Tarantulas on a Plane

[fcat]

Hopefully I've earned a pass to ask a question without doing research but to appease my gods I did search exactly one page of results

Ideally looking for people with experience doing this...Can you bring a box of tarantulas with you on a plane? As a carry on or checked?

Do our FedEx packages get xrayed the same way?

I live in a small town that draws a lot of seasonal ranchers in the winter. It's very welcoming. No really, there are at least "Welcome to...." signs as you are driving into town. The local Facebook page is friendly and neighborly there are always posts offering to bring horses down, many people just drive their RVs, so I thought I'd see if anyone would bring a box of invertebrates down for me.

Someone asked if they could go on a plane. Yes, these people would be the friendly type to offer to bring someone else's package on a plane. I feel like that is in the advisory message that plays on loop at the airport but I digress...I don't feel right about doing that...but we also have a municipal airport that I hadn't considered...and I don't want to rule out my Ts coming in on a private jet.

Thank you for reading!

 

[Andrew Clayton]

Hopefully I've earned a pass to ask a question without doing research but to appease my gods I did search exactly one page of results

Ideally looking for people with experience doing this...Can you bring a box of tarantulas with you on a plane? As a carry on or checked?

Do our FedEx packages get xrayed the same way?

I live in a small town that draws a lot of seasonal ranchers in the winter. It's very welcoming. No really, there are at least "Welcome to...." signs as you are driving into town. The local Facebook page is friendly and neighborly there are always posts offering to bring horses down, many people just drive their RVs, so I thought I'd see if anyone would bring a box of invertebrates down for me.

Someone asked if they could go on a plane. Yes, these people would be the friendly type to offer to bring someone else's package on a plane. I feel like that is in the advisory message that plays on loop at the airport but I digress...I don't feel right about doing that...but we also have a municipal airport that I hadn't considered...and I don't want to rule out my Ts coming in on a private jet.

Thank you for reading!

Not sure about the US but can definitely do it on local UK flights, just need to let the airline know before hand what you're bringing on. Also we have a Dangerous wild animals Act, anything on that whether you have the licence or not is not allowed in carry on luggage.

 

[Hardus nameous]

I could be wrong, but as far as domestic U.S. flights I think it's up to the airline's policy; every carrier can vary. I know there was a story recently about an emotional support animal (canine) on Delta, so it may help to have the spider registered as an emotional support animal.

Looking at the TSA's website they say to remove the pet from your bag before X-ray and maintain control of it on a leash; so make sure to fix a leash to whatever container you're transporting it in.

 

[Andrew Clayton]

I could be wrong, but as far as domestic U.S. flights I think it's up to the airline's policy; every carrier can vary. I know there was a story recently about an emotional support animal (canine) on Delta, so it may help to have the spider registered as an emotional support animal.

Looking at the TSA's website they say to remove the pet from your bag before X-ray and maintain control of it on a leash; so make sure to fix a leash to whatever container you're transporting it in.

Haha I love how vague the laws are over there, being able to register a T as an emotional support animal, I don't know if that's a wind up but I can definitely imagine someone walking there enclosure attached to some wheels with a lead down the airport terminal haha

 

[fcat]

As far as I know, there is still no official registry. There are companies that will take your money to produce documents though.

If only I could train a tarantula to perform specific tasks, I could make it a service animal, and it would don a vest that said "no touchy"

In regards to the airline policy, I have seen that echoed on social media sites that I normally wouldn't trust... But I would hope being visible in a clear vial would be enough...

I could be wrong, but as far as domestic U.S. flights I think it's up to the airline's policy; every carrier can vary. I know there was a story recently about an emotional support animal (canine) on Delta, so it may help to have the spider registered as an emotional support animal.

Looking at the TSA's website they say to remove the pet from your bag before X-ray and maintain control of it on a leash; so make sure to fix a leash to whatever container you're transporting it in.

 

[Mustafa67]

Haha I love how vague the laws are over there, being able to register a T as an emotional support animal, I don't know if that's a wind up but I can definitely imagine someone walking there enclosure attached to some wheels with a lead down the airport terminal haha

Mr Cuddles is my emotional support animal

 

[Andrew Clayton]

Mr Cuddles is my emotional support animal

I'm taking my A. Chalcodes (biggest spider I have rn lol) to the barbers with me, there always going on about no dogs allowed in lol
Edit: even better I will take my LP see how it likes getting hair threw at it.

 

[Mustafa67]

I'm taking my A. Chalcodes (biggest spider I have rn lol) to the barbers with me, there always going on about no dogs allowed in lol
Edit: even better I will take my LP see how it likes getting hair threw at it.

Is your LP getting a haircut too?

 

[Andrew Clayton]

Is your LP getting a haircut too?

