Traveling with Dogs – Checked Baggage

Hello all,

With the borders opening to students, I started to prepare for my trip to Japan in a few weeks. I had already started the process to bring my dogs last year so all documents are in order and I even got my 40-day advanced notification approved for the airport and date I needed in Japan. The problem now is that my dogs needed to fly as cargo and the company that was helping me with this process told me that because of the war in Ukraine, airspace in Ukraine and Russia is restricted so cargo planes can’t go through.

I called various airlines and they told me they are operating as usual with commercial flights. It is true they had to change the routes a bit to avoid the restricted airspace but flights are coming/going right now.

Then I tried to see what it would be like to travel with my dogs as checked baggage, this is obviously to ensure they have space in a commercial flight.

The company that is helping me with the process said that Japan doesn’t allow the importation of animals that way which is strange because I had traveled with my dogs to other countries as checked baggage without problem (they are too big for cabin).

I tried calling the corresponding agency in Japan to verify the information but of course it’s the weekend and they are closed. I couldn’t really locate this information online either so I am hoping some of you may have first-hand experience with this and could tell me whether it is possible to travel with your dogs as checked baggage on a commercial flight.

I am getting very desperate because I am supposed to leave in 3.5 weeks and I cannot purchase the tickets until I figure this out. Of course there is a limit of people entering Japan each day too and the prices go up as the date approaches so I really need to get this done ASAP.

And yes, I know there are other restrictions to take into account. I just need to know… have any of you traveled with dogs as checked baggage.

TIA