Airline Travel

[Vera]

My Gouldian finch babies have finally finished their moult and my cousin is going to be flying with two of them in the airline cabin from Kelowna to Calgary next week to deliver them to my recently widowed aunt.
The total flight is less than an hour plus add an additonal couple of hours getting to and from the airport. Are they okay to go straight into a soft sided airline approved kennel or the other option was to put them in a small box and then put the box into the soft sided kennel? They need to ultimately go into the soft sided kennel and under the seat.
Any thoughts about what would be the least stressful way for these birdies to travel would be appreciated.
Also, should I put any food or water in for them?
thanks.

[Sally]

Vera

When I have traveled with finches, I have used the small wire cages you often get at marts when purchasing a bird. I think they are something like 11" wide x 6" deep x 6" high. They have close spacing, about 3/8". You can ziptie one of those small cups found in fast-food places for condiments to one side of the cage for seed, and I use a small tube waterer on the other side. One perch is enough. Line the bottom with paper towels. You can also add some slices of cucumber and some pieces of spray millet.

I leave the waterers empty till I get through security, and then I can fill them from one of the water fountains in the terminal. If you use a carry-on like a small duffel bag, you can line the bottom with a small blanket (the floors get cold on the plane). The blanket can also be drawn up to cover the cage, so the birds aren't in a draft. Since it is dark in the duffel, they will probably sleep most of the time.

Some airlines don't allow birds in the cabin at all, and if they do allow, they usually charge around $150 one way as a pet fee. Some people have simply carried the birds on board without saying anything--if you do that, you don't want to use a kennel, as that attracts attention. A small duffel bag will go unnoticed. I did this the first time I carried birds, as I had 8 finches and the person at the 800 reservations line told me I could only have 2. I was out of town already, needing to get home, so I simply carried them on the plane. I was very discreet, as I didn't want anyone, crew or other passengers, to see that I had birds. It was about a 4 hour flight, and those guys were just as quiet as can be, and no one was the wiser. The only time they came out of the duffel was when they went through security. I have been told that a few people will leave the birds in the duffel bag when it goes through the x-ray machine at security, but I have never done that.

Of course, I am not encouraging anyone to break the rules. I do think it is outrageous to charge $150 for a tiny wire cage that takes up less space than some books.

This is the best travel carrier I have ever found, but unless you are using it multiple times, you may not want to go this route, One carrier holds just one bird.

http://www.thefinchconnections.com/finc ... rier-cage/

[isobea]

Sally - Thank you for adding the link to the finch connection! I took my time checking it out thoroughly.
Iso

[Vera]

Thankyou so much for the information. My cousin has a soft sided pet carrier but I was thinking of using a small box to bring them to her and she could put them into the carrier. The flight will only be about 45 minutes. She works for the airline so I am assuming she knows what the policies shoudl be. If I put cucumber slices and an ice cube in would that be sufficient for that amount of time. Im a bit nervous for them

[Vera]

I will look for one of those small carriers but I dont know if I will be able to find one where I live

[lovezebs]

Vera

If nothing else is available, you could use a sturdy cardboard box, with air holes cut into it. If it's only for an hour or two, it shouldn't be a problem really.

[Vera]

Vera

If nothing else is available, you could use a sturdy cardboard box, with air holes cut into it. If it's only for an hour or two, it shouldn't be a problem really.

Thats what I was thinking Its not for long at all but I will still put some cucumber and ice cube or water in for them
I just am going to miss them but mama's beak is starting to get dark again so I just may try to breed them again!

[lovezebs]

Vera

No ice cubes hon!
That will chill them and might make them sick or worse.

Cucumber and a bit of spray millet will be great.

[Vera]

Really about the ice cubes? I read somewhere else that was a good thing to do lol!
I'll stick with the cucumber and millet!
Thanks so much

[lovezebs]

Vera

When are they flying to Calgary? I mean by plane, lol .

[Vera]

Vera

When are they flying to Calgary? I mean by plane, lol .

They are leaving on Tuesday I will miss them but I know my aunt is really excited about having them arrive.
I managed to locate a used soft sided airline approved pet carrier so they will be going in there rather a box. My cousin who works for Westjet said she was told with a box there needed to be neeting or holes large enough for security to look in so this will be better.

[Sally]

Vera

When are they flying to Calgary? I mean by plane, lol .

They are leaving on Tuesday I will miss them but I know my aunt is really excited about having them arrive.
I managed to locate a used soft sided airline approved pet carrier so they will be going in there rather a box. My cousin who works for Westjet said she was told with a box there needed to be neeting or holes large enough for security to look in so this will be better.

Yes, security in the U.S. can sometimes be a little over the top. Most of the time, they have just been enchanted with the birds, as they've never seen anything so tiny. But I actually had one security person insist on wiping all the bars of the little wire cage with a wipe that detects explosives! I mean, she could see every inch of the cage, I had only put a layer of paper towels on the bottom--a bit silly, I thought.

[lovezebs]

Sally

Sally, were you travelling with exploding birds again ? I thought you stopped doing that years ago... .

I would have been tempted to stand behind him, and go BOOM!!! when he touched the cage. He would have had to change his pants, and I would have probably been arrested for mischief, but it would have been great fun, lol.

[Vera]

oy vay

The trip is off. My cousin talked with security today and she said it was even more complicated than she was previously told including that now they need to be in separate boxes along with the other restrictions.
We are going to wait now until someone can drive although I also suggested "why dont you just buy her some there."

Now i have a cardboard box I worked on with a bunch of holes, and a soft sided pet carrier I found on line and cleaned and disinfected thoroughly. What a hassle for two little finches

On the other hand, I am quite happy to keep them - at least for the time being.

[paul-inAZ]

Vera: a delivery drive sounds very practical.
I used to live on the coast and drove Van.<-->Calgary several times. Its a beautiful scenic drive and from Salmon Arm its really a short day trip. Just don't crash into any of the numerous elk or deer.
Take a weekend, visit with the aunt, spend the night and everyone will be happy.