Flying with your dog

[glass eye]

Anyone HuntTalkers ever fly with your dog on a commercial flight out of Anchorage and how did it go ?

I'm interested in flying Aleutian Air to Cold Bay with my dog. I'd have to drive up to Anchorage because I'm not going to put her on a plane from San Diego with a stop in Seattle. Even flying direct from Anchorage on a 2 hour flight has me worried.

 

[Salmonchaser]

I did it every year for 20 years, couple different dogs. My current brace of shorthairs started making the trip at six months, they are 12 and 13 now. Portland and Seattle suck! They have done very little in the way of accommodating dogs. Get there early and plan on having to explain to them you will be taking the dogs out for one more potty break before checking them through the TSA process. If you try to game the system, arrive with just enough time, it's your dog that suffers. PDX and SeaTac are the same in this regard. I used either airport based on schedule and whichof mysiblingswanted my truckfortheseason.
Anc is completely different. You still need to be early checking in but then you ask if they will check with the baggage super and find out what time you need to have the dog back. Lots of good dog walking out in the parking area.
On the way up I always had a connection out to King Salmon. The dogs were checked through on the ticket. We always had a couple hours, I would go check with the baggage guys and get the dogs out for a walk and have them back 15 minutes early.
Sometimes had to run them back through TSA, that depends on who I was flying out to King Salmon with. They will let you know if you're going to have to re check the dog.
Have your vet paper work handy, you will need it. Make sure there is no damage to the crate, make sure there is a bolt through every hole that holds top and bottom of the crate together, I've done that dance, most importantly, invest in a couple dozen of the removable zip ties to secure the door because nobody at baggage claim will have a knife or scissors available to let your dog out. The dogs always made it just fine.

 

[glass eye]

@Salmonchaser
You mentioned Portland and Seattle, did you fly up there from the lower 48 ?

 

[Salmonchaser]

Just re read your post, you need to check with Aluetin air for their particular requirements. They will have limited space for dogs. Book early, call often to confirm, and write down the name of who you talk to. Danced that dance with Penn Air several times.
I just got a notice regards entering the US from Canada with dogs. Didn't pay enough attention to the updates to comment, you'll probably need to have proof of current vaccination, check that out.
You dog looks older, check with your vet about meds for travel also Antibiotics for porcupine sticks and stomach disorders. You're a long way from a vet out there.

 

[Salmonchaser]

@Salmonchaser
You mentioned Portland and Seattle, did you fly up there from the lower 48 ?

Yes, my home to PDX or Sea Tac is about 6 hours. I could fly out of Boise but the dogs would be stuck waiting for the connection. Worth it to me to drive over. In 20 years had one bad mess to clean up when we got to ANC.

 

[Nutrioso]

US has new rules for bringing US dogs back from Canada. Last I looked things were still in flux, but they were talking about microchipped dogs with proof of rabies vaccine. Not tough to do, but bummer if you are not aware.