Bringing back fish on Air Canada - a question

[trilinearmipmap]

Lately I read that Air Canada has changed its rules on shipping of pets. You can no longer bring live animals as part of your checked luggage but you have to ship it through Air Canada cargo and pay them a shipping fee. I think this is aimed at people who want to bring dogs, cats etc. after a recent fiasco where some dogs were in the cargo hold and froze to death or something like that.

For years I have brought back fish and corals from Vancouver as checked luggage in an insulated packing box and had no problems. But I have not done this in the past few months since the new rules came into effect. I used to bring back fish in a plastic bag in my carry-on luggage until the 9-11 rules about liquids on planes came into effect.

So this is a question for anybody else who has brought back live fish in checked luggage. Did Air Canada let you do this or did they stick to their "no pets in checked luggage" rule?

[Nicole8ca]

Did you call the airline? I think the rule is actually no "Kennels" in checked lugguge. I personally have not travelled with any fish or corals, but your best bet to sort through the red tape is just to call them and ask them.

[trilinearmipmap]

I haven't called Air Canada because I have found from experience that I can not rely on them. Unfortunately I am forced by circumstance (small town) to fly on this airline. They have screwed up so many things that I don't believe anything they tell me. If I get an Air Canada representative on the phone he will either not know the answer, tell me the wrong answer, or make up an answer just to get rid of me. That is why I want people's own experiences before I risk buying some fish and seeing whether it makes it home with me or not.

[Ephraim]

i just had to leave a a box of fish at the Winnipeg ariport a couple weeks ago. No fish anymore. From now on i'm not telling them there is fish in the box.

[Keri]

Originally Posted by trilinearmipmap

I haven't called Air Canada because I have found from experience that I can not rely on them. Unfortunately I am forced by circumstance (small town) to fly on this airline. They have screwed up so many things that I don't believe anything they tell me. If I get an Air Canada representative on the phone he will either not know the answer, tell me the wrong answer, or make up an answer just to get rid of me. That is why I want people's own experiences before I risk buying some fish and seeing whether it makes it home with me or not.

Do NOT trust Air canada on the phone!!
I had called ahead about bringing reptiles (a non-venomous snake) on board, was told it would be ok as long as I paid the $60 surcharge and he was in a secure cage, ok, fine...so I get there only to have the xray ppl Freak Out on me when I tell them what it is and I am Absolutely not allowed to bring him on board (an 18" ball python, no threat to anything) I lucked ouyt in finding a security guard who would keep him for me for a couple of weeks. Because of this I would ask for something in writing maybe on your ticket about bringing a box of live fish or corals, you don't want to get stranded.

[trilinearmipmap]

OK I have e-mailed Air Canada and I will see if their reply makes any sense, I am expecting a form letter shutting me down. Seems like a good way for them to charge more for shipping "freight". If only WestJet flew to my town.

Here is my e-mail to Air Canada and I will post their reply if I receive one.

Customer (xxxxxxx xxxxxxx) - 01/01/2008 11:51 AM
I have read that Air Canada no longer accepts pets as checked luggage.

For many years I have brought live aquarium fish and live corals back from Vancouver to Prince Rupert as checked luggage on Air Canada. These fish and corals are kept in waterproof containers inside an insulated shipping box.

I would like to know if I am able to bring an insulated container containing live fish or corals back as checked luggage on Air Canada.

I understand the reasons behind your "no pets" policy, but since live fish and corals require no care during the flight and can survive 48 hours in transit, and temperature is not an issue due to the insulated container, and luggage space is not an issue as the checked container simply replaces one of my normal two pieces of checked luggage, l hope Air Canada will allow these items as checked luggage.

Regards,

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx

Question Reference #xxxxxx-xxxxxx

[justinl]

eh, i have little faith in the reliability of airlines in this matter. i know people have had success by mailing the livestock to themselves over the border and then just meeting the package at home.