debi sadowski <[log in to unmask]> wrote
>I got this from my friend Nancy about a new airline for pets called
>"Pet Airways". Please read the e-mail below to me. I realy like this
>idea, just hope they start this at an airport closer to me.

Someone checked this out a while back, and unfortunately, they only
transport dogs and cats. So, in addition to having a very limited
number of airports where they fly, they do not carry ferrets.

[Moderator's note: I'm told they do transport ferrets. You can only
reserve dogs/cats online right now, but you can call them for other
species. BIG]

Having recently travelled with ferrets, I can tell you that no US
airlines allow ferrets in the cabin, although some do allow small dogs
and cats in the cabin. Further, during summer months, no US airlines
allow animals to travel as baggage. Some will allow them in the baggage
compartment during non summer months, but of the ones who allow animals
to travel with baggage, many specifically say no ferrets. Ferrets must
be shipped in cargo planes.

As far as European airlines, Finnair was the only one I found that
would allow ferrets to travel in the cabin, or in the baggage
compartment. However, Finnair only flies into New York on the east
coast, and so, living in the Washington, DC area, I would have had
to rent a car and drive from New York to DC. All the other European
airlines I contacted require ferrets to travel as cargo (separate,
non-passenger airplanes). Many of these same airlines do allow dogs
and cats to travel in the cabin or in the baggage compartment, though.

To get my ferrets home from Finland, I ended up shipping them as cargo
with Lufthansa. I will say, though, that Lufthansa took excellent care
of them.

Both Lufthansa and Continental Airlines have a special program for
transporting animals as cargo. They guarantee fast shipment (usually
same day, even with connections) and they have special places where
animals are held between flights, as well as specially trained
personnel to handle the animals. On another trip to Finland, I would
use Finnair and drive from New York to DC, but for other parts of
Europe, I would consider using Lufthansa again. I also know people who
have used the new Continental service to ship ferrets, and found them
quite satisfactory.

However, the ferret community needs to work on getting airlines to
grant ferrets the same rights that dogs and cats have. I find it silly
that a small dog or a cat can travel in the cabin, but a ferret can't.

Danee DeVore
ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know!
For more information visit:
<http://www.ferretadv.com>
ADV - Find out how you can help:
http://help4adv.terrabox.com/

[Posted in FML 6444]