Texas Domestic Flight

Third Culture Dog

First domestic trip!

The first difference I noticed about flying domestically with a dog was the price. From Tunisia to Houston & Europe to Houston it's always been $100. But to go from Houston to Lubbock (an hour and a half flight on a tiny plane) it's $125!! Why? Are they afraid of being sued?

Well, I paid it. I really wanted to take Diego on this little Texas road trip. So here we are, at Starbucks at IAH. 

The whole process of paying and checking in Diego is different to international travel. First of all, it's much easier and faster. You can have your cake and eat it too.... International flights are somewhat comfortable and you don't have to open your wallet every time you want a drink or something to eat, but the check in process with a dog is long and tedious. Domestic check in is super easy, but the planes are small and uncomfortable and any perks will cost you an arm and a leg.

We have an 8:45am flight to Lubbock so we decided to arrive between 6:45 and 7:00. I had no idea what the check in process would be like so I planned less for an international flight and more for a domestic trip. However, to my surprise I was able to get my boarding pass the day before. I've never been able to do that internationally with Diego!  Today we got lucky. All the ladies working in the self check in areas went crazy for D and got us right to the front of the line. I write that jokingly since there was no one in the line!

Side note: In 2011 when I started flying with Diego, he was able to be out of the carrier in Tunisia and Europe, but not in the USA. Now, I have him out. Am I just more daring or do people not care? 

After the flight...

The flight was fine. Super fast and somewhat comfortable. Diego's Sherpa carrier fit very nicely under the seat in front of me. That's a first! It was great because I was actually able to put my feet in front of my chair rather than strattled on each side of the carrier. 

People looked at us like we were crazy when we got to Lubbock. I don't think they see grown women's carrying around a little dog in a sling. Oh well, they had something for their dinner conversation that night. 

Pre-Boarding With Families

Say what? I'm not a baby?

As I write this I am sitting in seat 67K on flight LH440. Diego is at my feet happily chewing on a bone and probably very glad that I am not hauling him around a walking trail or airport as we have been doing for almost 24hrs (it's amazing how many walking trails there are near the Frankfurt airport). 

We pre-boarded about 20 minutes ago and that is the topic I'd like to discuss regarding this trip. 

The first time I flew with Diego we flew on Alitalia from Tunis to Rome, then Delta from Rome to Atlanta and onto Houston. I love international flights on Delta. I always paid extra to get the economy comfort seat and Diego and I were treated very well. From Tunis to Houston I paid a whopping $2,200 for my ticket, the little upgrade, and Diego's ticket. The other option was for me to pay $4,000 on Lufthansa and that was not happening. So I happily flew with Delta a few times, even though we had to take 3 flights. The Atlanta airport has a small, but lovely dog park and we always had enough time between flights to spend a couple hours outside. 
As a budget traveler, I always search for the best deal so, even though I was happy with Delta, I looked for a cheaper, dog friendly option. Then one day Lufthansa's prices dropped to about $1,200 and the route was great.... Tunis to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Houston. And for the last 3 years, 2-3 times a year we have been flying Lufthansa, even after moving to Copenhagen. But I have to tell you, I'm just fed up today. I think it may be our last flight with Lufthansa and I'll go back to Delta.

The first time Diego and I flew Lufthansa we got, in my opinion, the royal treatment. While getting ready to go through security, I was told I could go through the family security line and didn't have to pour out my water (which I forgot) because as the sweet lady said, "it's for the dog so it's okay!" Then, while I was waiting to board at the gate, a very nice woman who worked for Lufthansa approached and asked me if I would like to board with the families since my dog is my "baby." 
Wow! A cheaper price and respect! What airline has THAT?

Returning from Houston was the same great experience. The ground staff in Houston were accommodating and the flight attendants went crazy for Diego, always coming by to ask me, "Is Diego okay? Does he need some water?" For the first year and a half it was bliss. I felt like a customer who is taken care of. Well, for some reason, that suddenly changed.

I always ask at boarding if it's okay if I board with families and always got the same answer, Yes! Then one day in Houston I was told yes, but in a very nasty way. In Frankfurt I was met with gruffness, but honestly didn't think anything of it. The last time we flew from Houston I was flat out told No in a very curt manner and today was humiliated in the boarding line. 

As I always do, I approached the Lufthansa desk at the gate and politely asked if I could board with the families. To my surprise, the very nice woman said, "Yes, of course. When I announce the boarding for young children you can go to the boarding area." I thanked her profusely and stepped aside to wait. Sure enough, the ground staff announced boarding for families with "kinders." I got in line and when I handed over the boarding passes, another woman  took them questioned me. 

