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airplane travel with snakes anyone?

AanoNin Dec 20, 2007 12:55 PM

Hello, I am a parent of 3 pet ball pythons and I have traveled several times with them by sneaking them onto the Amtrak train. I once called every airline and they all had told me that all snakes are NOT allowed on the planes even as cargo, even though most all other reptiles and of course all other kinds of pets are. Out of pure chance, I called Continental airlines recently and the man I spoke to told me that yes, they will fly my snakes as cargo as long as they are all kept in separate burlap sacs and inside a hard case with very small vents for air. I am still nervous about them flying and I can't seem to find out about the cargo hold temperature, afraid that it might be too cold for the snakes. Has anyone ever flown with their reptiles before that could help me out with some answers? I have to move next month from Nebraska to Oregon and I might have to sneak them on Amtrak again for a long 4 day trip...urgh.

The thread just below me mentions FedEx as a pet transport, I will look into it, any other good pet transport companies for snakes??

Replies (24)

pfan151 Dec 20, 2007 02:12 PM

I have not tried that, but IMO the best and easiest way is to just ship them to yourself using fedex.
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John Vandegrift

littleindiangirl Dec 20, 2007 02:48 PM

Except you have to be verified to ship via fedex, and approved. That can take many months. That may not be the best way to go...

pfan151 Dec 20, 2007 03:35 PM

Actually no, it does not take many months. I completed the entire process in less than 3 weeks.
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John Vandegrift

littleindiangirl Dec 20, 2007 05:06 PM

It CAN take months. I know of one person that is (maybe was now) still waiting to be approved and certified to ship. My point being, it's not a completely sure fire thing to ship yourself when it's not a guarantee that the process will go quickly. And yes, it is a business to business only. Although many breeders get around that very easily. I have never heard of Fedex returning any shipment though...

pfan151 Dec 20, 2007 07:02 PM

Best way is to ship directly to a fedex hub and have the customer pick it up there. That is the only way that I know of to get around the business to business thing. It's also better for the snake that way.
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John Vandegrift

AanoNin Dec 20, 2007 02:53 PM

Thanks for the reply! It seems that FedEx will only transport live reptiles from business to business.... figures!

extensive Dec 20, 2007 03:07 PM

n/p

TimS Dec 20, 2007 03:43 PM

using fed ex they will only ship reptiles via signed waver in hand when shipping they will not pick up the reptile and it MUST be business to business and if they find out otherwise they can and will either return the animal or hold it till who knows when and and do who knows what or dispose of the package and they are doing nothign wrong. i have been having trouble since day 1 shipping fed ex both from the main airport hub i ship from and from the main memphis location and my rep all say the same thign and i havent been barely able to ship out anythign and the ones i have shipped were all shipped out late due to fed ex delays of wanting more paper work and endless excuses and it is 100% ILLEAGLE to ship a reptile to a non business

jmartin104 Dec 20, 2007 04:43 PM

I have been shipping reptiles with FedEx for years and this is news to me. Do you have any documentation on this?
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

toshamc Dec 20, 2007 04:58 PM

Yep - somewheres in all the paperwork it does state business to business - and they don't consider home based business a business - you have to be zoned as such. You can however ship Fedex location to Fedex location safely.
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Tosha
JET Pythons

jmartin104 Dec 20, 2007 05:07 PM

Well, they aren't too eager to enforce then. Most of my deliveries are to residence and the package is clearly marked LIVE REPTILES.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

royalkreationz Dec 20, 2007 05:43 PM

I have always shipped to residences without any problem. I guess they aren't too strict on this policy. I am not even FedEx certified, but I have shipped so many snakes that the people working the counter let me and never question anything.
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Happy Herping,
Jody Barnes
Royal Kreationz

My snakes aren't fat, they're big boned.

