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Delta/Northwest Airlines & Shipping
#899396
01/29/10 07:39 PM
01/29/10 07:39 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 16,800 St. Johns, Florida
Srlb
OP
Glideritis Anonymous
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OP
Glideritis Anonymous
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 16,800
St. Johns, Florida
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I have to say without a doubt, although they were a small bit more expensive to use, they are by far the BEST airline I have used to ship my gliders and I can only pray that I can use them in the future. Let me tell you about my experience with them. As most know I just recently moved from Texas to Florida. Well, I had a joey that was ready to ship when we got down here. It would be going to Indiana. I called Continental, as they are the ones I normally use, and they only had one flight going out like the next day and it was leaving at 8 in the morning and not arriving until 1130 pm. No...would NOT do that to one of my gliders. I understand there may be a layover, but I am not going to take the chance with that long of a layover. They said they wouldnt have another *animal flight* available for some time and plus weather was playing a factor we had to watch... So, after talking with the owner, and explaining how after TWO BAD experiences with American how I would NEVER use them again, he suggested I call Delta. Hmmm...never heard anything about them, so let me call and see their requirements. First of all, one of the PLUSES I got from them...a health certificate IS A REQUIREMENT. I am SOOO happy to see this. You see with American nor Continental do you HAVE to have one, and Im sorry, but if you are going to be shipping a live animal I think it is a MUST HAVE prior to shipping. Ok, one brownie point... Next, I asked about where they are kept. They are kept indoors in a heated area until the plane is ready to go, they are then transferred to a heated van to be taken to the plane. Animals are the last things loaded so that way they dont have to sit in the cargo space with the hatch open too long. Once the plane lands, they are the first ones off, they are loaded into another heated van and either taken to their next plane or inside the heated area to wait for their next flight or owner to pick up. Brownie point 2 If an emergency should arise, they will contact one of the people they have numbers for and find out what they would like done with the animal so the animal does not have to stay overnight at the airport. Although I ship during the day,this was still comforting to know for a *just in case* scenario. Brownie point 3 When I got to the airport to drop her off, the first thing I was greeted with was a Hi there, how are you today? And a smile. Hmmm...ok...kind of odd...but a good odd. FIRST question they asked after I said hi I have a reservation for a sugar glider, was do you have the health certificate. After I said I did, they asked me how the little baby was doing? (brownie point 4) After doing the paperwork which really surprised me, since they already had it ALL completed and just waiting on my signatures, they assured me I did not need the heat warmer packs and they do not allow the animals in any kind of cold weather other than being unloaded from the van to the plane (brownie point 5). They then double checked to make sure she was snuggled in tight and made sure the paper was packed around her kritterkeeper nice and snug so she didnt feel any *bumpies* as they called it...(brownie point 6)told me to feel free to call if I had any concerns throughout the day, and then pulled up the weather to let me know what the weather would be like for her trip to Indiana...now that may have been a personal touch but one that won me over. I got a report from the owner about how they were when he went and picked her up and this is what he told me... [quote]I had a great experience w/ airline. When I got there they had to call terminal & have her brought over. The building you pick cargo up at was not heated so they dont keep animals there. They only bring them, over after the receiver checks in. And he said it would take a couple extra minutes because they had to hook up a heated pull cart. We have a new terminal at airport so cargo location is a good 15 minutes away and they pull those carts behind a tractor-like vehicle & a few of them are enclosed & heated & thats what she was brought over on. There was actually a man sitting down waiting for his 7 boxes & he was getting impatient & the guy at the desk told him it would be a few minutes because transporter had to hook up the heated cart. When the transporter arrived out back, the driver grabbed her & brought her to me first(before the other gentleman got his boxes), when man complained the airline worker said "Sir, this is a live animal and takes priority before all other cargo, which is a service the shipper pays extra for." [/quoted] Yep that is a BIG brownie point as well. I HIGHLY recommend Delta/Northwest for shipping your babies. They did a WONDERFUL job not only with my baby, but also with both the new owner, and myself. They also got her there without being as upset as others I have shipped using Continental. Yea Delta!!
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Re: Delta/Northwest Airlines & Shipping
[Re: Srlb]
#899405
01/29/10 07:50 PM
01/29/10 07:50 PM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,402 Michigan
gliderma
Serious Glideritis
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Serious Glideritis
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,402
Michigan
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sounds really good, Peggy! What was the cost and do you know if they ship everywhere in the US?
Lynn Martel 616-272-4374 989-400-5686
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Re: Delta/Northwest Airlines & Shipping
[Re: Srlb]
#899406
01/29/10 07:50 PM
01/29/10 07:50 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,970 Spring, Texas
Trigger
Glider Addict
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Glider Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,970
Spring, Texas
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That is awesome Peggy. Glad to hear how well they treated your baby. That's the way our babies should be cared for on any airline.
»-(¯`v´¯)-»MO MONEY!»-(¯`v´¯)-»kids Chance, Dylan, John, & Kayla Skittles, Snupi, Snuki, Lucy, Shanu, Caspian, Ivy, Kalysta, Kaliya, Santee, Cheyenne, Apache, Comanche, Twirpy, Meribelle, Santeria, Shyamalan, Sebastian, Zoey, Naira & Katsu www.jensfuzzyfriends.com
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Re: Delta/Northwest Airlines & Shipping
[Re: DirtyPaws]
#899442
01/29/10 08:42 PM
01/29/10 08:42 PM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,402 Michigan
gliderma
Serious Glideritis
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Serious Glideritis
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,402
Michigan
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I know they are big here but wasn't sure if they transport animals on every flight. At $211 it is just about the same as Continental, but sounds way better!
