shipping pets in summertime

For anyone who is planing on moving with a medium or large sized dog(s) during the hot summer months.......

We are moving to STX next week and I wanted to share some info:

Most everyone knows how the major airlines which fly out of Miami or Fort Lauderdale will not accept any animals in cargo until Sept 15th (the sometimes oppressive heat and the likelihood of potential delays on the tarmack @ departure or after landing)
But I have found one of the smaller, local airline carriers that flys out of Orlando nonstop
to San Juan that will. (A smaller & less congested airport) We have a 80lb shep/coonhound mix that will be riding in an extra large sized Vari-kennel crate which makes for a total weight of 105lbs. The charge is only 30.00 for his "ticket"!! The Airline carrier is named "ATA", and the booking rep I talked to was very nice and helpful. They also had no problem with us also bringing our Umbrella Cockatoo in the cabin (He rides in a "under the seat" size kennel) His ticket is only $20.00!! The price of the flight for us humans was only $150.20 per ticket... a major deal compared to AA's price @ 280.00 per ticket!!

Now, getting to bring the dog in cargo only applies to ATA's early morning flight (#894 @7:30a- flys 6 days a week) But this flight will only take us to San Juan. We still need to get to STX. I then called Seaborne Air and they, too had no problem with the dog & extra large sized kennel & our Cockatoo... They are charging $75.00 for each animal. Also keep in mind that you will have to pay for "excess baggage weight" @ .50 per lb for any baggage that you are bringing (carry-on or cargo) since a pet will use up your baggage weight allotment. But that is still a small price to pay for being able to have your pet on the same fight with you- as opposed to it flying alone in the middle of the nite... Actually right now there are no red-eye flights available to San Juan at this time of year anyways!!!

I talked to two different pet shipping services and one told me to check out the local carriers, which I did. The other gave me a starting quote of $750.00 for a one way trip from Miami to San Juan (not St Croix)and that was with me dropping the dog off at the airport myself!

Hope this info is helpful!!
(St Croix bound next Friday!)

Lauren Luz.