Advice on How to Fly with Fish
Read our guide if you're thinking of flying with fish that are frozen or living. This guide is complete with FAQ’s, tips to help you prepare before a flight and prevent problems when flying with fish.
Advice & Info for Flying with Fish
Where from?
Where to?
Departure date
Return date
Passengers
1 Adult, Economy/Coach
Can I fly with Fish?
Yes, you certainly can. However, you do need to follow airline, airport security procedures in addition to the country-specific regulations. Most airlines do allow fish to be carried on a plane whether it is alive or frozen but before you do try to follow our recommendations so that you prevent problems from happening whilst flying.
How to prepare when flying with fish
If you'd like to fly with fish then it's important that you follow the following tips.
Inform your airline
It's advised that you speak to your airline ahead of time about the restrictions that are in place regarding carrying live or fresh fish and its handling before packing. Your airline will likely inspect the container for acceptance onboard the plane. Some airlines may charge overweight fees for large amounts of fish or may add your fish to your checked luggage allowance. You would need to also discuss this with the airline before arriving at the airport.
Understand the country's regulations
It's recommended that you learn more about the prohibited items in the country you're flying to. Certain live or frozen fish is not permitted in certain countries. If you would like more information on what you can and can't take please read our guide here.
Inform your airline
It's advised that you speak to your airline ahead of time about the restrictions that are in place regarding carrying live or fresh fish and its handling before packing. Your airline will likely inspect the container for acceptance onboard the plane. Some airlines may charge overweight fees for large amounts of fish or may add your fish with your checked luggage allowance. You would need to also discuss this with the airline before arriving at the airport.
Pack correctly
Live fish are allowed in carry-on baggage but not checked baggage. The fish must be kept in water and a transparent, spill-proof container. The container may be larger than 3.4 ounces. Your live fish will be visually inspected by airport security at the checkpoint.
If the fish is packed with ice or ice packs in a cooler or another type of container, the ice or ice packs need to be fully frozen when they're brought through to screening. If the ice or ice packs are a little melted and have any form of liquid at the bottom of the container, they will not be permitted. You can also pack the frozen fish in carry-on or checked bags in dry ice. The FAA, however, restricts you to 2.2 kg of dry ice that is correctly packaged such as being vented and labelled correctly with your name, address, the weight and type of fish inside the container.
Do your homework before setting off
Some airlines don't allow fish that are live or frozen to be carried on a plane. Therefore, it's important to do your research before flying. You would need to inform your airline, speak to airport security for their procedures on this and find out more from destination/country you're flying to.
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Flying with fish FAQs
Can I take fish with me on a plane?
Yes, you can. Live fish in water and a clear see-through container are allowed for you to board with after inspection by the airport security officer, this is not however permitted in checked luggage. Frozen fish can be taken in carry-on baggage as well as checked baggage.
How do you carry fish on a plane?
Live and fresh fish need to be packed correctly in a watertight container. You would need to follow airlines, airport security and the country's regulations and protocols in order to safely carry your fish.