TimS Dec 21, 2007 12:31 AM

i dont have any on hand no and some fed ex place are more understanding than others but i have had nothign but problems here im gonna see what the next season brings with shipping once i have babies on the ground again but if problems accure again im gonna probly end up seeing what other options if any i have for shipping reptiles however UPS lets me ship lizzards no questions asked no paper work needed nothign butt if you say snake within 100 miles of them they will scream and yell lol

jmartin104 Dec 21, 2007 07:09 AM

I don't even tell people there are snakes. I simply say turtle or lizard so they don't freak. Mind you this is at the drop facility (non-FedEx). As long as my packages are clearly labeled with LIVE HARMLESS REPTILES and the scientific name of the animal, I'm good.

Sometimes too much info can be a bad thing.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

Heat Dec 20, 2007 06:33 PM

They know me at the fedex hub I always pick up from.

The one time I tried to ship a snake to a residence from the hub, they quickly & sternly informed me that it was illegal.

Brandon Osborne Dec 21, 2007 12:42 AM

Not illegal, just against their policy......and still not really against their policy if you are certified. They just don't know what they're talking about......and probably don't like snakes.

Brandon Osborne
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www.brandonosbornereptiles.com

toshamc Dec 20, 2007 04:56 PM

I would suggest you ship them Fedex - find a reptile dealer/breeder near you that will be willing to ship them for you. Then find a Fedex hold location near where you are moving to - and arrange to have them shipped for you to pick up at the Fedex location. Mind you 3 snakes will cost you upwards of $60 to ship overnight - and you'll likely have to pay for packaging and heat packs as well - but it's the easiest way to go.
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Tosha
JET Pythons

AanoNin Dec 20, 2007 05:11 PM

Thank you very much for the reply, I will try to find a reptile dealer in my city.

Dawn

AllStarMorphs Dec 20, 2007 05:54 PM

Try Delta. They have their Delta Dash service which will over night it. You'll have to pack it correctly (insulated box with heat packs).

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Larry Walker

WebSite

toshamc Dec 20, 2007 06:00 PM

You have to be a "known verified" shipper to ship snakes via - Delta Dash nowadays.
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Tosha
JET Pythons

AllStarMorphs Dec 20, 2007 06:31 PM

WOW... Tosha I thought you knew everything! LOL

"You have to be a "known verified" shipper to ship snakes via - Delta Dash nowadays."

Sorry... NOT true! Delta made an exception for people shipping reptiles, including snakes, about two years ago. Shortly after filing bankruptcy, Delta changed their known shipper verification process. With the changes, it became nearly impossible to get verified. With all the requests and complaints from people wanting to get verified to ship reptiles, they decided to make an exception. So, although a well kept secret, anyone can ship reptiles. Un-verified shippers must simply go through a more thorough inspection.
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Larry Walker

WebSite

toshamc Dec 20, 2007 06:47 PM

I guess thats another one of those depends on who's at the desk when you show up. I tried to ship out a box of snakes via delta dash bout two months ago and was told they don't accept them - I'd have to go through their verification process.
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Tosha
JET Pythons

AllStarMorphs Dec 20, 2007 07:08 PM

"I guess thats another one of those depends on who's at the desk when you show up."

Could very well be the case. With the restructuring, they have a revolving door of new people on their logistics and they make a lot more mistakes these days. I have been a verified shipper with them from way back in the day and (lately) I have had to correct them on there own procedures. A couple of times I found them going through extra steps and asked to speak with the supervisor who told me that the extra steps was because I was not a known shipper. I corrected her and told her that my understanding was that only verified shippers could ship. That's when she gave me the information. New logisics agents have a lot to learn and (unfortunately) they make way too many mistakes and don't always have the right information. Thay's why I ask for one of the old timers or a supervisor. Next time... ask for a supervisor and tell them you heard it from the San Francisco Logistics office.
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Larry Walker

WebSite

coolluigi007 Dec 20, 2007 09:35 PM

Does anyone know if this "No snakes on planes" deal goes for smaller airlines also? In two weeks I'm flying on a no-name airline right to Las Vegas and was thinking about picking up a snake there, as it is cold in Minnesota and didn't want to hastle with the shipping, but now this is looking like it might not be posible. Anyone try this yet?
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1.0 Pastel, soon to be more. *fingers crossed*

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