Choosing the best airline to bring a pet to Japan is quite limited. We could only fly with Philippine Airlines (PAL) and the other options are Japanese airlines such as All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL). No budget airline options. These airlines are quite pricey but they could accommodate pets in cargo. Sadly, pets are still not allowed inside the cabin with the passenger/owner. This is my wish to come true someday in the future.

December 12, 2023 | Rui ready to fly

We chose PAL to fly with Rui because it was the most affordable. I bought the tickets for my Dad two months in advance. He was undecided about going to Japan at first. But when he said he would go, we planned for Rui's departure with him. 

Unfortunately, in the early morning of the day of departure, Dad and Rui weren't able to board the plane. The flights for the day did not have proper ventilation in the cargo. This usually happens because planes with ventilation in the cargo are limited, and this condition can lead to the deaths of animals. Some have operational concerns, such as broken ventilation, so they cannot accommodate pets.

Dad's flight was rescheduled on December 13th instead of 12th. We were supposed to wait and pick them up because my Mom's flight to Osaka was scheduled on the same day. But the unforeseen blessing was Dad's new flight schedule was the direct flight to Osaka instead of Tokyo. It also didn't include extra costs. The flight agent found a more suitable flight for him. The plane was traveling from Guam to Manila to Osaka. After learning about the news, I woke up instantly and exchanged numerous emails with the Quarantine Division of Narita and Kansai International Airport. I filled out a Modification Form online that stated the flight number, time, and date changes. You can access this form on the site, and the immigration will also send this to you by email before your flight. 

Thank God because Dad didn't have to ride the Shinkansen to Kyoto anymore, which would take 2-3 hours from the airport. Though he had to return home and pay for another expensive taxi ride, he didn't have to pay anything for rebooking and the Shinkansen train. Rui was also very thirsty when they arrived home, so he really needed water. The big bottle we bought for him couldn't be attached to the carrier. So, Dad included Rui's essentials in the carrier, such as a smaller and more appropriate travel crate bottle and a shirt to give off a familiar smell that would comfort him. All these changes were worth it to give Rui a better flight to Japan after all. 

I also sought help from my friend who works for PAL (Hello, Yoshida!). He submitted a form for my concern with my father's details. He knew the person to contact in the Central Control Team to ensure that the airplane had ventilation in the cargo. Then, in the afternoon, we had an assurance from his colleague that the plane was already locked in, meaning it could not be changed. Though we weren't 100% sure because other things could happen, his action helped ease our concerns and alerted the staff to the urgent need. 

The flight from Philippines to Japan took about four hours. Upon arriving at Kansai International Airport (KIX), proceed directly to immigration and then to Japanese Quarantine. Rui in his carrier was already waiting for Dad when he arrived. They checked his documents. Then he was ready to go out to the arrival gate in a few minutes. My Mom, husband, and I were waiting for them at the gate when they stepped out.  

December 13, 2023 | Rui checked in

Rui was in complete shock inside the carrier, but thank God, his condition was nothing serious. He was very quiet in the car and only made a few *meow*s. He also ate a little and licked our hands a bit. 

When we arrived at our apartment, he stepped out of his carrier. We fed him food and gave him water, which he swallowed in gulps. Then, he hid himself in the curtains and under the table. He was almost back to his normal self a few hours after that. The presence of my parents also helped him feel at home. 

He also had dark spots on his nose that might be due to excessive bumping into the carrier while trying to escape or some other reason. He might also be scratching it during the flight. We were not sure, but it disappeared after a week or two.

One thing I've learned from this experience is being prepared for anything. In case plan A doesn't work out, and you expect that it won't always will, having a plan B or  C in mind will prepare you for the next steps. We also learned from the mistakes we've made, such as the misplacement of important documents. Being extra careful and having extra copies would have made the process easier. 

I prayed really hard and just believed that my pet could come to Japan. With the help of my parents and siblings, we were able to do the veterinarian visits and paperwork as a team. Even though I did most of the communication with the immigration and vets for appointments and paperwork online, I could not fly to the Philippines to do the vet visits. I could not complete the whole process without my family's support.

Despite the challenges we've been through, God smoothed out everything. I think I would not be able to do this process again. But if someone I know is interested in doing this, I will say that bringing a pet to Japan is possible. If the budget isn't tight, I highly recommend a pet travel provider so you can avoid doing all the paperwork on your own. But it'll be a lot cheaper if you don't.

Whatever way you choose, the most important thing is that your pet comes to you safe and healthy and lives a joyful life with you abroad. 

If you have any questions, I am happy to help!

As a remembrance of my cat's two years in Japan, I'm making a storyline about his life in Nihon in Canva. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish it before his birth month ends.