We arrived 3 hours before the departure time at the Aeroméxico / Delta Airlines check-in counter.
When we got in line, we were told to put the dogs into their carrier. They could not be on a leash waiting by our sides.
Once we got to the check-in counter the agent asked for the dog’s paperwork. Aeroméxico requires a health certificate and a current rabies certificate.
Aeroméxico only allows a 5-day window for getting a health certificate. I got these health certificates the day before we flew down to Mexico City.
The agent did not ask to see the dogs nor did he weigh the dogs. However, the check-in agent next to us did ask a lady to put her dog and carrier on the scale. The dog was half way out of the carrier and looked bigger than our dogs.
PET labels were attached to each dog carrier.
All in all, the check-in process with dogs went smoothly.
Once we left the ticket counter, we took the dogs out of their carriers and went for a walk outside.
LAX has limited grass. There are a few plants and bushes just outside of the parking garages on the ground floor.
There are relief stations inside the LAX terminals. They smell of urine. If you go, wear a mask to block the strong order.
The plastic grass hurt our dog’s paws and they refused to walk on it.
We keep extra pee-pads inside the carriers, under the thin padding.
At the relief station we used one and put it down (away from the plastic grass) and Sofia was happy to use that.
Hi, thank you for your information on flying to Mexico City with your pups. Very cute by the way!! My partner and I, with my mini border collie are thinking of going to San Miguel and would have to fly to Mexico City via direct flight from NYC. Then we would have to travel to San Miguel. Do you know how safe it is to travel by car down there. We may forgo flying and drive down due to the whole plane thing and my dog has anxiety. But how safe is it, and so your dogs get anxious flying… Read more »
Hola Kerry! I am happy to read that my information about flying to Mexico City was helpful. =8-) Your question about flying or driving to San Miguel Allende, I presume, (SMA) depends on how much time you have. We find driving in Mexico to be safe. You have to be smart about it. There are some “must do” guidelines to consider when driving in Mexico. It also helps to speak some Spanish. You don’t have to be fluent, but enough to be able to ask questions and understand the answers. I prefer driving around Mexico because it gives us the… Read more »
Thank you for your response and valuable information.
I would really appreciate any other information you could give me on driving in Mexico.
Smart safety planning tips are… Never drive after dark. Get to your destination before the sun sets. Stay on the Tolls roads (Cuotas) as much as possible. If you see a gas station when your tank is half full, fill it up. Do not let your gas tank get below half full. Make sure the gas pump is at $00.00 (zero) before they start pumping the gas. Tell the gas station attendant exactly how much you want. For example, x amount in pesos, and try to pay with that exact amount. This will illuminate the chances of being short changed.… Read more »
Gracias!!!!
Hi,
Before my flight to Mexico soon, I want to make sure I have all the right documents.
For the health certificate when coming back to the US, what does the five-day window look like? For instance, my return flight is on July 5 so will the certificate have to be dated June 30 or July 1st?
Also, does the health certificate have to show proof of parasite prevention and the location I am staying in Mexico? or is it not necessary?
Hola Diana! Thank you for the questions. =8-) Although Mexico’s SENASICA does not require a health certificate if your pet is coming from the United States or Canada – however, most airlines do require a health certificate. And they determine the how long the health certificate is good for. A 5-day window or a 10-day window. For us it was a 5-day window on Aeroméxico. We got the health certificate the day before we left. The day we flew to Mexico was considered day 1 and the day we flew back was considered day 5. So, you can get the… Read more »
Thank you for the reply. Do you know if it matters what kind of health certificate I get from the vet? My vet does not use the APHIS form 7001 as a health certificate but I was thinking about sending the pdf of the APHIS form 7001 I found on the USDA-APHIS website. I will be going to Mexico with Delta which does not require a health certificate and coming back to the US with Aeromexico, but I am not sure if there is a specific health certificate they will want. Will just presenting the rabies certificate and the APHIS… Read more »
If you are able to get your veterinarian to use the APHIS form 7001, that would be ideal. It is what the airlines and the Mexico OISA offices are familiar with. There is no specific health certificate form required anymore for Mexico. However, the information that is on the old APHIS form 7001 is what is required. That information can be put on any veterinarian’s letterhead stationery and must include the signature and license number. Believe it or not, it will be easier to come back into the U.S. when traveling from Mexico with dogs. For us they have never… Read more »