"What are you doing in this line?"
"I have a dog and need a bit of extra time getting settled." I quickly told her that I had already asked permission to board early with my dog since it takes me a little bit more time. 
She said, "you don't need extra time." 
It was so embarrassing. Did people think I was trying to scam the airline and get first class or something? 

It reminded me of the day before when we were boarding the flight to Frankfurt and a woman showed a boarding pass for the same destination, but a different airline. Instead of discreetly telling the woman her mistake, she yelled it!

I didn't respond to the rude lady in Frankfurt because she was scanning the passes and took Diego's papers. She was letting me through! I wouldn't dare say anything to flight or ground crew for fear of being taken the wrong way, so I politely said thank you and passed through the doors. 

Clearly this woman has never traveled with a dog. Perhaps she has never even traveled and is unsure what it takes to get settled in. 

Maybe I am the only one who needs some time, but these are the reasons I like to get settled during pre-boarding. 

1. Walking down an airplane aisle with a dog in a see-through bag is distracting for the other passengers. I've had to do it many times with Diego as we have not always been on time to the gate due to connection times, etc. I want Diego to be calm and not get worked up by people screeching or children patting (well, hitting) the side of his carrier. And then there are the negative folks who say things like, "I hope that dog doesn't make any noise" (do they say that when a family with a baby or small children make their way to their seats?). 

2. It's happened before and it will happen again... People complaining about how long it takes me to put my bag up and making the situation worse by being rude or trying to push by me. I personally do not think it takes me (or anyone else) a long time to put their bags away and go into their seats, but when you are being accused of it, it's not a good way to start a flight! I also can't get right into my seat because I have to shove Diego's carrier in and rotate it to fit "under" the seat. 
And that leads me to...

3. You need to be first to get a space for your bag!! The carrier takes up all the space at your feet and if you have another carry on bag (which we usually do) you do not want to leave the dog on the seat to find a place for it whilst people complain and others ogle the dog in the carrier and talk in super high pitched voices to where the animal is ready to get out and run up and down the aisle!

We now have one more hour to go until we land (no, it didn't take me 9 hours to write this... I had a nap, watched movies and ate airplane food) and Diego is doing well. 

Peek-a-boo!

Another successful trip! 

Diego the dog will be officially living in Texas in one hour and we are not sure he will be 
going overseas frequently, if at all, but stay tuned for his travels around the USA! 

Next Stop, Lubbock, Texas on June 23, 2015!

Doggie Jet Lag?

Diego and I just returned from a 3-week vacation in Houston, 7 hours behind Copenhagen. Diego has been to Texas a total of 7 times and each time we return to Denmark (or Tunisia) I notice the he shows more signs of jet lag. I always have terrible jet lag when return to our host country and normally Diego will sleep straight through the nights and be ready to eat and go for a walk at 6am.

However, this time was a bit different.  We arrived on the evening of January 3^rd 2015 and he slept through the night, clearly exhausted from the travel, especially the 7-hour layover in Frankfurt, and I actually had to wake him up at 8:30 to feed and walk him. On the weekends Diego usually gets 3 walks a day: morning, afternoon and night. He enjoys these outings immensely and is usually the one to remind me when it is time to go out or eat. On the 4^th he slept through his afternoon walk and evening walks!

Monday morning went as usual, but when I retuned home from work he did not greet me at the door, but sauntered down the hallway stretching and yawning as if to say, “Oh hey. What are you doing here and why did you disturb me?” Then he stayed up all night (as did I) and it this pattern has repeated since.

Over the last 3 ½ years since traveling with Diego many people have asked if he gets jet lag. I figured not since he is free to sleep when he likes and he never seemed to be too “off” his schedule. Diego likes to go to bed between 7:30 and 8pm and is up at 5:30/45am. I’m sure he naps throughout the day, too.

But now, I am convinced he has jet lag… as I type this at 12:06am he is playing with his toys on the bed, then jumping off and trotting into the living room to look out the window and monitor the going-ons from 5 floors up, and back to the bedroom to whine and moan as if to be begging to play. This is so unlike him at this time of night!

 Making a mess at midnight!

 Midnight Shenanigans!

Begging to play

So, I decided to Google doggie jet lag. As you can imagine I came across many discussions with different opinions and experiences. I guess just like humans, each dog deals with time change and jet lag in their own way. Perhaps Diego senses how I struggle with jet lag and it is causing him to struggle.

