Hello!
My family is relocating cross country from Philadelphia, PA to Oceanside, CA. I need to know your advice or experience with the best way to get my Basenjis to the west coast from the east coast. I will be flying but I've heard nightmares about pets in cargo bins and getting lost and even death. Oh gosh it gives me serious anxiety thinking about it.
A little bit about my basenjis, I have 2 dogs both age 4. One is male, the other is female. The female we got from BRAT 3 years ago. They have never been on a trip like this before so I'm certain they will be scared. They will have to be put in separate crates for safety reasons.
Any help with this issue would be greatly appreciated
is anyone in your family driving? my dogs have done just fine in their crates in the car. I've been all over the lower 48 and even ventured into canada with the dogs. The longest trip was from NM to NC to FL and back to NM. Of course mine have are quite used to travelling. I have no advice for flying.
I recommend double checking weather embargoes with each airline, as I think they may differ. Some won't fly at all during summer months… Others will stipulate a certain ground temperature. If the airline will fly during summer months, cooling pads in the crate aren't a bad idea. Lickable water dispensers affixed to the outside of the crate seem to be pretty handy. And make sure to provide duplicate packets of all identifying documents to securely tape to the crate, in the chance that an emergency happens...
I've transported dogs on long, cross-Pacific trips via cargo before. The vast majority of them don't even soil their crates and do just fine, especially if they are accustomed to their crates and it is comfortably set up for them. I think I would always prefer driving if I had the choice, though.
My only personal experience with air cargo for dogs was my first boy. He came to me from Washington State, and he travelled just fine. Taped to his crate was a big notice stipulating that nobody should open the crate until a Basenji savvy person was available when he arrived! I picked him up in Buffalo, N.Y. and drove him home no worse for wear. He was two years old, and that was his first (and last) experience with air travel.
A breeder friend (not Basenjis) of mine ships puppies fairly often. So far no unhappy incidents of any kind. All have arrived safe and sound, with no apparent psychological effects. You do want a direct flight, and yes, there are restrictions in hot weather. Probably the ideal is to bring them on the same plane you are on, but failing that to make sure someone is at the airport to meet their flight.
Driving might be a better option, but there are hazards in doing that as well, plus a much longer time frame…..
I'm also looking into relocating from the UK to the US this year, and flying my girl in cargo gives me absolute nightmares. It's a really long flight, too, and with the time they have to spend in the airport on either side, she'd have to be in her crate for 13-16 hours. Can't even think about it.
Not that this is an option for most people, but one puppy my breeder friend sold travelled in style. The buyer sent a rental Learjet to pick him up, complete with his own "flight attendant". Now, that's not something that happens every day! I'm sure the flight cost many times more than the puppy. 
There is a pet transport lady who does cross country runs with dogs. I know of two basenjis that travelled from TX to CA with her. I can get the info if you want to do a 4-5 day cross country shipment. She has a FB page and is quite goo.
I know several handlers who travel with their basenjis in sherpa bags on planes to shows across country. I picked up Trog in NJ and flew him home that way. We used Delta. That is the only way I would use air travel for my basenjis.
Sherpa bags and Basenjis can be a challenge depending on the airline. I know someone that went to the airport with their Basenji in a Sherpa, bitch was sound asleep, perfectly happy in the bag, ticket agent looked in the bad and said, nope she is too big, has to go cargo….. So not always a slam dunk with an adult Basenji. Isn't there an airline that transport pets? Someone here used them a few years ago, but forgot the name. They didn't fly to all airports, but pretty sure they did go out of Phila and to LA...... Update: Opps, just found the name and they are out of business.... It was Pet AirWays..... 
I'm also looking into relocating from the UK to the US this year, and flying my girl in cargo gives me absolute nightmares. It's a really long flight, too, and with the time they have to spend in the airport on either side, she'd have to be in her crate for 13-16 hours. Can't even think about it.
Colorado is very nice. And I have a lovely agility yard you could come play in.
I think a good cartel saying DONT OPEN is nice, Laika was left on the airport by me one night, so the people there get out of her cage.. i think they got a bad time catching her because first they said to me the next morning laika was missing, then they say that they got her. pff
I left her because when Maca arrives i was there waiting for a delay flight almost from 5 pm to 2 am and i was told they were open to 10 pm,
So i arrive at the airport at 9 just to find the office closed, and the poor Laika inside! so i return next day for her..
She is very nervous and give me some bites when i put out of the cage.. and thats all. Well i deserved for sure.. lol
