Continental Airline Tickets

Carrying a pet rat on US Airways?

My sister wants to carry her pet rat on a US Airways flight -- is there any way she can do that? She called and was told that they didn't allow rats (I'm not sure if that's true), and now she wants to strap him on to her somehow to get him home. Any ideas of a better way to get him across? Thank you!

Public Comments

1. What you do is they can take them on the air plane,but she can't hold them because someone maybe be allergic!! Hope that helps=)
2. Here is an exact copy of their pet page, which you can look at at http://www.usairways.com/awa/content/traveltools/specialneeds/pets.aspx : "Pets in passenger cabin The number of pets that may be carried in each cabin is limited. In order for your pet to travel with you, you must make your reservations on flights with cabin pet space available. Call 800-428-4322 to coordinate your travel plans. If your itinerary includes a codeshare flight, please check with the originating carrier regarding carry-on pet policies and fees. Rules and regulations -1 small domestic dog, cat or bird per passenger is accepted in the passenger cabin for an $80 fee each way. -Carry-on pets are not allowed on transatlantic flights. Only dogs and cats are allowed to/from Mexico and Costa Rica. Call 800-428-4322 for additional requirements for international travel. -If you are traveling to an international destination or Hawaii, there may be restrictions. Restrictions vary by destination, and customers should contact the appropriate embassy or consulate at least four weeks before the trip. For travel to Hawaii, customers should contact the Hawaii Animal Quarantine Branch directly for quarantine requirements. Pets in cabin count toward the carry-on baggage allowance. Pets must remain inside their approved container under the seat directly in front of you. Contact an embassy or consulate [ http://www.embassy.org/embassies/index.html ] Approved carriers US Airways accepts hard-sided carriers up to 17 inches long x 16 inches wide x 8 inches tall and soft-sided carriers up to 17 inches long X 16 inches wide X 10 inches tall. On US Airways Express flights, pet carriers must not be more than 15 inches long x 17 inches wide x 8 inches tall on CRJ aircraft, more than 16 inches long x 17 inches wide x 8 inches tall on DH3 aircraft or more than 15 inches long x 14 inches wide x 8 inches tall on BH1 aircraft. -Carriers must be leak-proof and escape-proof. -Carriers must be ventilated on at least 2 sides, but not allow any part of the animal to protrude outside of the container. -Carriers must provide room for the animal to stand up and turn around. -Carriers can be made of metal, wood or hard plastic/composite. Exceptions are made for soft-sided containers made specifically for pet carriage. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pets in cargo compartment Our hub cities of Phoenix and Las Vegas have extreme temperatures that regularly exceed 100 degrees. For the safety of your pet, US Airways does not accept any animals in its cargo compartments. Exception cities US Airways accepts dogs, domestic cats and birds as checked baggage on nonstop US Airways Shuttle flights in the BOS/DCA/LGA markets only. Connections are not permitted. The customer must travel on the same flight. Customers should advise US Airways when they wish to transport a pet as checked baggage on a US Airways Shuttle flight. Hawaii pet quarantine information Hawaii is a rabies-free state. To prevent rabies from entering the state, the law requires that dogs, cats and carnivores complete a mandatory rabies quarantine. US Airways will not accept cabin pets for travel to/from Hawaii. US Airways will only permit service animals and emotional support animals in the cabin for travel to/from Hawaii. The Honolulu International Airport on the island of Oahu is the only port of entry for dogs and cats entering Hawaii. This includes service animals and emotional support animals. For information on requirements for allowing service animals and emotional support animals to enter Hawaii without quarantine, please contact the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Hawaii Department of Agriculture Animal Quarantine Station 99-951 Halawa Valley Street Aiea, HI 96701-5602 Phone: 808-483-7151 24-hour phone: 808-837-8092 Visit the Hawaii Department of Agriculture's website [ http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/ai_aqs_info.htm ] " If they don't allow rats, you will need to either find another airline, ship it somehow, or leave it behind. Don't try and sneak stuff on board, you can get in big trouble. You should knowbetter thant o try and sneak anything on a plane nowadays.
3. Us Airways does allow pets onboard but I think they are limited to cats, dogs, and birds. If she tries to carry it on with no cage or strap it on her she will get caught and she will have to get rid of it before she boards the plane.. Do not let her do this.. It will force her to make a terrible decision when they find it. With all the added security at airports and such she will never pull it off. They search people and luggage and even carry on luggage now.. Most plans don't even allow you to carry cell phones on board anymore. Call the 800 number for Us Airways pet/Cargo department. If you are only traveling a short distance maybe the plane will allow it to be shipped or carried on. Carry on pets in carriers are allowed for 80 bucks per small pet and you can also put them in cargo and pay a fee for them to be shipped. I don't know if the rat will be ok up in the air as I have never flew with one.. There is a lot of pressure up there and it may kill the rat. Another thing you will have to check with a vet. You can call any vet on the phone and they can tell you if its safe for a rat to travel in an air plane. Most vets will tell you over the phone, no appointment or cost needed. Then if all else fails, or the airline says no rats as carry on or cargo, if the distance you need to fly isn't that great maybe you can ship the rat federal express or ups. I know federal express will ship a live animal. I believe live animal shipping is between 40 to 50 bucks.. And it is only possible if it is not an extreme distance.. Like maybe an 8 or 12 hour trip tops.. I mean some people ship snakes or lizzards Federal Express and it takes 24 or 30 hours to get there but they are a little different than a rat. Rats are pretty hardy but being shipped can stress them out and if it's to hot or too cold they can die..There are many options to get her pet home but if she tries to sneak it on she may end up being forced to get rid of it before she boards the plane and if that were me I'd never be able to forgive myself or I'd miss my plane rather than leave a pet somewhere. Good luck. If you need any help just email me. Where are you guys leaving from and going to? How long is the trip?
4. Actually you can take a rat on board! Well on board in cargo at least. Here are the airlines that DO let you take on a pet rat: Continental, United, Delta, North West, Alaska, American... the only restriction is that the landing weather musn't be outside a certain range (I know the upper limit is 85C) Unfortunately the other airlines have yet to evolve enough to accept rats. It should cast around $200.