I think I might be making a mistake...
I woke up this morning with my little skin baby snuggled up against my side. On the other side of him was Boomer, all curled up, with his head on Tyler's legs... I don't know what to do :( I have had several people offer to help with the cost, but I'm so scared about putting him through that plane trip. On the other hand though, it's almost September so I only have about 3 weeks to find him the perfect home here.
What do I do??:( :(
Re: I think I might be making a mistake...
Quote:
Originally posted by Sirrahsim
... I'm so scared about putting him through that plane trip.
Boomer does fine in a carrier.
He tends to just curl up in the corner.
Shipping from Japan to USA is quite a bit more expensive.
It'd be somewhere between $700 - $1,000.
:(
He's FAMILY ...
you wouldn't leave the SkinKid in Japan, would you?
Somehow your quote of $700 - $1,000 seems AWFULLY "steep"!!
:eek:
And I thought that in one of the many other threads about Boomer
you had said that "someone" was wlling to accompany Boomer
as a "Carry-On" - so he could ride in the cabin
rather than in the cargo hold????
Either way - the price sounds out of line ...
Call the airline and ask again ... be sure they understand he's a KAT -
not a Horse or a Cow!
And ask the Base Family Services folks for ideas -
Boomer can't be the First & Only Military KAT that needed a way
back home to the States!
He certainly may not "enjoy" the long flight home ...
but I'd bet given the choice of "stay" or "fly" ...
he'll jump in the carrier and slam the door himself!
And ask the Military Folks if there's any way he could "sneek onto"
a Military Flight to the States.
/s/ Phred
more info from this part of the country....
There are lots of complications but Missy is looking into them. The trip is very long....13-17 to the port- Newark and Atlanta are the most likely, whatever layover there is and then the last flight to Ohio. My total flight and wait time was 24 hours when I flew from Japan. If he comes in at Clevaland - that also means a five hour car trip. Also - she will have to ship him as cargo - they have told her that Narita will not allow animals in the passenger cabin (even if she is on the same airline) - also the flight she has to come home is Continental. The folks she called said that Continental does not allow pets at all on their international flights. Boomer will have to fly cargo and so she would send him as soon as possible and we will pick him up. Sooo.....she is going to make more calls and hopefully have one of her Japanese friends do the calling for her as the information they gave her before did not always agree. I made the same calls from her several months ago and the one thing I learned is that the travel must be arranged and purchased in Japan. Shipping US to Japan - yes. Japan to here must be arranged in Japan.:( As far as cost - the quote they gave me was over $900. The quotes for US to Japan are much less. It does not make sense to me but that is what I found out.
*If* Boomer can come to the states - he will come to live with us:) Then, he can go back to living with Missy. Paul and Boomer when they return to the states next fall. He would not be returning to Japan with her. I hope we are not getting our hopes up again since we have been excited and then let down before.
Missy - please post or e-mail me when you know more OK???
Info from Continental >>>
Quote:
Originally posted by sirrahbed
... she will have to ship him as cargo -
they have told her that Narita will
not allow animals in the passenger cabin
(even if she is on the same plane) -
The folks she called said that Continental does not allow pets at all on their international flights.
Boomer will have to fly cargo ...
PART of what you've been told is correct ...
Continental Airlines WILL fly domestic, warm-blooded animals to
the United States FROM Japan ...
The ONLY Airport in all of Japan that Continental flies out of is
called "Narita" - airport code = "NRT" - a suburb of Tokyo.
NO Pets allowed IN THE CABIN on international flights that
fly over WATER - means Japan to USA NO pets in the cabin;
BUT - Continental WILL transport pets to the USA as "Live Animal Cargo" -
properly caged (to Continental's standards), with Vet's Certificate,
and in a Temperature & Pressure controlled cargo hold.
IF Missy delivers Boom directly to Continental at the
Narita Cargo Terminal (in Tokyo) - Continental will accept him and
deal directly with her ...
But IF Missy can't get to Narita herself, and will have to use "another airline"
to get herself and Boomer to Narita ... THEN she MUST use a "Freight Forwarder"
(a third-party middleman) to arrange the flight ...
Continenatl doesn't want to "deal with" another airline.
The story about "all arrangements must be made in Japan"
IS Correct!
Girl I talked to apologized for that - but said it IS Continental's policy ...
But she DID call Japan's Continental Office and found out:
* Continental (Japan) does have English-speaking reps -
my girl TALKED to one!
* Missy can call a JAPAN number of 476-326398 ...
I know - doesn't seem like a good number - but she verified that's
what she dialed (with international & Japan prefixes of "011 & 81")
and that 9-digit number should work in Japan.
She said to just keep repeating "ENGLISH" to get to an English-speaking
Continental rep - there ARE English-speakers working there!
She can book Boomer herself, directly with Continental at Narita;
or use a "Freight Forwarder" to shuttle him to Narita and then
onto Continental ...
or try another airline -
She suggested "Northwest" and "KLM" - she had personal expierence
arranging a missed flight guy and his Parrot from Japan to the USA -
da BIRD was allowed to fly IN-cabin on on Northwest.
DEB ~
YOU can call the Continental "Live Animal" group yourself here in
the States ...
** EDIT @ 3:30 am
DON'T CALL the number
I used 1-800-525-0280 which the gal said was a good 24/7 number
- that number is for PASSENGER Reservations and domestic flights
with Pets as "checked baggage"!!
Continental's CARGO "Pet Desk" 24/7 number is:
1-800-575-3335
Here's a link to Continental Air Cargo - Live Animals >>>
http://www.continental.com/travel/policies/animals/default.asp
From that site:
"Safeguards for Pets Traveling as Cargo
Continental's PetSafe program will allow pets that previously traveled as checked baggage to experience these safeguards when they travel as cargo, keeping them safe and their owners reassured:
* Dedicated 24-hour Live Animal Desk (1-800-575-3335 or 281-553-5052)
* Confirmed booking prior to departure
* Weather conditions constantly monitored at all points
* The ability to track and trace the animal from its origin to its destination
* Personal handling in climate-controlled vehicles for connections over Continental's hubs when the animal will be exposed to temperatures above 85 degrees for more than 45 minutes.
* Continental recommends (but does not require) that SENIOR DOGS AND CATS (over 7.5 years old) receive a more extensive health examination (i.e. liver and kidney screens)."
The gal I talked to at the FIRST 1-800 number was SUPER friendly and helpful -
SHE dialed up Japan and kept Japan on the line for 15 minutes
while relaying my questions!
She said you (Deb) can call the USA Live Animal Desk yourself
and get the details -
but reminded me that the "REAL Arrangements" *MUST* be made
in Japan - not the USA.
And there really ought to be a USA Military Person on the Base that
* should KNOW how to do this
* should be willing to HELP Missy make the arrangements
/s/ Phred