Chile Forum

Hi All,

A warning for people who want to take their pets when flying back to the US or Europe. In april we flew back to Europe. We bought our tickets at KLM/AirFrance and we reserved space for two pets. The regulations for all European airlines are that they advise strongly (from experience) not to give your animals any tranquilizers or sorts. All our documents were in order and had the official stamps!

You can almost guess what happened at Santiago Airport.... Yes, Ellen was asked by an airport official if we "drugged" our pets. Ellen answered without thinking 'no' but instantly new it was the wrong answer! The airport official stated it was obligatory and refused to listen to our reaction and that of the lady of Air France that it was advised not to. No clearance for our pets and that only an hour before flight. And of course we didn't have any of those pills with us. And neither did the employee of the Veterinary clinic that helped us with the transport and check-in. Only until we got really angry and we actually called the Vet himself who spoke to the airport official and confirmed our story that we got clearance for our animals without having them take drugs. It is after all much much better for the animals to do without. Of course we had to sign papers that we took all responsability!! Wow, that actually felt like escape from Alcatraz .

Advise for people who plan to take their pets out of Chile by airplane: even if you do not plan to give them any just be sure to have some mild calming tablets for the animals with you (or say without blinking that you gave them the pills at home). And if you encounter the wrong official you might even need those tablets yourself ...
We really were helped in a great way by our Vet Clinica Las Condes (clinic in Viticura) where the doctors speak English and the staff now about service. For only 30.000 pesos they transported my wife and the pets from Santiago to the airport. And their help with checking in was needed!

That was our last experience on Chilean soil. Apart from a handful of Chilean friends, there's not much we miss and we're very very glad to be back in Europe, especially in springtime. We wish you all the best and thanks again for help, information and friendly responses in the past.

And a special thank you for you Charles, you really do have a great website for us expats and/or the 'international oriented Chilenos'.

Ciao.