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/
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 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!
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!
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