Our ONE way flights are now booked!

We leave on May 7 to fly to Halifax,NS. we will pick up a car for the first week or so while we swap licences and buy car get insurance etc.

I think I have booked dog on a flight??

We couldn't take him as excess baggage as I had origionaly wanted, as Air Transat don't fly into Halifax and Air Canada were so expensive for one way flights that it was no cheaper than using a pet transport company.

No other airlines will deal with owners, they insist you use a pet company.

So my son is flying out to join us on June 4 and the dog is provisionaly booked for the same flight.

Apparantly they have to confirm it nearer to the time.

It was not in the least straightforward.

We had several quotes ranging from £685 to £560 for the same service.

We decided to go with the cheapest since there was nothing extra done by the other companies for the money.

I called them to book the flight and having given the flight number and details they said they would ring me back.

He rang back later to say that the flight number I had given wasn't goint to halifax, it was going to Toronto.

I pointed out that I was looking at the flight online and it definately was goint to Halifax, although having flown that route before I said it may well be going on to Toronto. He then said that they wouldn't have time to take a dog off at Halifax.

He seemed not in the least bothered and said I could check it out for myself if I wanted!

So I spent an hour on the phone to differnt phone numbers at Zoom trying to get info.

Not easy as when I got to the right dept they didn't really want to deal with me as I am an owner not a pet company.

Anyway at last I got a girl who confirmed  that the flight did exist and that dogs could travel on it and even if it goes on to Toronto they will take the dog off in Halifax.

Result!

Phoned Pet company who said OK we will book him on it.

Job done. Mostly by my own efforts and not those of the pet company.

Anyway hopefully it is all now in place.

I took the dog for his rabbies shot yesterday and will fill out DEFRA form today so that they can send my vet an export license to fill in just before the dog is due to fly.

I am a little concerned as he is about 14/15 years old now and dosn't like enclosed spaces.

This is going to be a real ordeal for him. But vet said he is fit and healthy, so I hope it will be ok.

It is a one off and the rest of his days pottering about our 27 acres.

The shippers are coming in on May 2 so I am busy sorting stuff out and throwing as much "junk" as I can part with.

I now just need to sort out the 3 months health insurance and I am nearly there.