The World's #1 Russian, Ukrainian & Eastern European Discussion & Information Forum - RUA!

This Is the Premier Discussion Forum on the Net for Information and Discussion about Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union. Discuss Culture, Politics, Travelling, Language, International Relationships and More. Chat with Travellers, Locals, Residents and Expats. Ask and Answer Questions about Travel, Culture, Relationships, Applying for Visas, Translators, Interpreters, and More. Give Advice, Read Trip Reports, Share Experiences and Make Friends.

Author Topic: Flying with a cat to the US.  (Read 7701 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline justadude

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 519
  • Country: us
  • Gender: Male
  • Trips: 10-20
Flying with a cat to the US.
« on: October 31, 2018, 04:11:51 PM »
I bought a ticket for my fiancé to fly to California from Ukraine using CheapoAir.com. I got a nice 2 hop flight with an appropriate layover of a few hours in NY to process her visa. Then I called the next day to arrange for her car to travel with her. Although Ukrainian Airlines was friendly and charged a fee of only $113 JetBlue said the cat cannot fly. Cheapoair cancelled my ticket and charged me a $250 fee, which apparently was generous, since i was just past the 24 hour mark.

I thought this would be a routine matter as so many pets fly these days.

How do I even buy a ticket for this cat? Can I do it through third party booking or do I have to pay the big bucks by booking directly with the airline?
two 90 day fiance visas, one 73 day fiance. Lived in Lvov and Odessa for 2 years. California native now on the Oregon Coast

Offline Contrarian

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 13097
  • Country: us
  • Gender: Male
  • Status: Just Looking
  • Trips: 1-5
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2018, 04:21:17 PM »
I bought a ticket for my fiancé to fly to California from Ukraine using CheapoAir.com. I got a nice 2 hop flight with an appropriate layover of a few hours in NY to process her visa. Then I called the next day to arrange for her car to travel with her. Although Ukrainian Airlines was friendly and charged a fee of only $113 JetBlue said the cat cannot fly. Cheapoair cancelled my ticket and charged me a $250 fee, which apparently was generous, since i was just past the 24 hour mark.

I thought this would be a routine matter as so many pets fly these days.

How do I even buy a ticket for this cat? Can I do it through third party booking or do I have to pay the big bucks by booking directly with the airline?

Doesn’t she have a powerful enough broom? ????????????

Happy Halloween.

Online andrewfi

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 20730
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
    • Articles About Almost Anything!
...everything ends always well; if it’s still bad, then it’s not the end!


Online AvHdB

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 14933
  • Country: nl
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Ukraine, Kiev
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 20+
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2018, 05:01:07 PM »
I bought a ticket for my fiancé to fly to California from Ukraine using CheapoAir.com. I got a nice 2 hop flight with an appropriate layover of a few hours in NY to process her visa. Then I called the next day to arrange for her car to travel with her. Although Ukrainian Airlines was friendly and charged a fee of only $113 JetBlue said the cat cannot fly. Cheapoair cancelled my ticket and charged me a $250 fee, which apparently was generous, since i was just past the 24 hour mark.

I thought this would be a routine matter as so many pets fly these days.

How do I even buy a ticket for this cat? Can I do it through third party booking or do I have to pay the big bucks by booking directly with the airline?

https://www.certapet.com/jetblue-pet-policy/

https://www.jetblue.com/traveling-together/traveling-with-pets/

You may have been given bad information.


Hopefully you can tell the difference between a car and cat.  :laugh:

Your fiancé needs to organize a so-called pet passport. It records all inoculations and treatments. What is the age of said feline? Most animals you see onboard are flying domestically, where control is less stringent.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet_passport

KLM has a long history of transporting animals from the largest to the smaller ones.

It is worth noting a 'few hours' in JFK can be VERY tight. I will assume she departs from JFK as well for the West Coast. The translator can only meet her in general arrival hall. After she checks back in she is on her own after security control.
“If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?” T.S. Eliot

Offline justadude

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 519
  • Country: us
  • Gender: Male
  • Trips: 10-20
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2018, 07:24:18 PM »
Hopefully you can tell the difference between a car and cat.  :laugh:


Of course I can. One ends with a "t", the other ends with an "r"!

My fiance took care of all of the readiness. She got the shots and travel documents and kitty visa, as it were.

Thanks, Andrew, for those links. JetBlue told me I cannot add a cat booking because I bought an "interline" ticket, which, apparently, means one ticket including two different airlines. Later the story became there are already 3 pets booked on this flight, with a maximum of 4 allowed. The last slot is a wild card slot, given on a first come, first served basis. The agent talked me out of playing the cat lottery.