The biggest difference is, Diego doesn’t have to go to work the next morning like I do so we really can’t feel sorry for him J

Diego finally crashed at 12:30am

Traveling Within the EU

Diego and I just got back from Amsterdam. It's a great city for dogs, just like most in Europe.
This time the flights were the shortest Diego had even been on so I wasn't stressed at all. We've been on longer train rides in Denmark!

We flew Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and I highly recommend it for those traveling with small dogs. On their website they state the dimensions and weight restrictions for the carrier and dog:

http://www.flysas.com/en/us/

It is possible to bring your cat or dog onboard, but you must have a confirmed request in your reservation. To make the request, please call SAS Customer Contact Center.

You can have pets in the cabin if they are placed in a transport box (max. 40 x 25 x 23) during the entire flight. The maximum weight on your pet and transport box together is 8kgs.

Diego just meets these standards, almost the same as Lufthansa, but his carrier is a couple centimeters longer, wider and higher. However, no one checked and it fit underneath the seat exactly like it does on all the other airlines we have flown. I thought about flying with Lufthansa this time, but decided to chance it as it is a direct flight (as opposed to Lufthansa) and half the price!

This was Diego's first flight within the EU so I was sure I didn't have to do any extra paperwork (certificate, forms to fill out, etc) as he already has an EU passport issued in Denmark. Here is a direct link to the website: 

https://www.foedevarestyrelsen.dk/english/ImportExport/Travelling_with_pet_animals/Dogs_cats_ferrets/Pages/default.aspx

All countries I have researched have similar websites.

When leaving Denmark I figured I would only have to take Diego's EU passport, but at the last minute decided to take his entire travel folder, complete with rabies vaccination certificate, previous international and EU certificates filled out by our vets in Galveston and Tunis, rabies anti bodies bloodwork results form (a must have when entering the EU), as well as his microchip info page and international passport. Good lord. 

Yes, it added a bit extra weight as it is in a plastic folder with clear pocket sheets, but better safe than sorry!

No one checked. I offered when I had to pay for his "ticket" and the nice man at the counter asked, "do you have everything you need?" I replied "yes" and he said that was good enough for him. And the best part is, they didn't weigh the bugger. I'm not too worried about him not meeting the 8 kgs maximum, but would hate to get a crabby person at check in who cares if he is 8.1 or 8.2 and deny us boarding. Thank goodness they don't weigh passengers! Ha!
I didn't even have my passport checked (which I wasn't expecting anyway). Diego has been to Amsterdam before (from Tunisia) and even then no one checked his papers. Do they see a funny looking, happy go lucky dog who is obviously spoiled rotten and figure he has all his paperwork? I guess so!

When we checked in for our flight back to Copenhagen, I was surprised when the woman asked to see Diego's passport, but happily pulled it out. She also needed to see his rabies certificate (even though his last rabies vaccination is recorded in his passport). Glad I had that! Apparently The Netherlands is very relaxed with their animal laws and we know Denmark is not, so I will always travel with his travel folder even when staying in the EU. However, I wonder what it is like when traveling by train with a dog? Do their papers get checked at some borders? We went to Sweden by train and no one checked. And when you drive into Denmark, I wonder what happens?

I love traveling with Diego in Europe. There is so much more freedom for dogs as they can walk on a leash in the airports and sit on train seats or travel in a sling. I even take Diego into Starbucks and no one cares. I take him on buses, trams, the metro and trains and love the sling I bought for these occasions (dogs must be in a bag, but the type of bag has never been specified). Some people must think I'm crazy when they see Diego in this, but it has made traveling so much easier! I can have both hands free and Diego is as snug as a bug in a rug.

On the train from Rungsted to Copenhagen

On another note, in the last 2 weeks or so I have had 3 different people ask me about taking a dog to and from the UK. Here is the information I have found, but I have never taken Diego there (yet).

https://www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad/overview

I always recommend emailing someone at the border patrol office to confirm the info you find on the website. Save the emails too! I have a folder in my email titled Denmark Border and when I receive clear answers to my questions I save the emails in case I need to show someone if we are having problems.

Next trip: back to Tunisia for a week to catch up with good friends, lounge around the cafés overlooking the Med and see some familiar faces from the old neighborhood. Diego has no idea he's going, but I'm sure will be happy to be back in his home country. 
It's actually easier to get Diego back into Denmark from Tunisia than it is to get him from the USA into Denmark. Go figure... The biggest lesson I've learned since traveling with a dog is to be over prepared!

All That For… What?

For the past 6 months I have researched, made phone calls, written emails, downloaded countless documents and worried over getting Diego into Denmark. I have been told many different things by many different people and was relieved to find out how you really get a dog into Denmark.

