Hello, I'm new to the forum

[Sophie]

Hi, I'm Sophie, my bird is Tiger Rose.
She's a Senegal parrot, born April 13th, 2013. She is adorably annoying, a total clown, who knows that all is forgiven when she climbs into my arms, flips over on her back, and "sucks her thumb" I swear that's what it looks like LOL. Her favorite pastime is harrassing my senior dog, stealing, chewing everything in sight, especially these days. She seems to be going through a particularly destructive phase.
Anyway, I joined because I'm looking for advice. I'm living in Belgium, moving back to America in May, and taking my animals with me. I obtained all the proper paperwork, paid all the fees, reserved quarantine space and bought Tiger a place in the cabin with me on the plane.
Has anyone attempted this, international in cabin travel with a pet parrot? I can't find a hard-sided carrier to fit UA underseat dimensions, and I'm afraid my little green monster will chew her way out of a soft sided carrier LOL.
I've seen the Celtei and acrylic models on US websites, but can't find any in the EU. In addition to super expensive shipping charges, customs in Belgium are a nightmare and it's very likely I'll never receive my shipment. Offense to Belgium intended, their customs system is antiquated and totally inadequate for anything outside the EU.
I'm hoping someone knows of a European (perhaps from the UK) alternative to airline approved bird carriers and give me some names...
In exchange, I think I can pretty much answer any questions regarding importing a non US origin parrot into the US LOL

Thanks,

http://youtu.be/LLH7Snr82ns

Sophie and Tiger

[Pajarita]

Welcome, Sophie and Tiger! I have no experience with international flights but I've done domestic with birds and got a good hard carrier that was approved (have you tried asking the airline itself? There is one here that sells its own carrier but it's also meant for dogs or cats, not birds (I guess the airlines have not 'caught up' to the pet parrot fad yet - ). Have you looked at cat and dog carriers? I have used them in the past to transport birds and, although they are not perfectly ideal, they worked pretty well.

[cml]

Welcome, Sophie and Tiger! I have no experience with international flights but I've done domestic with birds and got a good hard carrier that was approved (have you tried asking the airline itself? There is one here that sells its own carrier but it's also meant for dogs or cats, not birds (I guess the airlines have not 'caught up' to the pet parrot fad yet - ). Have you looked at cat and dog carriers? I have used them in the past to transport birds and, although they are not perfectly ideal, they worked pretty well.

I can second this, a cat or dog carrier will do fine for the trip. It's not an ideal carrier by any means, but it works!