Posted May 29, 200817 yr Can anyone tell me what the requirements are for carry boxes for budgies as luggage?(Qantas specifically) I have a wooden carry box but I'd like to know if it is suitable and big enough also, the website only lists the requirements for cat and dog cages, I've been on hold with the airline for 30min already!!
May 29, 200817 yr It would be the same requirement the cage must be able to fit under the seat so it is not in the way of feet.
May 29, 200817 yr Author Not here Elly, there are no animals allowed in the cabin here, they all have to go into the hold as baggage.
May 29, 200817 yr okay...I would actually call the airline and find out then, also I would find out what the enviroment is down there, do you have any breeders by you that ship birds? That is a good start too.
May 29, 200817 yr Author I tried to call the airline, sat on hold for nearly an hour and then just as someone answered...my phone ran out of batteries I think I'll try in a little while when it's pretty late, hopefully there will be less people trying to call them then and it will give my phone time to charge. The environment should be okay as they have special arrangements to ensure animals are kept safe and healthy while they are being transported, they get checked in as special baggage. Edited May 29, 200817 yr by melbournebudgies
May 29, 200817 yr I sent a tiel to melbourne 2 months ago. the only requirements is that the box is wooden and secure. there are no requirements on size, i guess they assume the owner would give it the best size box. I bought a tiel freight box from my local bird dealer for $14 it was about 40cm long, 20cm high and 25cm deep. had 2 perches and a water container. Closed in on all sides but one and a lockable door. Birds travel with Australia Air Express, on Qantas aircraft. Hope this helps
May 29, 200817 yr Author I have a wooden carry box that is slightly smaller than that, given a tiel is bigger than a budgie it would be okay then I would imagine. I could work out a perch for it, doesn't have any at the moment. What do you do for water? I would imagine it would spill.Out of interest how much did it cost to send the tiel? This one won't cost me anything as it is travelling as baggage with my mum.
May 29, 200817 yr The wooden boxes made for carrying budgies from the Nationals back over east were approx shoebox sized. They cost around $55 to transport. Box has mesh front, all wooden sides. The only opening has to be screwed shut. No perches. The box dimensions were aprox 5 or 6 inches square at the ends by approx 10 inches wide. Does that help ? Edited May 29, 200817 yr by KAZ
May 29, 200817 yr Author Mine is slightly larger than that, about 5inches square on the end and at a guess 14 inches wide, it has three mesh 'windows' on the front and has the slide bolt type latches on the doors. It sounds like it would be fine then. Were they only one bird in them? Just wondering as from recollection there was another Melbourne member that was interested in one of your budgies...
May 29, 200817 yr Mine is slightly larger than that, about 5inches square on the end and at a guess 14 inches wide, it has three mesh 'windows' on the front and has the slide bolt type latches on the doors. It sounds like it would be fine then. Were they only one bird in them? Just wondering as from recollection there was another Melbourne member that was interested in one of your budgies... The size of the boxes I saw were for the $55 price...any larger and the price goes up. They said they could accomodate 5 show budgies in that size box, as crowded was better for travel...they huddle and keep each other safe.
May 29, 200817 yr Author We won't have to pay for the budgie to travel because it will travel as part of my mum's free luggage allowance ;)Do you recall which thread it was that we discussed the original budgie transfer on and who the other person that wanted one was? Sounds like they could travel together.Found it! It was Jimmy and he wanted a lacewing, hmmm maybe you should just tell us what you have extra to sell at the moment! I don't want to just go palming birds off you but there are probably others I would like too... always liked lacewings as well
May 29, 200817 yr Author I think my box is fine Derek, it a nice solid brand new one 5 inches by 14 inches with secure latches on each end.