Here is what they tell you...

When coming from the USA, Denmark:

1.     Have your dog vaccinated against rabies at least 21 days prior to travel

2.     Microchip must be done before or on the same day as the initial rabies vaccination

3.     APHIS Form 7001 filled out by a USDA certified vet and endorsed by the USDA

4.     ANNEX II Veterinary certificate to EU filled out by a USDA certified vet and endorsed by the USDA

5.     Non-Commercial transport of five or less dogs, cats, and ferrets (Veterinary certificate to EU) Danish version filled out by a USDA certified vet

6.     Veterinary Certificate for Domestic & International Airline Travel filled out by a USDA certified vet

7.     Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 Veterinary Certificate for the European Community filled out by a USDA certified vet

8.     Same thing as above, but the Danish version filled out by a USDA certified vet

9.     Notify border inspection at least 24 hours before your arrival into Denmark so they can be ready to inspect your dog. You must include your flight number and arrival time.

The cost:

1.     $70.00 for the vet to fill out all the forms (the same information over and over and over again).

2.     $53.00 to overnight papers to the USDA in Austin and to provide a return overnight envelope

3.     $38.00 to have the forms endorsed

The reality:

Book your dog on the flight, pay the $100 one-way fee, arrive in Copenhagen and follow the crowds through the “Nothing to Declare” line.

Have a nice time in Denmark.

Will I do it this way next time? Absolutely not. I’m the person who would get caught. However, I will reuse 4 out of the 6 forms until his rabies vaccination has expired in 2016.

When I finally got the two luggage carts through the rushing crowd and over to the “red line” I had to ring a bell and wait for someone to come out. The young man knew nothing about my arrival (I was expecting someone to be waiting at the baggage claim given the seriousness of the situation which they made it seem like through our email conversations and on their websites) and only checked the rabies vaccination and scanned Diego’s microchip. I forced him to looked at the other certificates and asked what I should do next time. He didn’t quite know. Great.

So, we have been in Denmark for a week and are loving the freedom that dogs have here. Lots of four-legged friends for Diego to sniff, friendly smiles when people catch a glimpse of Diego walking towards them (a great way to meet new people), parks galore and a small dog park near our apartment.

Next steps:

Dog insurance and registration. Apparently the insurance is the law and maybe registering Diego will be a way for me to spend more money on this doggie relocation. Who knows, but I’ll do it to be “safe!”

Resting at the Hotel in Copenhagen

Lasts

We only have 5 more nights in Tunisia and one traveling before we land in Houston June 16^th. 

The packers came on the 1^st so the comforts of home are not here. On the packing day, Diego was not at home. I felt he may get stressed, lost, or bite the ankles of the strange men in the house so he stayed with his friend, Barney.

When Diego came home to see the almost empty house I didn’t think he’d react much. We still have the school furniture, but no knick-knacks, color or art. Then, one evening, as I sat on the sofa, I watched Diego look around like he was trying to figure out where the large painting over the sofa had gone, or the comfy pillows he slept on. He seemed overly tired for a couple days after, but again, I didn’t think much about it until I searched “do dogs get depressed” on Google and found loads of articles pertaining to the subject.

One of the reasons why a dog could be sad, down or depressed is moving. I knew I was doing the right thing by leaving most of his toys, one large pillow he loves to lay on and of course his beloved airline carrier.

We have set up camp in the master bedroom and I feel like I am living in Tokyo again! Diego is as perky as ever and that is because I have maintained his schedule, I’m sure. I still have to go to work so it’s quite easy to do.

                                            "CAMPING" IN THE MASTER BEDROOM

Soon we will be in our other home, a familiar and comfortable place for him and then to a new apartment in Copenhagen. I am worried how he will do there without seeing and playing with Barney every day. Will he meet new friends at the dog parks? Should I hire a (super expensive) dog walker five days a week for the first 3-4 months?

Diego is going to experience, for the first time, “lasts.” He just had his last run with Barney on the beach in Tunisia, he will play in the garden one last time, he will walk in beautiful Carthage for the last time and he will visit the lovely vet and groomer for the last time tomorrow.

It’s the life of an international school teacher, a third culture kid and third culture dog.

I know I am doing the right thing and know he will be fine as long as he has familiar things and smells around him.

Has anyone ever experienced a sad dog? Do you know why your dog was sad? How long did it take him/her to perk up again? 

                                            LAST (AND FIRST) BATH WITH BARNEY

                                                      *FYI: I did not pick out those tiles.