CKramer

Hello,

We have two show cats and plan to immigrate.

We are terrified of requirement that animal must be transported in cargo container. We heard a lot of stories of animals freeze to death, suffoceate , gone crazy or permanently scared after cargo flight.
Especially that flight from Europe to Australia is longest ever possible, more than 12 hours.
Our cats are show cats and very delicate. You just can't put them in cargo.

On the contrary there are rumours that it's possible to bring cat with you as hand lugagge into passenger compartment. Anyone can confirm that? what is the procedure? You have to beg airline to allow you ? Buy extra seat? Bribe flight attendant? All of the above?

And there is not-very-clear AQIS requirement that animal must be flown only from one of approved airports (Singapore, Copenhagen, ...), where it would be sealed in the container by veterinary service and put into cardgo. Is that true? Does that mean that you're not able to take it with you into passenger seat after all?

Anyone have experience dealing with AQIS?
Among other requirements (vaccinations) AQIS require proof that animal was living last 6 months in "approved country". What can be such "evidence", our apartment rent bills? Or should I bring animal to Australian embassy so they would acknowledge that it's living here?

AQIS is quite unhelpful. They only reply "read out instructions on site". No special cases or exceptions.

Thank you.

boom_meringue

are you on drugs or just plain stupid? no country on earth allows you to take cats as hand luggage and Australia certainly doesn't.

We brought both of our cats, they flew in cargo and were absolutely fine.

Get a grip

Nicky & Dave

Technically airlines will allow cats as hand lugagge if they are a) being worn as an item of clothing such as a pair of gloves or a scarf or b) are being used as actual hand baggage.

I think that Quantas allow koalas in the aircraft but I think that's only in First Class.

Nicky

YoSemite

some airlines will actually allow cats (and dogs) to travel as hand luggage providing they weight less than 8kgs and their cage is small enough to fit under the seat infront of you

airlines include BA, KLM, Virgin, american airlines and lufthansa among others...



but in reality you're having a laff if you think for 1 minute australia will let your pets in this way!. the reason that you won't find any info on this on the AQIS website is because the only way for animals to enter Oz is via cargo (excess baggage) and through the proper quarantine stations.

as steve&clare quire rightly said - think you need to get a grip!!


nicky i think you're wrong..... don't think qantas do allow koalas in 1st or any class..... however virgin do allow ferrets!!

Pollyana

Maybe you could cunningly disguise the cat as a handbag and just carry it on board......

Nicky & Dave

PMSL!

YoSemite

of course security might take exception with all the metal involved eh!!!! hehehehe

Ian12

We brought our diabetic 1 year burmese. She was well looked after in quarantine - given her daily insulin jabs at no extra cost to us. She probably had more room in her specially made cage (included in the costs) than we did.
Good luck

Gold Coaster

That was a funny post, has made my new year.

My 2 cats flew from London to Sydney in cargo which is regulated by law to 65c temperature and quite dark so they do not get stressed. They will be no more stressed than if you left them overnight at home in the dark. Also my sister transfered a 17 hand stallion racehorse from Sydney to London in the planes hold, so if horses can do it I am sure your pussy will be in fantastic condition.

rossifumi

Well, I was dying to post the first reply to this but was too busy pissing myself and wondered "is this a wind up?"

Bizzare!

CKramer

65c temperature? Did they survive?

Gold Coaster

Well, no they both died , but otherwise they were fine.

lol

Nicky & Dave

Perhaps the OP is approaching this from the wrong angle - I've heard that in certain circumstances airlines will make an exception and allow owners to accompany their pets in the hold for the duration of the flight?


Nicky

Gold Coaster

Think this may be true on some domestic routes but certainly not long hall flights.

nomayaja

There are some countries that allow cats on as hand luggage. When we moved from Cyprus to France our cat came with us on the plane and through customs. No problem. Maybe it was allowed because it was within Europe. Well, our cat is now going to move with us to Australia (fingers crossed that we get our visas!).

Regards, Marina