URGENT   NOTICE.......  IPATA wants to make it  REQUIRED that you can NOT take your pets as excess baggage.... YES.  They want to make it required that you MUST at ALL times ship pets ONLY as cargo... This of course would make for much more business for their membership.  It would of course end up costing you MUCH more....

A directive was recently sent out to all ipata members from Ms Cherie Derouin at ipata headquarters on 21` Nov 2011, mostly regarding their recent convention in Hong Kong.

The following direct quote is from the directive.  It is not clear if it is from Ms Derouin, or Ms Sally Smith, who is the President of ipata.  The reference is to an IATA live animal meeting held in Montreal this past September. Quote: "At this time we have NOT yet been able to influence the airlines to STOP accepting pets as excess baggage, but it was discussed..."

There is NO legitimate reason why pets should not fly as excess baggage... Same safe handling.  All ex bag pets fly in the very same compartment as cargo pets.  Only thing is that cargo pets are more expensive....... It is also a known fact that ipata would like to see the requirement that at ALL times ONLY ipata agents would be able to ship pets on the U.S. domestic airlines.  Stopping excess baggage shipments is only a giant step in this direction.  Then, think what the cost factor will be for you ??  IPATA wants total control of the pet shipping industry. And, this would be at your expense !!