Help Reverse "No Pets in Cabin" Airline Policy Janina Erban - Paraiso Felino AC
June 22, 2012

You can help reverse the mandate!

Here is the updated mandate from the Mexican DGAC, signed May 10, 2012.
 
This mandate prohibits small pets from traveling with their owners in the cabin of aircraft, to or from Mexico.

Placing a small pet in the cargo hold is not an option, since the "climate controlled" temperature in the hold is only 10-16 degrees centigrade.

There are thousands of us who spend weeks or months in Mexico, or who live there year round, who bring our small dogs with us. If this mandate is not reversed, we will no longer be coming to Mexico.

The Mexican Tourism Board has been made aware of this rule recently. They realize how damaging it is to the tourism and real estate industry. They claim they will be contacting the proper authorities to get this reversed, and they are counting  phone calls. Please contact them. Toll-free in the U.S. 1-800-446-3942. They also suggest emailing their representative in Washington D.C., Sr. Alfonso Sumano. His email address is asumano@visitmexico.com.

Most Mexican government officials have not heard of this new mandate, and deny its existence.  Please contact your local consulates and inform them, since they are still giving out false and outdated information.

Alaska Airlines also claims to be trying to negotiate with the DGAC. We need to continue to ask all the airlines to do the same.

Last minute update. It seems the efforts have had some results and they are considering reversing this law. Keep the pressure on by making the phone call and sending the emails.

Everyone, thank you for your help!

For more information and previous article, click here.

June 25, 2012, Update from Sheryl Hamilton:

Setting the Record Straight on the Mexican Government's "No-Pets-in-Cabin Policy" for Airlines

Two months ago, a letter went out from the Mexican Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) to all US and Canadian airlines, reminding them of a 2007 Directive which, among other things, prohibits transporting pets in the cabin on all flights to, from and within Mexico (Article 2.1.2).

One by one, the airlines began to implement the policies set out by the DGAC. It started with United/Continental but soon expanded to include Alaska Air/Horizon, Delta, American Airlines, Air Canada, Frontier and US Airways. WestJet, it appears, was the last hold-out, although reportedly 'on the verge' of complying with the Mexican directive.

Not surprisingly the internet immediately exploded with all kinds of speculation, stories, rumors and petitions. Snowbirds who normally travel with their small pets were left stranded at airports, many were compelled to drive home rather than fly, some have even been forced to leave their beloved pets in the care of housekeepers or friends for months at a time.
 
The blogosphere was inundated with angry letters from Canadians and Americans threatening to sell their homes in Mexico or to start vacationing elsewhere.

A concerted effort soon began all over North America to get the ruling reversed, in large part by illustrating how devastating this ruling could be on the Mexican economy, specifically the tourism sector.

Allyson Williams, a writer for the Jaltemba Bay Life Blog, was on top of the story right from the beginning, and her blog has since become "information central" for many individuals, animal rescue organizations and other groups working to have the ruling reversed.

Williams has been very diligent in keeping the column updated with new developments as the story continues to unfold.  Her site also provides contact information for Tourism and Transport officials, as well as links to related articles and even a chart showing all of the various "pets in baggage/cargo" options and restrictions for those affected by this policy.

She has also done an admiral job of trying to squelch the many rumors that unfortunately still abound on the subject, most notably:

• the FALSE belief that the policy only applies to domestic flights within Mexico
• the FALSE belief that this is just a rumor, i.e. that no such Mexican law exists
• The law most definitely does exist and does applies to all airlines, foreign and domestic. In fact, the law has been on the books for many years, but wasn't enforced until recently.

Through the relentless efforts of many people and organizations throughout North America, the Mexican Tourism office in Monterrey has been flooded with calls over the past few weeks. As a result, a note was sent to Ms. Williams on June 21 stating that they have taken the matter up with the appropriate Transport officials, who subsequently promised that the law will be changed in September.

Another memo was issued today, stating that pets and service animals will be allowed in cabin effective immediately.  The new Circular CO AV-07.8/07 R2 is an interim, temporary measure that will remain in effect until the new regulations are in place this fall.

This is all very good news; however, there may be a whole new slate of government officials to deal with after the Mexican Federal election on July 1, so it is critically important for all interested parties to continue their efforts until the law is formally reversed.

To register your concerns, please contact the Mexican Tourism Board and explain that you are calling in regard to Article 2.1.2 (no pets in cabin) of the DGAC's circular dated May 10, 2012:

Mexico Tourism Board, from outside Mexico: 1 800 446-3942; from inside Mexico: 001 880 446-3942; email: contact@visitmexico.com.

You can also visit the Pets in Cabin Facebook page ("Like It", "Share It" and post your comments and pet photos): www.facebook.com/PetsInCabin.

And finally, please share this important information with your friends, family and any media contacts you may have in other parts of Mexico, the US and Canada.

Updates will be posted as they become available on the Jaltemba Bay Life Blog.

Sheryl Hamilton is the owner of LaPaz Gringos and can be contacted at hamiltos12@yahoo.com.

  Learn about Jaltemba Bay Animal Rescue (JBAR)

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