[Gpdd] CARE: Flying with Guinea Pigs

Wrraffles at aol.com Wrraffles at aol.com
Wed Aug 24 13:30:14 EDT 2005


     I have traveled across the USA by air and by car with guinea pigs.
     For the air travel, we paid to have the pigs in the cabin with us.  The carrier had a limit of two animals per cabin per flight, so book early.  When we got to the airport, we were discreet.  We kept the travel cage in a duffel, with the zip almost closed in the ticket line.  We showed the travel cage to the ticket agent.  As I recall, going through security, we had to pick up the pigs while they went over the cage with their security wands.  At that point, when asked, we told them they were miniature rabbits.  Some carriers forbid rats and mice, as they chew wires and cables should they escape.  Rabbits have a better reputation, deserved or not, and people know what a rabbit is, they may not know about guinea pigs, and think they are rats.  Before we got to the departure lounge, we put the cage into the large duffel again.
   People with allergies will often have an attack if they see an animal nearby.  We didn't wish to make it difficult for future animals to fly, should someone complain.   What people don't see, they don't complain about.  Then, a man came up to us as we approached the gate, and jovially asked, "Where are those miniature rabbits?"  (Cuteness alert!). We smiled and I put my finger to my lips to shush him - he understood that we didn't want to advertise.  We carried them onto the plane, and tucked them under our seats.  We unzipped the duffel, so the pigs could breathe.  I had food and veggies in the cage, and left the water bottle in, in spite of drip concerns.  If it is summer, you may wish to take a frozen water bottle to put in their cage during hot parts of the trip.
   When we arrived, the cage was quite wet, the piggies had been stressed and wet and pooed a lot. So be prepared to change the cage when you arrive.  I recommend you don't do it in a public area at  airport, again, the public can be very intolerant of pets, and we want to keep the availability of travel options open to all pet lovers.  Have some fresh carefresh and a large plastic bin bag ready for your change.   It was much easier than driving across country in a car, because an airline trip does save time over distances.
    Good luck, you may have to research the airlines, not all carry animals.

Remembering the peripatetic Prince and Dominique,
Betsy, currently slave to Calliope and Honey 





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