Flying With Pets On The
Patriot Express
PCS Passengers Can Book Their Pets (Dogs & Cats), On the AMC Patriot Express Flight!
Movement Expense Paid by the Owner
Inquire With Your Local Transportation Office
for Pet Reservation Details.
All pets are susceptible to the risk of heat stroke, respiratory problems and the possibility of death during travel. The risk is increased for snub or pug nosed pets.
For health and safety concerns, it is recommend that pet owners discuss their pet’s susceptibility to complications with their veterinarian prior to air transport and ensure your pets kennel has adequate ventilation.
Pet Immigration Requirements
Pets, Service Animals, and ESA's
Contact your local transportation office for specific immigration requirements to include quarantine and detention for the country to which you are shipping your pet. Additional information can be found in the (Click Here): CONUS Country Instructions under paragraph "6. Pets/Quarantine" for each country. The transportation of Service Animals and ESAs is subject to country quarantine procedures. When it is necessary to detain a service animal/ESA pending a determination of admissibility, the traveler will provide detention facilities that are satisfactory to the quarantine officer. The passenger will bear the expense of such detention, including necessary examinations, vaccinations, and other expenses incurred.
NOTE: If you have a commercial airline flight prior to or following your AMC Patriot Express (PE) flight, contact that airline to determine if additional documentation or charges are required to transport your pet.
Check-in time for AMC flights at Baltimore/Washington International Airport is NO LATER THAN 2 hours and 20 minutes prior to flight departure.
Check-in time for AMC flights at SeattleTacoma International Airport is NO LATER THAN 3 hours and 20 minutes prior to flight departure.
Contact your local transportation office or AMC Passenger Terminal for more info.
Passengers on PE missions may check-in up to 6 hours prior to departure; but, due to limited pet storage space, you must retain custody of your pet until 45 minutes prior to boarding unless there is a suitable holding area available. All pets must remain in their kennel or shipping container while in public or terminal areas.
Be Prepared to Defray Additional Associated Costs & Fees
Fees are charged on a per-kennel basis depending on the combined weight of your pet AND kennel and can vary from $125- $375.
Pet/Kennel Fees
A combined weight ≤ 70 lbs will be charged as one piece of excess baggage ($125).
A combined weight of 71-140 lbs will be charged as two pieces of excess baggage ($250).
A combined weight of 141-150 lbs will be charged as three pieces of excess baggage ($375).
*Prices may change, check with your TMO/ITO for current excess baggage fees.
**Pet(s) and kennel weighing > 150 lbs will not be accepted for shipment under any circumstances.
Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)/Psychiatric Support Animals
Passengers must provide proper documentation in order to travel with an emotional support or psychiatric service animal.
Documentation may be No Older Than 1 year from the date of the passenger’s initial scheduled flight and must be on the letterhead of a licensed mental health professional (e.g., a psychiatrist, psychologist, or licensed clinical social worker), and must state:
1. The passenger has a mental or emotional disability recognized in the American Psychiatric Association’s “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders”.
2. The passenger needs the emotional support or psychiatric service animal as an accommodation for air travel or for activity at the passenger’s destination.
3. The individual providing the assessment is a licensed mental health professional and the passenger is under his or her professional care.
4. The date, type, and state or jurisdiction in which the mental health professional’s license was issued.
**ESA animals will only travel in cabin with the passenger**
Special Notes for Service Animals & ESAs
Note 1: Service Animals (if in cabin) and ESAs must sit on the customers lap, or at their feet without protruding into the aisle or encroach on other passengers.
Note 2: Proper sanitation is the responsibility of the traveler and must be maintained at all times. Passenger service personnel and aircrew members are not required to provide care or food for a service/emotional support animals or provide a special location for the animal’s hygiene needs.
Note 3: Animals may be removed from the terminal or aircraft if the handler cannot control the animal or the animal poses a threat to the health or safety of other passengers or passenger service personnel.
PET FOOD
Pet Owners must provide a separate food & water supply source that can be fixed inside the container or attached to it and have food/water available to replenish for your pets needs.
Helpful HintsPrior to Check-In and Flight Departure.
Documentation. Please remember, you, the owner are responsible for obtaining all required documentation, (e.g., microchip, immunizations, border clearance, kennel labels, DD Form 2208 Rabies Vaccination Certificate or civilian equivalent, DD Form 2209 Veterinary Health Certificate or civilian equivalent, bi-lingual certificates, proof of ownership, etc.)
Pet and Kennel. Allow your pet to get accustomed to the kennel a few days before departure so he/she will be more comfortable in his/her temporary home during flight. Animals travel under less stress when they become accustomed to their shipping container before they travel. Use their kennel as a bed or feed your pet in the kennel for several days before your trip. A familiar article of clothing or toy in the kennel may help placate your pet.
Leash. You should exercise your pet before arriving at the terminal. Carry a leash with you so you can walk your pet before you check-in and after arrival at your destination.
Tranquilizers. The American Veterinary Medical Association does not advise sedation since effects of tranquilizers on animals at high altitudes are unpredictable. If you plan to sedate your pet, you must have written consent from the pet’s veterinarian.
Kennel and Pet Identification (ID). Mark kennel with your pet’s name, your name, destination or unit address, and phone number if available. We also suggest you purchase an ID tag for your pet.
Pet Health. Have your pet evaluated by your personal veterinarian to be sure he/she is fit for air travel. Ensure your kennel has adequate ventilation and your pet is free of respiratory problems. Some species (e.g. pug or snub nosed dogs and cats) have difficulty breathing even under normal conditions. Female pets that are in heat (estrus) will not be shipped due to possible distress to other pets and/or may result in injury. We cannot accept females with suckling young or un-weaned animals. Weaned puppies younger than 8 weeks old will not be accepted for air shipment due to the possibility of dehydration. You should also feed your pet a very light meal and provide water before turning him/her in for shipment/travel.
Pet Stress. Keep strangers, especially children, at a safe distance if your pet seems to be nervous. Even the most gentle pet can be provoked into growling or snapping.