I don't think it's up to TSA to decide if the carcass can fly; as long as it's properly screened, the airline would decide. There are a few obstacles, one being that dead animals, no matter how well-iced, are in the process of decay and many consider them to be along the lines of medical waste. An airline would be within its rights to decline to transport medical waste or anything else that may be hazardous materials. You can't give it the same standard of care/packing/etc that a food item would get, as the food item (say, a turkey) probably was frozen solid without its innards (and the decay and nasty toxins often lurk in the guts) but the pet didn't have the same manner of death or preparation. So just because you can theoretically take a turkey in checked baggage in a nice cooler with gel packs, doesn't mean you can take a cat. Dry ice itself can be hazardous if mis-handled. And then you have to plan for the unthinkable, that there is a MX delay and the carcass and the other cargo sits on the tarmac, without climate control, for 4hours....



If FedEx will take it, I'd pay the price and let them handle it; you can then have a better expectation that there won't be any delays. The money would be worth it to me just for not having to worry that a delay is going to cause my cat to melt. Otherwise, local cremation is probably the better alternative as there are too many variables to getting from A to B without incident, and at an already emotional time, I'd imagine the OP doesn't want last minute hassles or surprises. Finally, it may be a good idea to consult with your vet, who may have more experience with the ways a deceased pet needs to be prepared for shipping, to comply with health department regulations, as I'd be surprised if there's not some sort of certification required; after all, I don't think the airline should take a passenger's word for it that the animal died of natural causes and not some sort of transmittable, infectious disease.

Last edited by dcpatti; May 25, 11 at 7:56 am