Checking Frozen Fish From Alaska
 

Back in 2005 I checked three boxes (styrofoam) from ANC-IAH. These boxes contained various fish vacuum packed and frozen with a small amount of dry ice. In 2005 this was not an issue. However I read on CO's website that styrofoam boxes are not permitted. Back in 2005 I put these back in the carbboard boxes they were sold in. Will I be able to do the same here in 2008 or has CO changed their policy on shipping frozen vacuum packed fish from 05 to 08.

Thanks.

The issue with the styrofoam is probably its durability. Once had an aircraft that overnighted at a warm outstation. A shipment of fresh fish had spilled in the belly on the last inbound of the day and...uh...seasoned overnight. When we took it out in the morning, the smell war overpowering. Even so, we completed the flight and the AC was subsequently taken out of service due to the smell. Costly to say the least.

Dry ice is only allowed in limited amounts because it robs the air of oxygen. The amount used for checked fish would be relatively small. In AK I'm sure they're pretty used to it so it shouldn't be a problem.

I will be interested to see if anyone knows the answer this off the top of the head. If it were me, I would call Continental, twice, with at least eight hours in between, and ask them.

Continental will permit the carriage of dry ice when used to pack perishables ...provided:
The package must be hard-sided and ventilated to allow release of gas. Styrofoam cooler not accepted for perishable goods.

A hazardous materials handling service charge of $35.00 applies when transported as checked baggage.

The package falls within these weight limitations:
5 LBS of dry ice as checked baggage and 4.4 LBS as carry on.

Checked baggage with dry ice must be declared as it requires a special tag that notifies the ramp and the pilot.

Hope this helps.......

Have a great day!

If I were you, I'd check with the lodge and call the CO office in the airport you're flying from to get the exact rules. The other thing you might want to do is use heavy tape on the boxes, as my experience is that the airport employees at the airport of your return, absolutely love halibut and salmon steaks for dinner, straight from your boxes.

About 6 years ago I did a fishing trip to Alaska. You probably do NOT need dry ice. I had a 30 minute float plane flight on K3 to KTN, connected to AS to SEA then CO to IAH then CRP (12 hours total flight time). No dry ice, fish packed in insulated boxes, and they arrived still mostly frozen but getting a little soft around the edges. Your lodge or guide will have delt with this daily and will know what to do.

AS has pretty detailed info at:

http://www.alaskaair.com/as/www2/car...pping-Fish.asp

A couple of years later, when on an Alaska cruise, I did a couple of fishing trips as a shore excursion, and in both cases they processed the fish and Fed-Exed them to me. I don't recall if those had dry ice or not.

I've been flying from DFW To CLE and back every two weeks using a styrofoam cooler in a box. Never had a problem until this week when the agent had an attitude. I'm not saying she was wrong just wrong in the way she went about things. The agent taking care of me asked what was in the box. I said frozen meat. She said any dry ice? I said no. The agent next to me stopped her and said they could not accept meat in a box. I said there is a styrofoam cooler in the box. She said we can't accept styrofoam coolers....The agent then cuts open the box and the sissors cut into the cooler. After much banter back and forth a red coat comes over and lets me check the bag. While I believe the rule is no meat/fish in boxes or just styrofoam I don't think it actually addresses a cooler in a box. The agent said she would look into it and document the record for my return to DFW.

The agent with an attitude claimed the meat could potentially leak on someone elses luggage. Well the week before the box didn't make a connection and arrived a day later than I and was still rock hard frozen. Not to mention when bags arrived wet from being left on the tarmac in the rain.

On a side note my father brings frozen fish from Alaska every August and never has a problem checking the fish which is frozen (no dry ice) in a styrofoam cooler in a box. He is about to do the same Saturday.

I think it depends on the agent and be ready to sign the release on the back of the luggage tag. I honestly believe you won't have a problem.

I flew back from Ketchikan in June, with two boxes of delicious fish packed by the lodge. The flight originated with AlaskaAir, connecting to CO in SEA back to IAH (that's a lot of acronyms right there...) without incident. The little fishies were still frozen when i landed the next morning. I was on the red-eye out of SEA due to (lack of) award availability.

Good luck but I think you should be good to go!

CLG

Styrofoam inside of cardboard box is what most people use.
In a 50 LB box, 2 frozen gel packs with the fish (frozen) will suffice.
All fish processers have them or you can buy at department stores also.
No problem.

What you need is a corrugated box lined with stryrofoam like this http://www.uline.com/Browse_Listing_2157.asp. You can buy it or make your own. I doubt you need the dry ice. A good shipping box and cold packs should do.

Here is the page with the relevant info from CO.com on Dry Ice and Seafood
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...e/fragile.aspx

Dry Ice
Continental Airlines will accept packages containing 5 lbs. (2.2 kg.) or less of dry ice as carry-on baggage or checked baggage. The container or package must be ventilated to permit the release of carbon dioxide gas. The container or package must be marked as containing dry ice and must show the net weight and the identity of the perishable item. Styrofoam coolers containing dry ice will not be accepted.

A $35.00 handling service charge applies to the transportation of dry ice as checked baggage.

Dry Ice in quantities greater than 5 lbs. (2.2 kg.) must be shipped as cargo.

Seafood
Continental Airlines will accept seafood as checked baggage if the following condition is met:

Seafood will be accepted only if it is wrapped in a sealed protective material and packed in a leak-proof container.
Seafood will not be accepted if packed in wet ice or if packed in a Styrofoam container.

Seafood carried in addition to the free baggage allowance will be assessed at the current excess baggage charge. In addition, seafood is subject to overweight and oversize charges.

Continental shall not liable for seafood. Excess Valuation may not be purchased for seafood.

No problems
 

All the fish was vacuum packed in 1lb packages and then packed in a styrofoam cooler and then placed inside a cardboard box. No complaints from CO.

With two gel packs?