wayan

I'm flying ANA on IAD->NRT->MNL in business. I'm flying with my dog (dog + crate within allowed size/weight for checked baggage). The flight I want has space for my dog (they only allow 3 pet crates per flight).

Does anyone know if I need any special dog documents for the NRT layover?

I don;t expect I would as I am transiting on the same airline (United will not interline pets, so codeshare is out). The ANA website doesn't say I need anything special. When I call ANA and ask, they say to ask the Japanese Embassy, which doesn't have any info online and the person I spoke to there told me to ask ANA.

So now I ask you - oh great knowledgeable ones.

Besides documents, my only other concern is making sure my dog stays hydrated for the whole IAD->MNL trip as ANA says they will not water/walk pets during NRT layover.

geronimo

Based on recent experience where our dog travelled unaccompanied on KLM from NYC > AMS > NRT, we were only required to complete paperwork for entry to Japan ie final destination and nothing was required for the transit point in Amsterdam.

For clarity, I don't know for certain how your dog would be processed if it is in transit in Japan.

The following site may be of help re importing/exporting to Japan or answering those questions. http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/

You will want to avoid any clearance issues for Japan as entry requirements are time consuming and complex. As full disclosure, we used a specialist agency as part of a recent move as any error in the paperwork is expensive and difficult to amend.
In brief, for entry to Japan, your dog requires:
- two rabies vaccines, more than 6 months prior to entry to Japan
- confirmation that vaccine is effective from specialist lab in the USA, approved by Japanese MAFF
- permission from MAFF to import vet 90 days prior to travel
- a cert from your US vet confirming that the dog is fit for travel; this is then validated by USDA, in the week prior to travel

Regarding travel time, please bear in mind that your dog may be crated continuously for more than 24 hours, from check-in to final delivery after customs clearance. You can attach additional water & food trays to the outside of the crate but that may not be sufficient. This is the reason that our dog travelled via AMS, where it spent a few hours airside at the KLM pet hotel.

Disclaimer: This is my understanding of the Japanese regulations. You should contact a professional for advice on your move.

wayan

Yes, logically, we should not have to deal with any NRT paperwork as its a layover, but I hear rumors that its a pain, so want to check.

I know that others who have flown codeshares (UA to NRT, ANA onwards) have to clear customs, which is an ordeal with an animal. I want to make sure an all-ANA flight (which we're doing just to escape codeshare drama) will be quick and simple.

Good point on the double water containers. We'll skip food so she doesn't have to sit in her own poop.

wayan

I forgot to update this post after I flew IAD-NRT-MNL and then MNL-NRT-LAX a few months later. Overall, flying with a pet in cargo on ANA was really easy.

I made sure to buy a crate that was within ANA cargo requirements. I had all the paperwork for the destination countries (Philippines & USA in this case, which was just rabies immunizations). I can't remember any special paperwork I needed for ANA, though I do remember needing to mark the crate and have ID so ANA could make sure I was connected to the crate. Then I gave my dog to the ANA checkin staff at each departure (IAD/MNL) and then had to get the dog from the special cargo window at destination. At NRT, I was met at the jet bridge by an ANA rep who confirmed that I had a dog in transit, and I think one checked when I left NRT. Past that, nothing special. It was really easy overall.

The dog didn't have a good time going to MNL. It was her first flight and she did poop and pee in her crate and was a mess on arrival. Going back, she didn't eat before hand (we didn't feed her) so just pee in her crate. We did have an absorbent pad in there both ways which really helped. She did have a water bowl, but not sure that did much good. I think it probably just spilled vs. her drinking it. Regardless, she made it both ways without any long term issues.

My two recommendations for NRT layovers:
1. do not change airlines. As long as you are on the same airline on both sides of the connection (and especially ANA), then you don't have to check your pet into Japan, which is a massive PITA.
2. keep your layover short. I think the max time is 6 hours, and ours was less. If you stay overnight, you have to check your pet into Japan.

Good luck!