May 29, 200817 yr I would be interested to find out if you're allowed to take birds on as hand luggage, for future reference, when you find out MB. I don't think water would be a good idea, in fact I wouldn't think they would allow it especially in luggage holds as if spilt would potentially damage other peoples property. On a short trip it wouldn't be a problem with Budgies, but if your worried you could give them a block of apple. Edited May 29, 200817 yr by Norm
May 29, 200817 yr Water IS to be given, as well as food. Water needs to be in a small shallow cup that is glued to the base then filled with cotton wool and then filled with water. The cotton stops the water spilling . Seed is to be sprinkled on the bottom. The birds actually spend quite a number of hours in transit as they have to get to the air express terminal 1.5 hours before the flight, then after the flight there is an aditional 30-45min wait for them to be un loaded. From SA to VIC my Tiel was in the box from 8am until 3:30pm - long day! Birds are not permitted as hand luggage. Many people actually have a bad phobia of birds (like my friend - she is terrofied of them, which is interesting when she comes to myplace for coffee!) The cargo hold is pressureised and perfectly fine for the animals to travel - I am pretty sure they have a spot for the pets that is seperate from the baggage Edited May 29, 200817 yr by **Liv**
May 29, 200817 yr Author Liv as others have you are forgetting that the bird/s will be travelling as accompanied baggage which means the trip will be much shorter, but I will still give them water as you suggested, the cotton wool is a great idea.
May 29, 200817 yr Still the same amount of time Part of the huge travel time with me was we live a good hour from the airport, and ditto with my dad who picked him up. Pets, whether accompanied or not, still need to be checked in early, and after the flight, they pickup wait is still the same. and then there is any traveling times between home and airport etc.
May 29, 200817 yr Live birds are transfered in Australia by AE (Australian Express). They are at the airport. The box you have is fine. You try to make the box as light as possible to reduce costs. Make sure you have your name on it as a sender and the person it is going to as the destination. Always put your mobile number on as a contact. The boxes at the nationals were great. Professionally made. Mark the box as "LIVE BIRDS" A shoe box size wooden cage will hold four birds for transport. No water is allowed on the plane so give them water with Sparks (Vetafarm) a day or two before the flight. Also no lose seed is allowed so place a millet spray in the box with them. Budgie don't need constant water, a trip from Brisbane to Perth is 7 1/2 hours. That is an hour at the airport both ends and 5 1/2 hours flighting time. add to that the time you put the birds in the cage and out of the cage. So it is not that long with out water. The SQ team was packed in the travel case at 6am Brisbane time and was in the holding cage in Busselton at 8pm Brisbane time. No worse for wear. Thats 14 hours. Edited May 29, 200817 yr by Daz
May 29, 200817 yr No water is allowed on the plane so give them water with Sparks (Vetafarm) a day or two before the flight. Also no lose seed is allowed so place a millet spray in the box with them. Thats really interesting, because the same people, AE, said i must give food and water Very confusing. perhaps MB, you could give them a call and see what the guys in Melbourne have to say, as it seems different in every state hehe
May 29, 200817 yr Author Thanks DazI'll look into it when I have a moment and see what they say.I just realised one other reason you might not have been able to put loose seed in to Perth, WA has very strong rules about the import of plant material so they like to be able to easily identify anything coming in. A millet spray is much easier for someone checking at customs than a bunch of loose seed.
May 29, 200817 yr Author I did see that link but what I didn't notice before was that it says that live animals aren't allowed in Perth airport which means...the budgies can't travel with my mum which means....no budgies
May 30, 200817 yr The Air Express terminal is different to the airport. That is why the pets have to be checked in so early, at the AE airport terminal. not the actual airport. australian air express CALL 131213 Edited May 30, 200817 yr by **Liv**
May 30, 200817 yr Author Pets are not permitted in the following airports: Adelaide, Alice Springs, Cairns, Darwin, Gove, Hobart, Karratha, Perth, Port Hedland and Townsville. It only applies to the backwards airports on the north and west of the country though, our south east coast airports are enlightened and allow you to check them in at the luggage counter as part of your free baggage allowance. If the budgies were coming from NSW or Brisbane it would cost me nothing for them to travel.
May 30, 200817 yr have you called them???? My tiel would have been free if he was accompanied and that was from Adelaide!!! - I am very confused. I am completely sure you can send pets ANYWHERE in Australia The australian air express terminal is seperate from the (Adelaide) airport, which is the same for the other states too Edited May 30, 200817 yr by **Liv**
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