Picking up puppy from Germany at Dulles - Page 1

Hi, we are picking up a import puppy  around 3 weeks old coming from Frankfurt at Dulles airport.  Could some with any experience help us step through what we need to do and go?  We are not from the DC area so not too familiar with Dulles.  I understand we need to go to cargo area but there are several and do we need to go to customs first?  Any help would be appreciated.

Also, can you park near the cargo area or do we need to cart the dog to the nearest parking deck?  Sounds trivial but just want to make sure we save as much time as possible as we have a long drive back.

Did you say the pup was    three weeks old?  3 ?    I thought you couldnt ship a pup that young? Sorry , I  know you did not ask about the age of a pup , but I couldnt help notice that first of all....?  I hope you made a mistake about the age...hope ,

Sorry, the puppy is 9 weeks.  Not sure where 3 weeks came from.

its quite easy..... two years ago I too picked up a puppy coming from Hungary via Frankfurt.  It came with Lufthansa Cargo.  The Cargo Area is next to the airport on some side roads.  Customs is NEXT door to the Lufthansa Cargo pick up.

When your pup arrives, you go to Lufthansa cargo, they will show you the puppy, hand you the documents that the German Breeder attached, you walk next door to Customs area, answer a few questions pay your dues, and in 10 minutes you are out the door picking up your puppy and walking to your car.

I live 10 minutes from Dulles if you need more help, let me know and I may be availble to come to the cargo area with you

Best,

Leonard

The parking area is within 20 yeards of the Cargo/Customs Door steps.

Thanks so much for your reply.

Thanks for correcting the age...worried me for a minute....good luck ...I dont like airports and especially looking for the cargo...in Dallas it is a nightmare.

Call the cargo and get specific directions - getting to the Cargo area is easy, but there are 3 large cargo buildings and finding the correct door for Lufthansa can be the hard part.  Find out which building AND which door to go in - many airlines have cargo service from other airlines.  I picked up a dog from United at Dulles just this weekend, and walked in 3 doors before finding the right one (and drove to 2 buildings) - all of which were labeled "United Cargo" - can be confusing.  Luckily it's just 3 buildings.  But hard to find someone once there who  knows to give you directions.

Good news is Dulles is very easy - from the highway (Rt 28) follow the signs for cargo buildings - you will pass a gas station and long-term parking on the right - go straight through the intersection to 2 of the cargo buildings.  Or, turn left at the intersection, and right at the "T" to get to the other building.  If memory serves me, I think Lufthansa is in the separate building (turn left then right).  It is clearly marked, but (if memory serves me) they were served by another cargo company in another building when I picked up a dog there last.

When I picked up a dog last year, they had already gone through customs and I just had to pay for that and pick up the dog - was easy.  This last time I had to pick up the paperwork from the cargo, go to the terminal (park in short-term), walk to customs, get the paperwork stamped, then go back to cargo to get the dog.  THAT was a pain.  But, still not difficult.  Dulles has easy parking just across from the terminal, just a short walk no matter how you look at it.  Also, you can drive right up to the cargo buildings, and back right up to load the crate.

molly

Be sure to get there before Customs closes. Do the paperwork when you first get there. Just let the people at the counter know you are picking up the puppy and you want to get the paperwork to clear Customs.