07/07/2026
Yesterday was the closest we’ve been to being denied boarding when travelling with Wylie. Check in was a breeze, they checked our papers, weighed him and we got our boarding passes. We had a slight hiccup in that our import permit for Thailand didn’t arrive in time, but as you can apply on arrival everything was ok, it just took a bit of explaining and we had to sign a waiver.
However, after we passed security we got stopped and told the airline wanted to measure the bag. After reading so many dog travel forums and accounts, I’d never heard of this before. Yet every time we leave Japan we get our bag measured. Even though we’ve taken 4 flights with this airline in the same bag, showed photos and videos of it fitting under the seat, they weren’t happy as it was larger than the allowed measurements (86cm combined 😳) they measured the bag at least 20 times (not sure what they were expecting to happen 😂) we then took out the plastic poles that keep the bag rigid and showed it easily squashed down further.
After multiple calls back and forth we were told if we taped the bag down at the gate then we’d be allowed to continue. Of course we agreed and off to the gate we went. Thankfully they didn’t make us do this, even though it was the same lady at the gate and we boarded first to prove the bag fit well under the seat.
Which is ironic as this airline has one of the most roomy spaces for dogs! I fit well under the seat and another ironic moment is that this was probably the most relaxed I’ve ever been on a flight. I slept the entire way on both legs and didn’t hear a peep from me.
Things like this really make dog travel more stressful than it should be. Yes airlines allow us to travel which is great, but the restrictions are so strict, sometimes I wonder why they allow at all.
It really makes us think about what we do going forward as every time we fly it’s a huge gamble and adds so much stress.
Sonia Aguado Sturdi