I guess my question is this: Can I book a comprehensive trip through a third party organization like justfly.com and get a ticket for the cat?
two 90 day fiance visas, one 73 day fiance. Lived in Lvov and Odessa for 2 years. California native now on the Oregon Coast

Online AvHdB

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 14933
  • Country: nl
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Ukraine, Kiev
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 20+
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2018, 07:41:28 PM »
Hopefully you can tell the difference between a car and cat.  :laugh:


Of course I can. One ends with a "t", the other ends with an "r"!

My fiance took care of all of the readiness. She got the shots and travel documents and kitty visa, as it were.

Thanks, Andrew, for those links. JetBlue told me I cannot add a cat booking because I bought an "interline" ticket, which, apparently, means one ticket including two different airlines. Later the story became there are already 3 pets booked on this flight, with a maximum of 4 allowed. The last slot is a wild card slot, given on a first come, first served basis. The agent talked me out of playing the cat lottery.

I guess my question is this: Can I book a comprehensive trip through a third party organization like justfly.com and get a ticket for the cat?

In simple words for this sort of flight think KLM. KBP > AMS > JFK > LAX. Presently the flights are between $ 610 and $ 560 round trip at the end of November to JFK, I doubt adding LAX as a final destination will add that much to the cost.

Curious does the putty kat have an international animal document/passport? Further why are there two stops between KBP and JFK, or was that not clearly indicated?

Here is a KLM link > https://www.klm.com/travel/us_en/prepare_for_travel/travel_planning/pets/index.htm <
“If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?” T.S. Eliot

Offline Lord of the Dance

  • Supporting Hero Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1305
  • Country: us
  • Gender: Male
  • Status: Just Looking
  • Trips: None Yet
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2018, 09:36:39 PM »
Maybe get one of those 'emotional support' cards for the cat?  :biggrin:

Seems like that's a pretty easy way to avoid all the messing around. Hell, you could probably get a bomb on a plane if you claimed it was for emotional support.  :laugh:
"My soul cries out with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great, and my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait." - Canticle of the Turning

Online andrewfi

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 20730
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
    • Articles About Almost Anything!
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2018, 12:17:12 AM »
If the story changed then you were being lied to.
If I were you I'd not book flights with complications through an aggregator, at the least, I'd use the airline's own website or call centre.
...everything ends always well; if it’s still bad, then it’s not the end!

Offline rosco

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5939
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 10-20
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #8 on: November 01, 2018, 03:11:22 AM »
If the story changed then you were being lied to.
If I were you I'd not book flights with complications through an aggregator, at the least, I'd use the airline's own website or call centre.

This is the one.

You need to deal directly with the airline and avoid a 3rd party making up their own policy. It'll probably cost a bit more but would've saved you $250 from the get go.

Offline justadude

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 519
  • Country: us
  • Gender: Male
  • Trips: 10-20
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #9 on: November 01, 2018, 06:31:45 AM »
It's hard to believe that this could be as complicated as it is. She did some checking and apparently this is the process. Buy a ticket from the first airline if they have space for an animal (there is a max number allowed). Call the second, or next airline and see if they have a ticket with space for an animal. If the answer is no, call the first airline and beg for a refund. So in the year 2018 this is the most efficient way to do it apparently.
two 90 day fiance visas, one 73 day fiance. Lived in Lvov and Odessa for 2 years. California native now on the Oregon Coast

Online AvHdB

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 14933
  • Country: nl
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Ukraine, Kiev
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 20+
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #10 on: November 01, 2018, 06:43:46 AM »
It's hard to believe that this could be as complicated as it is. She did some checking and apparently this is the process. Buy a ticket from the first airline if they have space for an animal (there is a max number allowed). Call the second, or next airline and see if they have a ticket with space for an animal. If the answer is no, call the first airline and beg for a refund. So in the year 2018 this is the most efficient way to do it apparently.

I am not sure what is so difficult. FLY ONE AIRLINE! Book directly with said airline, think KLM to AMS > JFK perhaps Delta onwards. Book directly with said airline, pay for puttins.

Yes it might cost you a bit more but everything can in fact be done on line.
“If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?” T.S. Eliot

Offline Chris

  • Moderator
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 14372
  • Country: england
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Chernivtsi, Ukraine
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 20+
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #11 on: November 01, 2018, 08:26:25 AM »
It's hard to believe that this could be as complicated as it is. She did some checking and apparently this is the process. Buy a ticket from the first airline if they have space for an animal (there is a max number allowed). Call the second, or next airline and see if they have a ticket with space for an animal. If the answer is no, call the first airline and beg for a refund. So in the year 2018 this is the most efficient way to do it apparently.

