Alaska Airlines recently changed their policy on accepting some breeds for travel in the cargo hold. Specifically, short nosed breeds such as
bulldogs, including pit bulls and american bull dogs (and probably others) are restricted because of possible breathing problems in flight.
I recently adopted a long legged american/pit mix that became a boxer/lab mix on the health certificate I got from my veterinarian. The agent
checking me in at the airport even said "Oh, good!" when she read it, probably because she didn't want that drama either.
My flight was from Sacramento to Anchorage, but Alaska does fly to Baja, so the policy probably is the same.
For what it is worth, my eleven month old, 75 pound pup did fine on both ends of the trip and is loving Alaska summer!
I would like to give credit to Alaska Airlines for the way they handled my pet in 107 degree weather. They did not bring her out of the air
conditioned hanger until the rest of the plane was loaded, then she was placed in the hold and I was notified personally that she was on board. Bajahowodd - 7-8-2015 at 03:53 PM
Seriously, you can call a 75 pound dog a pup?AKgringo - 7-8-2015 at 04:57 PM
If you could watch her at play, you would understand! I hope she doesn't get much bigger, but she is still a pup, and a clown.jbcoug - 7-8-2015 at 06:31 PM
I regularly escort dogs from Los Barriles to the NW on Alaska for adoption up here. They always do a great job! They transport for free for ALMA, the
rescue group in LB.Pompano - 7-8-2015 at 07:01 PM
Hah...AKGringo, I think I had the same kind of dog...the puppy exuberance in her lasted for years. A long time ago, I flew my lab on a few DC-3's
and such. But I never put her in the commercial hold or storage. In and out of Serinadad, Loreto, La Paz, Cedros Island, Ensenada, ..to name but a
few. All those 'gooneys' were fun, except a couple overseas. Also the rules and regs were kinda lax back in the day....a little like flying with
verteran bush pilots in Alaska.
Once flew one with my black lab, Gypsy, and a couple amigos from Mexico City to a resort south of Acapulco to go duck hunting. Same place Johnny
Weismueler made his 'Tarzan' river scene movies..clear river...many large sloughs chock full of ducks. The plane was not pressured, of course, so we
flew some canyons and encountered lots of turbulence. There was about 20 other people on board with me and the dog, who I had bought a seated ticket
for rather than kennel her in baggage where she woud be bounced around.
Across the aisle from me and Gypsy was an irate US lady who was objecting loudly that she should not have to share the cabin with my hunting dog. I
told her the dog paid its way and was entitled to the same comforts as us. She gave me the evil eye and said some pleasantries about me and my dog.. I
tried to be polite and ignored her.
Now the stressed out stewardess of this little airline come staggering down the aisle with a Playmate cooler in her hands. Not very cool Cokes and
plain cheese sandwiches were the menu. I grabbed two of each..remember, Gypsy was a paying passenger, too. The stew smiled at me and offered the same
to a young fellow seated just ahead of us. Unfortunately he was not a good flier and had been having a little discomfort with the bucking up and down
of the DC-3. Poor kid. He was a little green when the stew offered him a coke and sandwich. 'NO! Thanks, anyway'., he gulps, looking away from the
offering.
The battle-ax across the aisle is still muttering about the dog and mashing her sandwich. More evil eye towards me.
I finish my coke and sandwich, give a small piece of another to Gypsy and then leaned forward to see if the kid was okay. 'Sure you don't want a bite
or a drink?', I said and showed him the cheese sandwich.
Whoa...! That was WRONG! The kid starts gulping, turns REALLY green and hurls all over the place. Yuck.
Now Gypsy jumps off her seat and starts licking up the puke on the seat and floor. The evil eye gal looks over, sees the dog licking puke and starts
gagging, then throws up herself.
Jesus, now I'm laughing so hard my sides hurt. I get a few grins from my other hunting buddies and we all manage to help clean things up with the
stew...who is laughing herself.
I got out of that plane well ahead of that puker gal. I think she had become a little unbalanced at that point.
..well, it was kinda hilarious at the time..., but no, never could bring myself to put her(my lab) into storage.
.
. AKgringo - 7-8-2015 at 07:08 PM
Good story, "Clean up on isle spew!"
edit, I just remembered that on my trip south last fall, there was a service dog on our flight, riding coach with his handler. I don't know which
agency they were with, but the dog was wearing a vest with narcotics (the word) on it.
A great well behaved dog!
[Edited on 7-9-2015 by AKgringo]Marla Daily - 7-8-2015 at 09:07 PM
Just flew Alaska Air from Loreto to LAX with our 4 (!) dogs, three of them former homeless Baja dogs~ 1 each from Cataviņa, La Purisima and Loreto
(plus our California-born dog). Alaska Air is always great with them. Done it many times.Bajahowodd - 7-9-2015 at 04:42 PM
Just flew Alaska Air from Loreto to LAX with our 4 (!) dogs, three of them former homeless Baja dogs~ 1 each from Cataviņa, La Purisima and Loreto
(plus our California-born dog). Alaska Air is always great with them. Done it many times.
Good for you and good for Alaska Air.AKgringo - 7-9-2015 at 05:19 PM
I regularly escort dogs from Los Barriles to the NW on Alaska for adoption up here. They always do a great job! They transport for free for ALMA, the
rescue group in LB.
I am glad to hear that they provide that service for you! I have been flying with them since the early 80s, and I now confine my search for low
fares to the best deal I can get with them. Over the years, they have bent their own rules and requirements to accommodate my family when problems
cropped up.
Hint!.....If you are able to visit the check in counter at the airport you are flying out of, the person across the counter can accomplish things that
can't be done over the phone or on line! Loretana - 7-10-2015 at 10:03 PM
I can't say enough good things about how nicely Alaska Air handles my dogs....here's my new baby chocolate lab Fiona, travelling to Loreto as a well
cared for passenger....
The gate agent brings this tag right to my seat before takeoff, I fly Portland/Los Angeles/Loreto...total cost $100.00 one way
The baggage handlers at LTO get her right into the shade as she comes off the Q-400 Bombardier...love those guys!!!!
