I flew out of PP on Korean Airlines and transferred in Seoul. I was able to carry my dog on with me, as he was still within the weight range to do so, which he is not any longer. I felt the price was reasonable enough (around $100, which is paid for the entire journey and not by flight), and really had no issues from the airline or airports and never ran into any hidden fees. In fact, in Korea I walked my dog on his leash all around the Seoul airport and no one ever said anything. Once in America I flew with American Airlines and again had no issues, but did have to pay another $75 or so (you must pay a pet fee with each airline you fly with, although each airlines will charge a flat fee regardless of how many flights you have… so if possible it’s cheapest to use only one airline for your entire journey). I did pretty exhaustive research before I flew out, so here are some other things I learned (you probably know many of them):
“1) You must make reservations in advance with your airline beforehand to bring your pet, as they do limit the number on animals which can be on each flight. They’ll want to know the details of your animal (breed, weight, etc), as well as the dimensions of your carrier. Most if not all airlines have their own weight requirements for carry-on pets, and that is the weight of the animal plus carrier. In addition, for carry on pets the carrier must fall within certain dimensions and be properly ventilated. Ask about any required vaccinations or if you’ll need a health certificate to fly, both from the airline and the airports you transfer in. Sometimes the requirements for a carry-on vs checked pet are different, as the stress on a checked pet is greater (for example, some airlines require a health certificate for checked but not carried pets) and a checked pet will be outside while being transferred between planes and therefore poses more of a threat to the country. The payment for your pet is due upon check in, so be prepared for that, and they *will* weigh your pet in its carrier if you’re carrying it on. It is not allowed on most airlines to take your carry-on pet out during the flight, although I did take my puppy (in his crate) into the bathroom a few times during the flight and let him out to urinate on a puppy-pad. Each passenger can only carry on 1 pet, although 2 small animals of the same species may be allowed in the same crate under certain conditions.
“2) Some airlines (Western ones especially) have heat and cold weather regulations regarding checked pets. Be aware that if your destination or transfer airport is very hot or very cold, the airline may refuse to transport your pet. The temp requirements are sometimes as low as 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so it’s definitely something to consider.
“3) Many places recommend freezing your checked animal’s water. Then it will melt in flight and not spill while the animal is being loaded.
“4) I found getting my dog through Customs in America to be ridiculously easy (my port of entry was Chicago). I rang a bell, and someone came and looked at the rabies certificate, and didn’t even inspect my dog. The whole thing took maybe two minutes tops. I don’t know if I got lucky, but it was incredibly easy and everyone was very helpful.
“5) Be aware that when animals come to America from certain countries, such as Cambodia, they must also have a certificate from a licensed vet stating they have been visually inspected for screw worm within 5 days of their flight and have been found to be clean. I paid a local vet $5 to do this, and had them give me a signed and stamped letter as well as a business card. However, I was not asked to present this certificate in Customs. Again, I don’t know if I just got lucky, but better safe than sorry. The information about needing a screw worm certificate is buried in the Customs page and very easy to miss.
“6) Just for general information: swine ivermectin can be obtained cheaply from any vet or animal feed store. For dogs, it worms against everything but tape worm, prevents heart worm, and cures mange. This was my only option to worm my dog as I found him near death from parasites in rural Cambodia (it goes without saying the local vets are mostly useless). It does carry some risks; if your dog is infested with heart worm, there is a danger the dead heart worms can clog the heart and kill the dog (as my dog was a puppy, I was not too concerned about this), and certain dogs are sensitive to it (collies and herding types usually; I wouldn’t anticipate any trouble with the local breed). The swine ivermectin is administered to dogs in the ratio of .1cc per 10lbs of dog (.1, NOT 1! Also, .1mL = .1cc), injected sub Q (under the skin, not into the muscle) or given orally (but check your concentration online for the correct dosage, just to be sure). People will say the dosing must be very precise, but my puppy weighted maybe 2 or 3 lbs and got .3cc’s sub Q, a massive “overdose”, (a Khmer friend who used to work with dogs did it and assured me it was ok) and my puppy not only survived but instantly began to thrive. I truly believe that he otherwise would have died within a day or 2. If you are treating street dogs or for whatever reason need highly effective wormer for cheap…. or are in a rural area…. it’s the best option. It’s vital to worm dogs in Cambodia regularly…. and cats too, I’m sure, although I don’t know if ivermectin is safe for cats).”