I am not sure what is so difficult. FLY ONE AIRLINE! Book directly with said airline, think KLM to AMS > JFK perhaps Delta onwards. Book directly with said airline, pay for puttins.

Yes it might cost you a bit more but everything can in fact be done on line.


Also, if you call the said airline they will talk you through it, Lufthansa I have found for one are very good for helping out and working round problems on the phone. But you have to have your act together first, they don't have crystal balls, yet!
Слава Україні

Offline Contrarian

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 13097
  • Country: us
  • Gender: Male
  • Status: Just Looking
  • Trips: 1-5
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #12 on: November 01, 2018, 09:56:17 AM »
It's hard to believe that this could be as complicated as it is. She did some checking and apparently this is the process. Buy a ticket from the first airline if they have space for an animal (there is a max number allowed). Call the second, or next airline and see if they have a ticket with space for an animal. If the answer is no, call the first airline and beg for a refund. So in the year 2018 this is the most efficient way to do it apparently.

I am not sure what is so difficult. FLY ONE AIRLINE! Book directly with said airline, think KLM to AMS > JFK perhaps Delta onwards. Book directly with said airline, pay for puttins.

Yes it might cost you a bit more but everything can in fact be done on line.


Also, if you call the said airline they will talk you through it, Lufthansa I have found for one are very good for helping out and working round problems on the phone. But you have to have your act together first, they don't have crystal balls, yet!

Check out their photos of animals flying.

https://m.facebook.com/DeltaPrivateJets/

Online andrewfi

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 20730
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
    • Articles About Almost Anything!
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #13 on: November 01, 2018, 11:02:59 AM »
I think that perhaps somebody is trying to cheap out on this, hence the problems.

Here's a tip for you Justadude, take responsibility for stuff. Chances are that you have more money, more experience of traveling intercontinental. Don't leave it to your woman.

Call her up, tell her that you'll sort it out and meet her at the airport where she lands at the USA.

Then get on the web, find who can book her in a through flight and sort out the cat stuff. Be the man she expects and, right now, needs you to be.
...everything ends always well; if it’s still bad, then it’s not the end!

Offline justadude

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 519
  • Country: us
  • Gender: Male
  • Trips: 10-20
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #14 on: November 01, 2018, 02:59:26 PM »
I don't think there is one airline that flies all the way.

Yes, cheaping out.

Today I shifted the burden to her. I told her to buy the tickets and I will reimburse her. This is likely more evidence that I am a bad person.
two 90 day fiance visas, one 73 day fiance. Lived in Lvov and Odessa for 2 years. California native now on the Oregon Coast

Online AvHdB

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 14933
  • Country: nl
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Ukraine, Kiev
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 20+
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #15 on: November 01, 2018, 03:13:42 PM »
I don't think there is one airline that flies all the way.


KLM KBP # 1386 > AMS

KLM AMS # 0643 > JFK

KLM JFK # 5182 > LAX

Note: There is only 110 minutes transfer time at JFK. If I am not mistaken there is a direct flight of KLM from AMS directly to LAX. But I am not a travel agent. Most likely other airlines also offer such flights.

The price is $ 567 taxes included ~ puddy kat fee excluded.
“If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?” T.S. Eliot

Offline Halo

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4692
  • Country: 00
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #16 on: November 01, 2018, 04:53:43 PM »
I don't think there is one airline that flies all the way.

Yes, cheaping out.

Today I shifted the burden to her. I told her to buy the tickets and I will reimburse her. This is likely more evidence that I am a bad person.

If you are not trolling and actually did this, and if she still continues to book a flight and come to the US, then you are nothing more than a means to an end.  But she is the same for you, so two peas in a pod at the end of the day.   
After the fall of communism, the biggest mistake Boris Yeltsin's regime made was not to disband the KGB altogether. Instead it changed its name to the FSB and, to many observers, morphed into a gangster organisation, eventually headed by master criminal Vladimir Putin. - Gerard Batten

Online andrewfi

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 20730
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
    • Articles About Almost Anything!
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #17 on: November 01, 2018, 05:17:43 PM »
If she had any expectations that you were a real man she now knows differently.

Why not be honest and tell her to not come, after all, you are not going to be there for her in any real sense.

Be man enough to be honest with her (and yourself). And when you have done that sign up for some therapy sessions to start to sort yourself out - I doubt that you will be able to do it alone.
...everything ends always well; if it’s still bad, then it’s not the end!

