Tennessee.
Any advice or ideas?????

 

[HenryBowman]

We need to move out of Alaska. I have been here 66 years..
Anyway, one of my dogs is 101 pounds and the other is about 85 pounds.
Has anyone recently flown large dogs out of State ? I need to get them to Tennessee.
Any advice or ideas?????

I've seen large dogs in kennels when flying out of ANC, but my best advice is to call AK airlines and see what they say. Also might be worth it to call a local veterinarian and see if they know any changes to regs on flying with dogs, shouldn't be an issue with vac's etc, but who knows in todays crazy world.

 

[AKBEE]

PM sent. Some airlines won’t fly certain breeds now.

American Airlines won’t fly these:

We don’t accept brachycephalic or snub-nosed dogs of any 'mix' as checked pets, such as:

• Affenpinscher
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Boston Terrier
• Boxer (all breeds)
• Brussels Griffon
• Bulldog (all breeds)
• Cane Corso
• Chow Chow
• Dogue De Bordeaux
• English Toy Spaniel
• Japanese Chin
• Lhasa Apso
• Mastiff (all breeds)
• Pekingese
• Pit Bull
• Presa Canario
• Pug (all breeds)
• Shar Pei
• Shih Tzu
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Tibetan Spaniel

 

[Birdstrike]

Not sure if you will be using Alaska Airlines but here is a link to their policies.

Traveling With Pets - Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines can accommodate small pets in the cabin and larger pets in the baggage compartment. We offer affordable options from just $100 each way. Restrictions apply.

www.alaskaair.com

 

[LeonardC]

Sorry you have to leave AK.

Over 40 years ago I had to leave MT because of a new job. It was -20 when I loaded my Golden Retriever (90+#) in a large dog crate at the airport. One tranquilizer to help him stay calm. I worried the whole trip if he was OK. Got off the plane and the dog was fine. The airline had taken good care of him and rolled him out like he was something special. Last time I flew with a dog.

Our present dogs are on the "no fly list". No noses.

 

[mark knapp]

We need to move out of Alaska. I have been here 66 years..
Anyway, one of my dogs is 101 pounds and the other is about 85 pounds.
Has anyone recently flown large dogs out of State ? I need to get them to Tennessee.
Any advice or ideas?????

We see big dogs at the airport all the time. I have brought my "big" bird dog to South Dakota pheasant hunting. It wasn't too big of a hassle although it was expensive to me. $600.00 for both ways. Of course, your mileage may vary.

You've gotten good advise so far, do that. At least your dogs have noses. Not too many of those snub-nose breeds weigh over 60 pounds.

Good luck on your new endeavors.

 

[4merguide]

The only thing that would have me a little concerned, but I believe this mostly applies to puppies, is that it has been reported that some have lost their hearing because of engine noise where they keep them on the plane. I'm sure the noise varies between aircraft, and again I can see it happening to puppies but may be of no concern for adult dogs. Even though, if it were me I'd ask about it just to see if there might be a less noisy place back where they keep them, or weather or not they take that into consideration. Just a thought.

 

[Float Pilot]

We called around to different airlines:
ALASKA AIRLINES: They still will let you take a large dog as checked on luggage. They told my wife about $175 per dog to Seattle. Plus the costs of the XXXL crates. The total weight of the dog and crate cant be over 150 pounds.
They were hesitant to recommend flights where the dogs would be transferred to another plane. Also they will only do it in certain temperature conditions so they dont kill your dog.
AMERICAN AIRLINES: They no longer ship K-9s in the baggage area, BECAUSE they went to AIRBUS built planes and they have no temp controls in the cargo bays. Too bad because they go further on non-stop flights from Anchorage.
DELTA AIRLINES : Gave my wife the same excuse. They only do tiny dogs and cats. Military dogs have to go with Delta Cargo and have to be checked in 4 to 6 hours before the cargo flight. What a bunch of BS.
UNITED AIRLINES: They only do dogs under 20 pounds. ( ankle biters) No dogs as checked baggage.

 

[squiggy]

Looks like you've already got it sized up. Friends just recently went through same moving to the islands with their dogs. The smaller ones were able to fly from here aboard AS. The big dogs had to be driven to LAX to to make the hop aboard another freight carrier with special handling. For large dogs from AK ---> TN i think your options are pretty much limited to ground transport.