Picked up the red siskins early this morning. All fit and well. They came over in a standard carry box and no issues whatsoever with AAE. No quarantine issues coming into NSW, but as others say birds going into WA is a different issue. Only issue was the b%^&*y traffic heading in on the M5 at 6am - basically a car park - how people cop that each morning is beyond me!
Apart from the traffic, a very positive experience from my end and gives me the confidence to freight birds in the future.
Air freighting birds
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arthur
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- Posts: 1999
- Joined: 13 Mar 2009, 10:22
Always include food & water . . even if only a 2 hr flight . . As E.o. says due to slack staff birds do get lost (your precious birds are only another box to them)
Avoid freighting on weekend if possible . . harder to find 'lost' birds when freight sheds are shut
When putting water container in keep away from corners . . birds can become stuck trying to hide & death can result
With finches and small parrots I always loosely pack some tea tree brush in the box . . This acts as a perch and as a deterrent to fluttering around/ hitting the roof etc
I use "Dogtainers" (possibly the company E.o. refers to) when sending larger parrots as they can be more than $100 cheaper than AAE (and they go in the same plane from AAE freight shed)
Of interest(?) . . I swapped a cock finch for a hen. Cock sent, and hen returned in same box on same day with same co. (AAE) . . $10 cheaper for return trip (and 'caught again')
Avoid freighting on weekend if possible . . harder to find 'lost' birds when freight sheds are shut
When putting water container in keep away from corners . . birds can become stuck trying to hide & death can result
With finches and small parrots I always loosely pack some tea tree brush in the box . . This acts as a perch and as a deterrent to fluttering around/ hitting the roof etc
I use "Dogtainers" (possibly the company E.o. refers to) when sending larger parrots as they can be more than $100 cheaper than AAE (and they go in the same plane from AAE freight shed)
Of interest(?) . . I swapped a cock finch for a hen. Cock sent, and hen returned in same box on same day with same co. (AAE) . . $10 cheaper for return trip (and 'caught again')
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SamDavis
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- Posts: 2578
- Joined: 03 Jan 2011, 14:01
- Location: Douglas Park NSW
Cost from Perth to Sydney with AAE was $51, which I thought was quite reasonable. I understand the box being treated as any other freight, but actually the AAE blokes in Sydney were very interested in them - what they were, native country, etc... and made an effort to get them to me as soon as the flight landed. I think picking them up at 6.30am was a factor as there was no queue - very quiet, just me and a courier waiting.
Great news about the longtails Ben - definitely were a pair! My Tricolor parrot finches also have chicks, I can hear them but from experience I don't start counting until they're well and truely fledged!
Great news about the longtails Ben - definitely were a pair! My Tricolor parrot finches also have chicks, I can hear them but from experience I don't start counting until they're well and truely fledged!
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flippenheck
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- Posts: 112
- Joined: 02 Sep 2009, 19:02
- Location: Adelaide
Sam I have a copy of iata rules for live animals at work. I have seen that you have the birds,but if you need any info, let me know
Luke the volume calculation is correct. All airlines charge what ever is highest, volume weight or acutal weight.
I might of just given away what I do for a living!
Luke the volume calculation is correct. All airlines charge what ever is highest, volume weight or acutal weight.
I might of just given away what I do for a living!
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SamDavis
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- Posts: 2578
- Joined: 03 Jan 2011, 14:01
- Location: Douglas Park NSW
Thanks flippenheck. I would be interested to know what the IATA rules say in regard to freighting birds. Was annoying to find all airlines reference and comply with the IATA regulations but they're not freely available. I'm sure others would be interested as well.
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E Orix
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- Posts: 2740
- Joined: 29 May 2009, 23:30
- Location: Howlong on NSW/Vic Border 30km from Albury
- Location: Howlong NSW
I must be lucky.
I simply ring one of the girls at Albury Dogtainers tell her when and where I intend to send the birds.They then tell me available flights
She will ask is the box your normal size and if I confirm that I just meet one of them at the freight gate and she gives me the stickers for the box and an account is sent to me. Its that easy.There is nothing to be wary of as far as I am concened.
I simply ring one of the girls at Albury Dogtainers tell her when and where I intend to send the birds.They then tell me available flights
She will ask is the box your normal size and if I confirm that I just meet one of them at the freight gate and she gives me the stickers for the box and an account is sent to me. Its that easy.There is nothing to be wary of as far as I am concened.
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jusdeb
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- Posts: 9796
- Joined: 12 Mar 2009, 19:43
- Location: Dubbo, NSW
- Location: Western Plains NSW
Hmmm so what happened then to my birds ? On at 5.30 ex Melbourne arrived Sydney 1 pm and then onto domestic flight to Dubbo , pick up 5 pm ..no food and no water and $85.00 .
Last time I saw a map of Oz Perth to Sydney was a lot further than Sydney to Dubbo .,
Staff carried them from plane straight to me and were very caring but sheesh ! not very good .
Last time I saw a map of Oz Perth to Sydney was a lot further than Sydney to Dubbo .,
Staff carried them from plane straight to me and were very caring but sheesh ! not very good .
Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue.
David Brent
David Brent
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E Orix
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- Posts: 2740
- Joined: 29 May 2009, 23:30
- Location: Howlong on NSW/Vic Border 30km from Albury
- Location: Howlong NSW
Jusdeb
Two things, as I have said and most others, anyone who doen't put water, seed and if possible a slice of Lebanese Cucumber in
a freight box for birds is being rather silly. Boxes do get sent on wrong planes,some get shuffled around and around at least with food and water
their chances of survival are very very good.
Why are boxes going to smaller regional airports cost more to freight than Melb.to Brisbane etc.
We get slugged because they say that a second handling company must be used to cover their non attendance and they need to be paid.
Even so Sydney to Dubbo is just one leg,I sent birds from Albury to Northern Qld and the girls at Dogtainers were very concerned because the cost was $70.
The extra cost was because the birds were actually handled for three flights and the last was by non affiliated staff.
There really isn't much we can do. I can remember way back when you were flying yourself you could actually take small boxes of birds inside the cabin or bigger boxes went freight free in the cargo area and on arrival were personally handed to you.
Oh how times have changed, some good, some bad and some just crazy!!!
I suppose Deb that is the disadvantage of living a pleasant rural life like you, Albury is still a regional airport as well even though they now charge parking fees.
Two things, as I have said and most others, anyone who doen't put water, seed and if possible a slice of Lebanese Cucumber in
a freight box for birds is being rather silly. Boxes do get sent on wrong planes,some get shuffled around and around at least with food and water
their chances of survival are very very good.
Why are boxes going to smaller regional airports cost more to freight than Melb.to Brisbane etc.
We get slugged because they say that a second handling company must be used to cover their non attendance and they need to be paid.
Even so Sydney to Dubbo is just one leg,I sent birds from Albury to Northern Qld and the girls at Dogtainers were very concerned because the cost was $70.
The extra cost was because the birds were actually handled for three flights and the last was by non affiliated staff.
There really isn't much we can do. I can remember way back when you were flying yourself you could actually take small boxes of birds inside the cabin or bigger boxes went freight free in the cargo area and on arrival were personally handed to you.
Oh how times have changed, some good, some bad and some just crazy!!!
I suppose Deb that is the disadvantage of living a pleasant rural life like you, Albury is still a regional airport as well even though they now charge parking fees.