Offline Tom Cat

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5383
  • Country: us
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Russia
  • Status: Just Looking
  • Trips: 20+
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #18 on: November 01, 2018, 05:37:30 PM »
Having traveled many times to Ukraine and Russia and back, flying to and from Houston during a weekday usually Mondays  can be very reasonably priced.
If she arrived in Houston it's a short flight from California to meet her. Better yet drive there and spend a couple days sighting.  This personal effort on your part will go a long way in  repairing some of the damage you have done.
Don't shoot the messenger, links to articles posted, don't necessarily reflect my personal opinion.

Offline Manny

  • Moderator
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 19719
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Russia
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 20+
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #19 on: November 02, 2018, 12:09:30 AM »
Yes, cheaping out.

Today I shifted the burden to her. I told her to buy the tickets and I will reimburse her. This is likely more evidence that I am a bad person.

 :o

I think this endeavour isnt for you.

Maybe she and her cat will vanish upon landing and never arrive to you?
Read a trip report from North Korea >>here<< - Read a trip report from South Korea, China and Hong Kong >>here<<

Look what the American media makes some people believe:
Putin often threatens to strike US with nuclear weapons.

Online andrewfi

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 20730
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
    • Articles About Almost Anything!
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #20 on: November 02, 2018, 02:08:54 AM »
If you think that your selfishness is evidence that you are a bad person then I'd suggest that you probably are a bad person. You are knowingly acting in a way that makes this woman's life harder. You are playing with her, manipulating her to see how she responds.

This goes beyond mere selfishness. Remember how I referred to your 'home' and life together, as designed by you, as a prison. Well, right now, I think that I was closer to to the truth than I imagined.
...everything ends always well; if it’s still bad, then it’s not the end!

Offline shakespear

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8136
  • Country: us
  • Gender: Male
  • Status: Just Looking
  • Trips: 20+
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #21 on: November 02, 2018, 07:47:08 AM »
Dude I joined this tread late but I'm about to give you some fatherly advice . . . . . . .

DO NOT MARRY THIS WOMAN WITHOUT A PRE NUP!!!!!

This means you will have to hire her a Russian speaking attorney to represent her
interests.  The document will have to be translated into both English and Cyrillic.

I will be making my LAST $4000 monthly spousal support payment on December 1,
2018.  I've been where you are, done that and have the t-shirt.

Ever seen the tv show "Lost In Space"?  Well consider me the robot flailing my arms
wildly in all directions and screeching the words "Warning - Warning - Danger - Danger"     
"If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun" - Katharine Hepburn

Offline rosco

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5939
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 10-20
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #22 on: November 02, 2018, 11:52:23 AM »
I don't think there is one airline that flies all the way.

Yes, cheaping out.

Today I shifted the burden to her. I told her to buy the tickets and I will reimburse her. This is likely more evidence that I am a bad person.

Bzzzz.

This boys on the windup, real people don’t behave like this. Im out.

Offline rosco

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5939
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 10-20
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #23 on: November 02, 2018, 11:58:03 AM »
Dude I joined this tread late but I'm about to give you some fatherly advice . . . . . . .

DO NOT MARRY THIS WOMAN WITHOUT A PRE NUP!!!!!

This means you will have to hire her a Russian speaking attorney to represent her
interests.  The document will have to be translated into both English and Cyrillic.

I will be making my LAST $4000 monthly spousal support payment on December 1,
2018.  I've been where you are, done that and have the t-shirt.

Ever seen the tv show "Lost In Space"?  Well consider me the robot flailing my arms
wildly in all directions and screeching the words "Warning - Warning - Danger - Danger"     

This will be controversial but here goes......

If she has quit her life and given everything for a shot at happiness, I hope she rinses his bank account. He’s bang out of order. Chances are that if she is the angel we think she might be, she’ll simply leave with a broken heart and return home feeling ashamed.

Online andrewfi

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 20730
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
    • Articles About Almost Anything!
Re: Flying with a cat to the US.
« Reply #24 on: November 02, 2018, 12:25:28 PM »
I don't think there is one airline that flies all the way.

Yes, cheaping out.

Today I shifted the burden to her. I told her to buy the tickets and I will reimburse her. This is likely more evidence that I am a bad person.



Bzzzz.

This boys on the windup, real people don’t behave like this. Im out.

I don't think there is one airline that flies all the way.

Yes, cheaping out.

Today I shifted the burden to her. I told her to buy the tickets and I will reimburse her. This is likely more evidence that I am a bad person.

Bzzzz.

This boys on the windup, real people don’t behave like this. Im out.

I hope that you are right. Problem is that folks have met and spoken with him. He might well be a real, but very bad, example of the US male.
...everything ends always well; if it’s still bad, then it’s not the end!


 

 

Registration