A few notes on your pet carrier.....A lot of carriers come with plastic clips to hold them together, like ours did. Most airlines require the top be bolted to the bottom, either by plastic or metal nuts and bolts. So I just went to Lowes and bought a package of 6-1 1/2" machine screws and wing nuts. I put the cage together and drilled holes on each corner and in the center of each sides. I also bought the stickers and food tray from Petsmart and placed them on the carrier. Although Delta had all the stickers at the counter and added some "this side up" arrows to her cage. We had no issues with her carrier.
When we originally made our reservations with travel on post they had us on an airline from Atlanta to BWI that doesn't take pets. MAKE SURE YOU CALL THE AIRLINE AS SOON AS YOU GET YOUR CONFIRMATION TICKETS. After I called the airline and found out they didn't take animals, I went back to travel and they booked us on Delta. I called the airline to reserve our cat a spot as pet cargo (as opposed to flying in the cabin). You will need to know the dimensions of your carrier and the weight of it with your pet in it. Also make sure that travel books your pet on the AMC flight because they only carry 10 pet carriers per flight.
When we started our trip, we had to go to the "Special Services" counter at Delta to check in all of our bags and our cat. They took all of our checked baggage and then weighed the cat in the carrier (she was 14 pounds total). They added the "up arrow" stickers and another "live animal" sticker to the carrier. We had to pay a $200 pet fee. They also added a form to the cage with some personal information you have to fill out. After you are all finished at the ticket counter you have to take the pet to the "oversize baggage" drop off. We took her over the oversize baggage drop off and a TSA agent had me take her out of the carrier so he could check it for safety. After his 2 sec "safety inspection" they had me put her back in and they placed a zip tie thru the door to the carrier to keep it from accidently opening. We took her about 2 hours before our flight departure time. There is a sticker attached to the form from the ticket counter and when they load the animal onto the plane the stewardess is suppose to bring this tag to you to tell you that your animal is loaded onto plane. Although, they changed our plane at the last minute and didn't let anyone board until late, so they were in a hurry to take off. I asked the stewardess if my cat was loaded, she left.....then came back and told us the pilot saw her on the ground outside plane! A few minutes later she came back and told me the ground crew assured her the cat was aboard. So a short 2 hr plane ride and we arrived at BWI. We went to pick up our bags from the luggage carrousel and behind the luggage carrousel where oversize luggage is hand delivered through a garage style door is where we found Mrs Popoki.
After we got all of our luggage together we went to the AMC terminal, there was a really long line of service members there. After we slowly made our way forward, about 30 minutes, we were getting close to the rope dividers and we noticed that there was a separate EMPTY line for "Soldiers traveling with family members and/or pets"!! So we moved over to the correct line and was at the check in counter pretty quick. Once at the counter they will check and weigh all your baggage first(even your carry on items). Then they weigh pet carrier and you pay a $116 fee, they take your 6 page multi language form you get from the vet and make a copy of it. MAKE SURE you have the forms filled out correctly a couple next to us didn't have the German part of the form filled out and had to call their vet to see if he could redo it and fax it to them before they could fly!! They will attach the vet form in a baggy to the carrier and it too will have a ticket that will be brought to you before take off.
After all is done they will have you keep your pet with you until 2 hours before take off. So we took her outside to the pet relief area and put her harness and leash on her to let her stretch a bit(we had a 6 hr layover but by this time it was down to 4). We also brought a gallon bag of cat litter and a 9x16 cardboard cake pan in our sons carry-on luggage. To our surprise SHE USED IT even with the harness and leash on!!!
After she walked a bit we put her back in her cage and decided to go to the USO and rest a bit. We already knew this but just in case pets are not allowed in the USO, so my wife and son went in. I placed all of our carry on luggage in the USO luggage storage area and left the cat in her carrier on the luggage cart at the doors of the USO. Then she and I went on a stroll of the airport to get the humans some food. Since it was late the only thing open on the non security side was subway, Duncan donuts, Starbuck and a bar. So we grabbed some food and went back to the USO, my wife and son decided to come outside of the USO and eat with me on the bench. After we ate it was my turn to go into the USO and my wife stayed on the bench outside with Mrs Kitty. The USO is recently remodeled (hence the no pet rule) and has a very nice staff. There are 30 really soft chairs in the TV room, free Wi-Fi, about 6 eating tables with chairs, a shower area, family rooms, lots of books and magazines to read. There is free ice cream, snacks, water, and coffee. We stayed there until they where closing up shop, they close at 2200 but asked us to start clearing out at 2145 so everyone would be gone in time.
Since our flight was at 2350 we took the cat back to the AMC terminal and the same man that checked us in was there with a pet manifest and checked her off the list and put her next to the other carriers going on the flight. We went thru the security check point and on to our terminal area, again our flight was delayed by 30 min so we sat and waited till boarding.
Once we arrived at Ramstein AFB we showed our IDs and passports then went to pick up our baggage. The pets where all together on carts waiting to be picked up. There was no 55€ fee that we thought we had to pay. Then we went on to getting a briefing and separated by what areas of Germany we were going to. Also make sure you all before you fly out and reserve a pet friendly room at what ever base you are going to. We made ours about 30 days out and was delayed by 1 day all we had to do was call and let them know of our delay. There is a family who didn't reserve a pet friendly room ahead of time and ended up with the father in one room with the pet and the wife in kids in completely different building!
If you have any questions about shipping your pet just let me know.
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