6/16/2023 Update

we changed our flight to depart earlier due to rising temperatures in June at Frankfurt. I don�t know if we needed to do this, but we did just in case.

We called the Lufthansa support line and worked through the rebooking of the pets pretty effortlessly.

We showed up to Door 3 at departures and unloaded the giant and large crate. We had to reassemble the giant crate because it was too big for the taxi van.

we arrived the prescribed 3 hours before departure and had about 30 min to wait after clearing security/immigration.

inside of door 3 is the bulky luggage stand for Lufthansa. My wife flagged down a porter and a large trolley to come get the dogs and our bags. There was no waiting at bulky baggage.

we had duct taped food, water, treats, and meds to the top of the crate (ziplock bags)

we zip tied the lead and collar to the crate door, the attendant was thrilled we did that for some reason.

the attendant was very friendly and informed our booking and tickets. She made a few calls but ultimately said everything was GTG after reviewing our med certificate, Japan entry form, and rabies titer. We were charged 600� total for both dogs.

another attendant quickly measured the height of the kennel and called to ensure it would fit on the 747-8 she told us it easily fits through the big cargo door!

The attendant checked our bags as well and they were taken away. They labeled the crates with the Lufstansa labels, and we had to wait for a security official to come and inspect the dogs out of the crate and the crates as well.

We loaded the dogs back in, and the security person zip tied the crate doors and the dogs were taken away.

we were emailed the baggage confirmations for dogs and bags.

we used air tags in everything and were able to track the dogs as they were boarded on the flight.

I have to say that flying out of Frankfurt with the dogs using a Giant crate was very easy.

 

We landed at Haneda from Frankfurt, cleared immigration and waited on our bags. Along one wall was a desk and sign that said �Animal Quarantine Services�, after retrieving our bags, we proceeded to the AQS desk and showed them our 40 day approval letter and med certificate. They directed us across the baggage claim hall to an elevator door. After a few minutes, a handler arrived with our dogs.

the large crate was lifted onto a regular luggage push cart but the giant crate required two carts side by side to load the big fella. I did not see a Porter trolley anywhere.

we wheeled the dogs back to AQS where they were moved into a room and the security zip ties were cut and the dogs were microchip scanned and quickly inspected and back into the crate they go.

paperwork in order, you receive a release letter and a couple of customs stamps to get through the door.

if you are headed to Yokota, make sure you use vehicle ops to reserve a chauffeured pet van to pick up you and your pets. They took us right to lodging. Amazingly effortless.

I hope this helps some of you out there as we have found very little info on DITY pet transport for giant dogs.

 

Can you please share how you were able to get a waiver to fly a non-US carrier? I'm a GS also and PCSing from Seattle to Vicenza next month. Although United has a public fare flight that is operated by Lufthansa, SATO's system can't price it because a government fare isn't available. It's maddening. I'm tentatively reserved on Delta although the flights are operated by Air France with a layover in Paris. I'd much prefer to fly with Lufthansa through Frankfurt but Sato refuses to book it.

 

 

I went through TMO and stated our case and they sent booking to SATO. Might be worth the call to Ramstein TMO of local is giving your grief.

I just submitted my travel voucher, will post if there are any issues with it paying out.

 

Thanks, I'll give the TMO a try. I can go through the Air Force or Army one but I'll keep Ramstein in mind.

Yes, please advise if issues on the voucher. JTR states no reimbursement when using a non-US carrier to include no reimbursement up to what a government fare would have been with a US carrier.

 

Maybe try this:

Exceptions to the Fly America Act

There are some circumstances where it�s not reasonable to use a U.S. flag air carrier, and you can make an exception to the Fly America Act. These circumstances are:

1. When a U.S. air carrier is not available.
2. When using a U.S. carrier service would extend the travel time by 24 hours or more.
3. When a U.S. carrier does not offer a nonstop or direct flight between origin and destination, and using a U.S. carrier:
   • Increases the number of aircraft changes outside the United States by two or more;
   • Extends travel time by six hours or more; or
   • Requires a connecting time of four hours or more at an overseas interchange point.
4. When the flight time from origin to destination is less than three hours and using a U.S. flag carrier doubles the flight time.
5. When there is an applicable Open Skies Agreement in effect that meets the requirements of the Fly America Act.

The exceptions provided by the Open Skies Agreements for government-funded travel do not apply if your transportation is funded by the Department of Defense (DOD).

Note: Ticket cost and convenience are NOT exceptions to the Fly America Act.

 

Thanks. I've got that reference from GSA. When I asked SATO about it, she told me she had no idea what I was talking about. I'll see what TMO has to say if they balk at a waiver. I work for the Army so the DoD clause may get me. I just wish DoD would take into account the challenge with using US carriers to transport pets. Especially internationally.

 

Yea, it took going direct to TMO. SATO is just a ticketing agent.

Also, FYSA, the active duty folks are now eligible for a $4000 pet shipping allowance.

Apparently GS can request reimbursement but are usually denied. Sounds like you are not n the same boat I was in.

will keep you posted. This was our biggest stress.

 

I read that about military. For pet transport reimbursement for GS employees, they can get it reimbursed under the Miscellaneous Expense Allowance (MEA). If TMO won't get me booked on Lufthansa, I'll probably purchase my ticket out of pocket but still be able to claim reimbursement under MEA for my dogs.

 

There was no need to do this.
Lufthansa, unlike most/all US airlines who have 'hard' temperature limits and don't accept animals for transport as checked baggage in the hold when temperatures are or are forecast to be outside a 20-to-85-degree window at any point during the trip at check-in, Lufthansa only has recommendations to exercise caution but will accept them nonetheless.
That is one reason why they are so popular with people taking their pets despite above-average pricing.

 

That�s great SA, I wish we would have had prior to changing flights. We had called the Lufthansa customer service and they stated they were unsure, so we erred o. The side of caution. Lufthansa customer service was good at booking the pets but weak on any other details regarding the pet process out of Frankfurt

 

Greetings-
Receiving some varied information from Lufthansa regarding taking our Dalmatian from San Diego to Zurich.
1. NS flight from SAN to MUC exists but there's an embargo for pet travel transiting MUC. Curious, why?
2. Flight from LAX to FRA and transiting is OK, but there's an embargo for pet travel back to the states?
Found the MUC transiting exclusion online but not the policy for the return.
LX has a NS out of LAX to ZRH but is several thousand $$$ more.
Thanks for any guidance.

 

There's no embargo for pet travel to the US. If your dog is eligible to (re-)enter the country with the current restrictions that were extended until the end of July 2024 in place and you have the paperwork to prove that, they'll transport him. A US dog that hasn't been in any high-risk country and which has all the required rabies vaccination documents is eligible to enter the country in any case.
It's all on the "importing dogs to the USA section on the "travelling with animals" website.

Email the LH service center ([email protected]) or use the feedback form on the website to clarify.

 

Thanks.