Need Help with "snakes on a plane"!

Ok. So I knew the data that I needed would be found nowhere else but from you fine folks! :D Here's the situation: a friend of mine is visiting from LA, and she wants to take home one of my baby cornsnakes. I printed her a caresheet, even shopped for her plastic shoebox, and gave her a book. I have also provided her with a very small sterilite box "travel container" (it's about 4"x6") thinking, she'll just be slipping it in her carry-on bag for on the plane. She wants to take it right home with her, and the plane may be making a stop along the way. I wouldn't think it will be a problem, but she did pose some very good questions, that i did not think about, considering the security on planes now. First of all, would she be allowed to do this? Second, if so, is the x-ray machine gonna harm the snake? or is there an alternative "security check" for it? It's just a wee baby corn, probably indigenous to the whole country. If anybody has had this situation, or knows how it's handled, please let me know! It's for my friend, and she's so excited about having this little snake! In my opinion, it shouldn't be a problem transporting him on the plane in a tiny plastic box, as long as its tightly secured. But you never know...why I'm asking.......

I wouldn't allow her to take it onto the plane. I highly doubt that security would allow any animal on the plane. It may even be illegal. And sneaking the snake onto the plane could potentially be a nightmare, for your friend and our whole community. The press would be all over it, and it could potentially cause people in the airport to freak out.

I would highly recommend not sending the snake on the plane. For the sake of your friend, the snake, and our whole community.

As far as I know it is very ILLEGAL........Ship it and don't take any chances

I would ship the snake to her, what's that site, shipyourreptiles.com, right? I would not try to bring it onto the plane. Shipping is easy, is done every day, and is legal. Just make sure you do it right.

yeah, we were trying to avoid having to ship it. And I would never advise sneaking it on the plane, just outright showing the people at the airport. But, it it's going to be taken away, then....I'll have to ship.What I don't understand is, people take their dogs in bags as "carry on" all the time. Why can't she take a tiny harmless cornsnake??? It just doesn't seem fair.

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Originally Posted by 4theSNAKElady

What I don't understand is, people take their dogs in bags as "carry on" all the time. Why can't she take a tiny harmless cornsnake??? It just doesn't seem fair.

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Its because majority of the "general public" are not afraid of little puppies ;).Oh and those same people are idiots :rolleyes:.Please ship the snake and save us all the headaches :gj:

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Why can't she take a tiny harmless cornsnake??? It just doesn't seem fair

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This is how we all feel, but about the laws trying to be passed. It truly isn't fair, but it isn't easy to change ignorance.

best thing would be to call the airline and ask them what the protocol is. I know someone who traveled with a fish on her lap in the plane and people who bring live lobsters back with them from the coast in carry on. The airline would have more concrete answers than any of us.

It's not allowed, but you may be able to check it as luggage depending on the airline. One airline told BG this once, but BG never tried it. You can't bring it on the plane.

Also, some states it's illegal to own cornsnakes (like Georgia for example), and the airline can't be responsible for enforcing interstate transport of snakes that may or may not be illegal in one or more states that she may be travelling through/over.