Flying with fish...
May 7, 2008 | 11:43 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 1
Flying with fish...
I am a college student flying home for the summer and I want to take my fish (a beautiful blue betta named Horatio) with me... any recommendations for going about this?
I called the airlines and the only thing they suggested was that I either put him in a container with less than 3oz of water or get a doctor's not stating that my fish is necessary for my mental stability while on the flight in which case I would have no restrictions...
I've looked up information online about this question and have found that numerous people have had no trouble flying with fish... but I'm curious how to go about this with the 3-1-1 rule with TSA. My betta can simply not fit in 3oz of water for very long.
I called the airlines and the only thing they suggested was that I either put him in a container with less than 3oz of water or get a doctor's not stating that my fish is necessary for my mental stability while on the flight in which case I would have no restrictions...
I've looked up information online about this question and have found that numerous people have had no trouble flying with fish... but I'm curious how to go about this with the 3-1-1 rule with TSA. My betta can simply not fit in 3oz of water for very long.
May 7, 2008 | 1:49 pm
#2
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 35,566
Welcome to FlyerTalk, college_petluver. We're happy to see you've discovered our brand new pet forum. Still, since travel with fish - live ones, at least - means travel with liquids - I fear that this becomes a TS/S matter. I'm going to move this post onward to that forum.
SanDiego1K
Senior Moderator
SanDiego1K
Senior Moderator
May 7, 2008 | 2:09 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,004
The current rules are in effect because TSA management has a high regard for their closest relations: fellow reptiles...
Last edited by IslandBased; May 7, 2008 at 2:16 pm Reason: clarity...
May 7, 2008 | 3:08 pm
#5
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I saw a snippet on a show this morning about a trained goldfish that can swim a slalom course, retrieve rings, etc. I am sure that if the TSA realized that fish could be trained, they would immediately ban them as potential threats, since that treasure chest at the bottom of the bowl could be an explosive device that the fish could retrieve.
May 7, 2008 | 3:09 pm
#6
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As opposed to taking a drink of it, which apparently is not satisfactory proof.
May 7, 2008 | 4:36 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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With the advances in genetic engineering, it is now only a matter of time till someone develops a fish that can swim (slowly
) in nitroglycerine. 
May 8, 2008 | 12:00 am
#9
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: PDX
Programs: TSA Refusenik charter member
Posts: 16,126
I called the airlines and the only thing they suggested was that I either put him in a container with less than 3oz of water or get a doctor's not stating that my fish is necessary for my mental stability while on the flight in which case I would have no restrictions...
May 8, 2008 | 5:39 am
#10
Moderator, Hertz; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
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The key question is NOT if you can take the fish, but can the fish join your FFP and earn miles?
I could just see buying a seat for my fish, getting both of us a upgrade to F and the fish has his own seat while the whY pax board...
I could just see buying a seat for my fish, getting both of us a upgrade to F and the fish has his own seat while the whY pax board...
May 8, 2008 | 5:42 am
#11
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Now we know why screeners are untrainable.. they hire them that way as a security measure.
May 8, 2008 | 6:08 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,004
A BDO might have trouble screening a fish...
May 8, 2008 | 11:09 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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If the plane has a "change of cabin pressure", the airline euphamism for "we blew a window at FL380 and have Rapid Depressurization you all are going to pass out in 8 to 10 seconds" how do you put the oxygen mask on your fish?
In a similar manner, what happens to the Precious Little dogs and cats in their crates and service dogs on the floor if the O2 goes? Are service dogs trained to hop on a seat and use a people mask, or are all these critters just SOL when the pressure goes? I can just imagine some Park Avenue matron who bought a FC seat for Fluffy Poo going totally berzerk having to watch the $50,000 Best In Show croak right before her eyes. . .
In a similar manner, what happens to the Precious Little dogs and cats in their crates and service dogs on the floor if the O2 goes? Are service dogs trained to hop on a seat and use a people mask, or are all these critters just SOL when the pressure goes? I can just imagine some Park Avenue matron who bought a FC seat for Fluffy Poo going totally berzerk having to watch the $50,000 Best In Show croak right before her eyes. . .
May 8, 2008 | 11:13 am
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,275
I once travelled carrying a bottle with a fish in it.