Lynn Martel 616-272-4374 989-400-5686
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Re: Delta/Northwest Airlines & Shipping
[Re: gliderma]
#899474
01/29/10 10:28 PM
01/29/10 10:28 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 548 North AL
zookeeper18
Glider Lover
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Glider Lover
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 548
North AL
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Thanks so much for the info! I only have 3 joeys left but, that sure opens up more options for finding good homes.
Theresa Committed wife! (As in needs to be committed!) Mom to 3 skin kids, 3 dogs,a cat, and 5 sugar gliders! Adam , Apple , Pita , Zita and Bobo
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Re: Delta/Northwest Airlines & Shipping
[Re: zookeeper18]
#899506
01/30/10 12:11 AM
01/30/10 12:11 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,983 Denton, TX
ValkyrieMome
Glideritis Anonymous
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Glideritis Anonymous
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,983
Denton, TX
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Good info! Glad to know - sounds as if they are taking animal cargo very seriously indeed.
Alden "Animals can communicate quite well. And they do. And generally speaking, they are ignored." Alice Walker
Mom to Valhalla; 6 cats; 1 macaw; 2 hedgehogs; and very many great gliders!
(plus the 2 skin kids) valkyriegliders.com
Kyrie, nothing will ever fill the hole you left in my heart.
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Re: Delta/Northwest Airlines & Shipping
[Re: Sherri]
#962750
06/22/10 07:58 PM
06/22/10 07:58 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,414 Minneapolis, MN
wildlifeangel
Glider Slave
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Glider Slave
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,414
Minneapolis, MN
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I know this was posted a few months ago originally... But I felt it was necessary for me to add my experiences with BOTH Continental and Delta: Continental experience 1: I had my first 4 gliders shipped together from Florida. When I arrived at the gate (same as where people come in), the lady had no idea where they were, and she finally came back and told me that there was nothing on the flight for me! I was panicked, first I called Alyse, and she had no idea either. It was 4:30 when they were supposed to arrive. After 15 minutes of panicked holding to be connected to someone to know [censored] happened, I was told, "our phones are down" (we were talking on them...duh!) and that the gliders missed their connection in Chicago and that they would get in at 9:30pm. When they finally came there was no place to check them out, so I had to borrow the lady's office to make sure everyone was okay. They were all traumatized and awake. Delta Experience 1: I needed to ship twin boys down to Birmingham, AL. First I called continental, but they would ship them through NJ to Atlanta, and no closer. I tried Delta and they said they could ship through Atlanta to Birmingham. We went with Delta out of convenience, but I was glad that we did. The place where I dropped them off is a seperate building where it was easy to get to. The people had questions, I had a health certificate, and they were very friendly. The boys arrived on time and were picked up without mishap, wanting to play and be social that very night. Delta Experience 2: First, I arranged shipment to Michigan, and as the time got closer... i forgot! The buyer called me and I could not believe that i had forgotten. I called Delta immediately and re-scheduled the boys to get sent the next day. (I also gave the buyer $50 back for the inconvenience) The guys at delta were helpful and the boys arrived happy and friendly. Continental Experience 2: My breeder tried to find a way to ship my little Preston via Delta, but there wasn't time for the vet check before he was coming here. So we decided to send via Continental. He arrived on time, but that is all the good I can say about it. The animals for Continental arrive in the same place that oversized luggage does. And to my HORROR I watched the man who was unloading things THROW Preston's crate down the little ramp. My poor baby was traumatized, I took him out to check on him right away, and he was terrified. He crabbed at me each time he saw me for a month (but was fine with my husband!). After those experiences, I am VERY hesitant to ever ship via Continental again. I want my babies to arrive comfortable and happy... not terrified and crabby!
Nadine Adam-Eve Starsky-Bianca Gabriel-Charity Barrington-Bailey Travis-Rose-Ruby Justice-Mercy Natalia-Carmella-Cayden Minka-Marco Reagan-Jocelynn Donnovin-Selina Kaluah-Keeko-Emily-Monty-Lexy-Kevin-Raven-Skeeter www.tspsugar.com
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Re: Delta/Northwest Airlines & Shipping
[Re: Srlb]
#963326
06/23/10 04:37 PM
06/23/10 04:37 PM
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JamieInWA
Unregistered
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JamieInWA
Unregistered
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I too used Delta to ship my girls from Texas to WA and had a good experience. Picked them up at the cargo center and all went well. Did need a health cert then, but we need one to ship into WA anyways. Importation laws.
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Re: Delta/Northwest Airlines & Shipping
[Re: ]
#964042
06/25/10 08:10 AM
06/25/10 08:10 AM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 16,800 St. Johns, Florida
Srlb
OP
Glideritis Anonymous
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OP
Glideritis Anonymous
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 16,800
St. Johns, Florida
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Another reason I like Delta..... I just took Dolly to the airport, her original flight was at 8:30 this morning. She was to arrive at 2:53 this afternoon. The girl who works check in said, hey why dont I put her on this flight that leaves out of here in a half hour and she will get there at noon, that way we dont have to worry about the heat in Atlanta. OK!! sounds great!! So she zipped through the paperwork and called down, the guy was up there to pick her up to take her to the plane before we even finished with me paying!! She also said she does not understand why they do not charge us the same fare as they charge for birds, since they require the same fragile care and weigh less than birds...she recommends that anyone that ships with them to at least ask when you call to make a reservation, and maybe if enough of us ask, they will change the shipping cost (that is how they were able to do away with the health certificate). Shipping for birds is only $93.00 a BIG difference from $209.00 Like she said, it cant hurt to ask....all they can do is say no you have to pay the 200 buckaroos.... Anywho, just another great experience I thought I would share!!
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