Traveling with your Chinchilla

[chloethechinchilla]

I'm going to be going to school out of the country, and I'm just wondering if it would be okay if I could take my chinchilla on a plane with me? It won't be for 3 years, but I just would like to know in advance. I wouldn't keep her in cargo, I would find an airline that would let me take her as a carry on. But would being on a plane at all be painful to her? Any tips or advice? Thanks!

 

[Encantadora]

Do you know of any airlines? Most just take dogs and cats on board as a carry-on. Out of the country usually means quarantine. Im guessing of its possible, it would take a vet visit and a hefty fee.

 

[mark miller]

I recently tried to carry on a small kennel that was concealed in a pet safe bag and small enough to fit under the seat in front of me. I had called the airline ahead of time to get the fees and the dimensions the kennel needed to be to go under the seat. They told me it was $75 one way to carry a pet on as long as it fit under the seat and kennel was secure. They said I could pay the $75 at the counter when I picked up my boarding pass. When I went to the counter to pay the $75, they asked what was in the kennel. I said "my pet chinchillas". They immediately said "you can only carry on a dog or cat". They couldn't even see what I had in the kennel, but because I was honest and said "pet chinchillas" I could not board with them. This was on a domestic flight. I can almost guarantee your only option of flying with them internationally would be to put them in cargo and most likely they will have to stay in quarantine for awhile after you get there.

 

[liewwan]

Chins are shipped via cargo often. Not a lot of airlines will allow the rodent family to be carry on.

 

[chinchillin2005]

I recently tried to carry on a small kennel that was concealed in a pet safe bag and small enough to fit under the seat in front of me. I had called the airline ahead of time to get the fees and the dimensions the kennel needed to be to go under the seat. They told me it was $75 one way to carry a pet on as long as it fit under the seat and kennel was secure. They said I could pay the $75 at the counter when I picked up my boarding pass. When I went to the counter to pay the $75, they asked what was in the kennel. I said "my pet chinchillas". They immediately said "you can only carry on a dog or cat". They couldn't even see what I had in the kennel, but because I was honest and said "pet chinchillas" I could not board with them. This was on a domestic flight. I can almost guarantee your only option of flying with them internationally would be to put them in cargo and most likely they will have to stay in quarantine for awhile after you get there.

I used Jet Blue for my chinchilla as a carry on twice with no problems. But we had to get my chinchilla labeled as a service animal so we could bring him with us. (that was the only way we could bring him) We went to the vet and got a certificate and I just easily told the vet I absolutely had to bring my chinchilla with me and that we were bonded lol and she signed it. We also had to pay like 75 or a 100 dollar fee for each flight.
Be prepared to take your chinchilla out of its kennel during the airport security check. I had to quickly grab him for the scanning process and luckily he didn't try to run away. Also get a good dog crate/kennel that they can't chew on. Each flight was over 6 hours so I asked for water in the airplane and gave it to my chinchilla including food/treats I brought with me. And I would never put my chin in the cargo. i heard too many horror stories of animals dying and wouldn't risk it