Flying to Panama with Your Cat or Dog
Moving to a foreign country is stressful enough, but having to deal with the transportation of your beloved dogs or cats can complicate the matter even further. Here is the story of my journey--along with solutions--so you don't go through the same angst that I did. When I moved to Panama, I brought two 10-pound dogs with me, Sofi and Savannah. Only one dog is allowed to accompany each adult, so one of my babies had to ride in cargo... while the other had a first class ticket. Sofi drew the short straw, so she was in Cargo, while Savannah was in a soft pet carry on.
It's important to say that my dogs are Maltipoos. They have long legs, which makes them taller than a typical dog of the same weight. For example, my 10-pound dog is literally twice as tall as my friend's dachshund, who weighs the exact same amount.
It's important to say that my dogs are Maltipoos. They have long legs, which makes them taller than a typical dog of the same weight. For example, my 10-pound dog is literally twice as tall as my friend's dachshund, who weighs the exact same amount.
At the Airport
DFW is typically an easy airport to fly in and out of. I even bought a first class ticket to make the process smoother. However, I encountered multiple issues. First, the agent said my soft carry on bag was too small for Savannah. (It wasn't.) Because she's a small dog with long legs, the agent found a problem where there shouldn't have been one. I was literally on my hands and knees at the check-in counter proving that my little Savannah could stand up and turn around in the crate.
The second issue was with the checked kennel that Sofi was in. After an hour of paperwork and headaches, the gate agent decided that my brand-new crate wouldn't work because it had flip-lock lids on the side, similar to a food storage container. My girlfriends (who had just planned to drop me and leave) had to make a mad dash to a pet store 15 minutes away to buy an approved kennel for air travel. Although my first kennel had an "airplane approved" logo on it... it wasn't. Instead of spending 15 minutes at the check-in counter, I spent almost 3 hours! It was a good thing I had planned ahead and left plenty of time.
The Correct Kennel for Air Travel
Don't make the same mistake I made. Be sure you get the correct animal crate for transporting your dog or cat. This is a photo of an approved kennel. Notice the side ventilation, the steel front gate, and the bolted sides.
NOT ALLOWED:
- Crates with flip-lock lids (think Tupperware type closures)
- All steel mesh crates... the crate must have a hard plastic top
- Collapsible crate
CRATE REQUIREMENTS:
You must be able to put zip ties in the 4 corners of the crate and a zip tie locking the front gate to the kennel. This will ensure your dog or cat can't get out on the runway. Be sure to pack a tiny pair of scissors or knife in your checked baggage where you can easily get to it, because a key will not cut the zip ties. I know this because I tried. The key would have broken before the zip tie did.
Since no one loves my dogs as much as I love my dogs, I wish I'd had someone show me a photo of exactly what I needed before I left. It would have saved time, angst, money, and a frantic trip to the pet supply store in the middle of checking in.
The Arrival Process in Panama
Thankfully, getting my dogs into Panama was not nearly as challenging as leaving the United States. After getting off the plane, I was taken to passport control. They asked me how long I planned to stay. Knowing almost no English, I wasn't about to tell them that my move was permanent. Now that I was in possession of an unwanted ticket home, I was able to say in all honesty that I would be in Panama on holiday for 60 days. My passport was stamped and I was off to collect my luggage.
Panama has a very efficient luggage system, and I got my 3 checked bags off of the carousel in a matter of minutes. I went through a second screening where all bags have to be checked by a machine, and then I was able to collect my second dog in the airport vet area... only a few feet from where I was.
My paperwork was checked by two different veterinarian agents who spoke passable English, and I paid my fees. Within 15 minutes I was whisked out of the airport and into the warm night at 10:00 p.m.
My first task was to find a patch of grass for my dogs to use. There was a nice patch of grass at the edge of the airport parking lot, and several pees later, they were happy.
Click here to read the checklist for bringing your dog or cat into Panama.
The second issue was with the checked kennel that Sofi was in. After an hour of paperwork and headaches, the gate agent decided that my brand-new crate wouldn't work because it had flip-lock lids on the side, similar to a food storage container. My girlfriends (who had just planned to drop me and leave) had to make a mad dash to a pet store 15 minutes away to buy an approved kennel for air travel. Although my first kennel had an "airplane approved" logo on it... it wasn't. Instead of spending 15 minutes at the check-in counter, I spent almost 3 hours! It was a good thing I had planned ahead and left plenty of time.
The Correct Kennel for Air Travel
Don't make the same mistake I made. Be sure you get the correct animal crate for transporting your dog or cat. This is a photo of an approved kennel. Notice the side ventilation, the steel front gate, and the bolted sides.
NOT ALLOWED:
- Crates with flip-lock lids (think Tupperware type closures)
- All steel mesh crates... the crate must have a hard plastic top
- Collapsible crate
CRATE REQUIREMENTS:
You must be able to put zip ties in the 4 corners of the crate and a zip tie locking the front gate to the kennel. This will ensure your dog or cat can't get out on the runway. Be sure to pack a tiny pair of scissors or knife in your checked baggage where you can easily get to it, because a key will not cut the zip ties. I know this because I tried. The key would have broken before the zip tie did.
Since no one loves my dogs as much as I love my dogs, I wish I'd had someone show me a photo of exactly what I needed before I left. It would have saved time, angst, money, and a frantic trip to the pet supply store in the middle of checking in.
The Arrival Process in Panama
Thankfully, getting my dogs into Panama was not nearly as challenging as leaving the United States. After getting off the plane, I was taken to passport control. They asked me how long I planned to stay. Knowing almost no English, I wasn't about to tell them that my move was permanent. Now that I was in possession of an unwanted ticket home, I was able to say in all honesty that I would be in Panama on holiday for 60 days. My passport was stamped and I was off to collect my luggage.
Panama has a very efficient luggage system, and I got my 3 checked bags off of the carousel in a matter of minutes. I went through a second screening where all bags have to be checked by a machine, and then I was able to collect my second dog in the airport vet area... only a few feet from where I was.
My paperwork was checked by two different veterinarian agents who spoke passable English, and I paid my fees. Within 15 minutes I was whisked out of the airport and into the warm night at 10:00 p.m.
My first task was to find a patch of grass for my dogs to use. There was a nice patch of grass at the edge of the airport parking lot, and several pees later, they were happy.
Click here to read the checklist for bringing your dog or cat into Panama.