Nah it will be bald again in no time. My hobby is keeping him and his is kicking hairs at me lol

 

[viper69]

Get the T listed as emotional support from a psychologist

 

[fcat]

Would certainly be hard to refute and he wouldn't say no, and I'm definitely crazy enough

I used to love flying and then something changed. I finally figured out if I just accept my death the fear goes away. Loved ones? Unenjoyable to say the least. I don't ever experience anxiety except in the form of beads of sweat forming when I'm sitting next to my brother on a plane. No denying that physiological response. 0/10 would not do again.

Get the T listed as emotional support from a psychologist

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Check each airline as some have banned emotional support animals. Only service animals can be accepted which can only be a dog or a horse. I'm yet to see anyone bring a horse on an airline.

ESA's are completely different from actual service animals.

Service Animals

Overview of the ADA’s explanation of what businesses and governments must do to make sure that they do not discriminate against people who use service animals.

www.ada.gov

 

[fcat]

There are so many instances of abusing the policy, like the emotional support peacock, I don't blame them.

Thank you for the information!


When we were shopping for a house, one of the properties we offered on had jumped through all the residential horse hoops...she needed a strong animal to help support her weight while walking but as a senior didn't feel comfortable with a large horse, so she got a mini pony. The exception conveyed. I really wanted that house!

Check each airline as some have banned emotional support animals. Only service animals can be accepted which can only be a dog or a horse. I'm yet to see anyone bring a horse on an airline.

ESA's are completely different from actual service animals.

Service Animals

Overview of the ADA’s explanation of what businesses and governments must do to make sure that they do not discriminate against people who use service animals.

www.ada.gov

 

[Spifdar]

Just wanted to add, are these going across state lines? There's some laws against that depending on species. But I'd check that first, then write the airline directly via email and ask their guidelines/policy, and be sure to have whoever's shipping keep a printout of the reply just in case lol. I've had airline workers give me bad info that cost me 12 hours' delays before ("yes, your luggage will be checked all the way through on this flight " - spoiler, it was not). I'd keep the in-writing reply for peace of mind. A lot of airlines will only ship animals via cargo, in which case you want to find out if it's climate-controlled or not, too. People have lost much larger pets due to extreme temperatures on the runway during delays, for example, so in that case I'd pack it exactly as I would for shipping--with a heat pack etc. if needed.

 

[darkness975]

I was hopeful this thread was going to be a sequel to the movie Snakes on a Plane but alas I was disappointed.

I am pretty sure it is up to the airlines.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Me too

 

[Andrew Clayton]

I was hopeful this thread was going to be a sequel to the movie Snakes on a Plane but alas I was disappointed.

I am pretty sure it is up to the airlines.

This is exactly what I thought when I clicked, got me all excited for a movie with Ts

 

[fcat]

Okay, I reached out to Delta in writing. I got the same response as the text on their website:

Cats, dogs, or household birds only and must be stored in a soft sided carrier... Cargo shipment of animals is on an indefinite embargo but would still be limited to the aforementioned pets. They do allow trained services dogs only.

On to the next possible solution. Sorry for disappointing you guys!!!! Appreciate your help and experiences.

No I would never entertain circumventing laws and definitely not ESAs

Just wanted to add, are these going across state lines? There's some laws against that depending on species. But I'd check that first, then write the airline directly via email and ask their guidelines/policy, and be sure to have whoever's shipping keep a printout of the reply just in case lol. I've had airline workers give me bad info that cost me 12 hours' delays before ("yes, your luggage will be checked all the way through on this flight " - spoiler, it was not). I'd keep the in-writing reply for peace of mind. A lot of airlines will only ship animals via cargo, in which case you want to find out if it's climate-controlled or not, too. People have lost much larger pets due to extreme temperatures on the runway during delays, for example, so in that case I'd pack it exactly as I would for shipping--with a heat pack etc. if needed.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Okay, I reached out to Delta in writing. I got the same response as the text on their website:

Cats, dogs, or household birds only and must be stored in a soft sided carrier... Cargo shipment of animals is on an indefinite embargo but would still be limited to the aforementioned pets. They do allow trained services dogs only.

On to the next possible solution. Sorry for disappointing you guys!!!! Appreciate your help and experiences.

Not disappointing was all in good fun about "Tarantulas on a Plane" movie.

You brought up a good topic that should be discussed.

 

[Hardus nameous]

Thanks to this thread I can't get the Robot Chicken Sketch of Snakes on a Plane with Samuel L. Jackson out of my head.

Considering how sensitive tarantulas are to vibration I doubt they'd enjoy flying anyway. Plus Delta usually offers something like cookies, sun chips or almonds. No crickets.