Flights WITH DOG (cargo) UK to Halifax NS - can it be done?
#1
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Myself, partner and 55kg dog are moving to Nova Scotia...
We've spoken to Air Canada who do direct flights (only interested in direct flights) and they advised the max weight as checked baggage in the hold for dogs is 100lbs including crate. Our girl is a lot bigger than that. They advised that's ok but she'd have to be booked as cargo, which it seems you are not able to do yourself (?) and so we have had to contact pet transport companies...
No problem, until the transport company advised that it's not possible to book her London to Halifax as the plane they use on that route does not have a heated hold.
So, either she does two flights, which we could not bear being mad dog people and worried enough about one flight!!! Or we all fly to Toronto and take a 16 hour drive to Halifax over 2-3 days.
Car hire would add a $500 fee on top of rental for this one way drop. Plus the fuel, hotel's etc. It's looking crazy expensive !!!
Has anyone here got any ideas ? We'd be flying April 2019 bye.
Anyone here done London to Halifax direct with dog in the hold?
We've spoken to Air Canada who do direct flights (only interested in direct flights) and they advised the max weight as checked baggage in the hold for dogs is 100lbs including crate. Our girl is a lot bigger than that. They advised that's ok but she'd have to be booked as cargo, which it seems you are not able to do yourself (?) and so we have had to contact pet transport companies...
No problem, until the transport company advised that it's not possible to book her London to Halifax as the plane they use on that route does not have a heated hold.
So, either she does two flights, which we could not bear being mad dog people and worried enough about one flight!!! Or we all fly to Toronto and take a 16 hour drive to Halifax over 2-3 days.
Car hire would add a $500 fee on top of rental for this one way drop. Plus the fuel, hotel's etc. It's looking crazy expensive !!!
Has anyone here got any ideas ? We'd be flying April 2019 bye.
Anyone here done London to Halifax direct with dog in the hold?

#2

We book with Air Canada cargo all the time to transport dogs. We have imported dogs from the US with no issues and we have also transported dogs to the US and Mexico with no issues too. Maybe it's an east coast thing.

#3
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So it's specifically that flight.
The only companies we could find that fly direct UK to Halifax are Air Canada (as above), or West Jet (who do not permit dogs it seems).
I was hoping someone here will have done the UK to HALIFAX with a dog and have some experience with that route?

#4

It's likely a specific East Coast thing - LHR-YHZ is now a B737. Perhaps that plane doesn't have the heated hold, although that seems a bit odd that AC would tell you that you can ship a <100lb dog as checked baggage, but the air cargo specialist tells you that the same plane doesn't have a heated hold. Air Canada have a deservedly poor reputation at times, but even so I doubt they'd let you put your pet in an unheated hold! So someone has something wrong - I suspect root cause is the smaller cargo capacity of the B737 vs the B767 that used to be flown on this route. Your problem is that I believe AC is the only airline flying direct to Halifax in April. Westjet is a seasonal flight AFAIK & anyway they fly 737's on this route as well.
Your nearest "big plane" airport to Halifax is Montreal. Slightly shorter drive than Toronto but not much in the great scheme of things.
Your nearest "big plane" airport to Halifax is Montreal. Slightly shorter drive than Toronto but not much in the great scheme of things.

#5

Yes, we're not saying Air Canada do not transport dogs. Yes they do! However, we have been advised by one pet transport company that the LONDON TO HALIFAX flight by Air Canada cannot have any pets at all in the hold as the hold is not heated.
So it's specifically that flight.
The only companies we could find that fly direct UK to Halifax are Air Canada (as above), or West Jet (who do not permit dogs it seems).
I was hoping someone here will have done the UK to HALIFAX with a dog and have some experience with that route?
So it's specifically that flight.
The only companies we could find that fly direct UK to Halifax are Air Canada (as above), or West Jet (who do not permit dogs it seems).
I was hoping someone here will have done the UK to HALIFAX with a dog and have some experience with that route?

#6
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https://www.aircanada.com/cargo/en/s...tions/ac-live/
Air Canada have a special division for pets in Cargo - not sure why you've been told you have to use a 3rd party. I presume you've checked that the breed isn't restricted?
Winter restrictions for pets in the hold are common but better to check directly with the airline (link above)... Air Canada have a page that has that info.. but only up to March (although April can be bitterly cold in Canada, that's probably the reason they are saying that even for April).. could you delay your flight to May, perhaps (flights are cheaper then too) - or have you got time restrictions?
https://www.aircanada.com/cargo/en/s...e-restrictions
Air Canada have a special division for pets in Cargo - not sure why you've been told you have to use a 3rd party. I presume you've checked that the breed isn't restricted?
Winter restrictions for pets in the hold are common but better to check directly with the airline (link above)... Air Canada have a page that has that info.. but only up to March (although April can be bitterly cold in Canada, that's probably the reason they are saying that even for April).. could you delay your flight to May, perhaps (flights are cheaper then too) - or have you got time restrictions?
https://www.aircanada.com/cargo/en/s...e-restrictions
November 1 to March 31
Limitations on travel in unheated cargo holds: Warm-blooded animals are not accepted as cargo on some of our narrowbody fleet, as the cargo holds of these aircraft are not heated.
The holds of our A319, A320 and A321 aircraft aren't heated but remain steady at 2 C (35.6 F). Animals may be accepted on those flights if a waiver is signed.
Limitations on travel in unheated cargo holds: Warm-blooded animals are not accepted as cargo on some of our narrowbody fleet, as the cargo holds of these aircraft are not heated.
The holds of our A319, A320 and A321 aircraft aren't heated but remain steady at 2 C (35.6 F). Animals may be accepted on those flights if a waiver is signed.
Last edited by Siouxie; Dec 10th 2018 at 8:14 pm.

#7
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Air Canada website for London-LHR
Note: Live animals cannot be screened at this station. Contact our Local Sales office for help in securing your animal for shipment.Payments on site via debit or credit only
Telephone: 44 (0) 371 224 3600 or 44 (0) 20 8750 8260
email: [email protected]
Best to call the local cargo office of the departure airport, you will end up with more accurate info as they will know the local procedures and such better then a call center
Note: Live animals cannot be screened at this station. Contact our Local Sales office for help in securing your animal for shipment.Payments on site via debit or credit only
Telephone: 44 (0) 371 224 3600 or 44 (0) 20 8750 8260
email: [email protected]
Best to call the local cargo office of the departure airport, you will end up with more accurate info as they will know the local procedures and such better then a call center

#8
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Just to clarify on this point, yes Air Canada confirmed the max weight is 100lbs including crate (and I think I saw this on their website also), and they did say that pets were not permitted on that route, but could not advise why. Which leads me to think the pet transport company are likely right!!

#9
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https://www.aircanada.com/cargo/en/s...tions/ac-live/
Air Canada have a special division for pets in Cargo - not sure why you've been told you have to use a 3rd party. I presume you've checked that the breed isn't restricted?[/INDENT]
Air Canada have a special division for pets in Cargo - not sure why you've been told you have to use a 3rd party. I presume you've checked that the breed isn't restricted?[/INDENT]
Last edited by Lion Heart; Dec 11th 2018 at 10:37 am.

#10
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Did some more research, and may actually be better this way anyway (London > Toronto, then drive Toronto > Halifax) as flight cost comparison:
London > Halifax direct with Air Canada £1,450 per person
London > Toronto direct with Air Transat/Candian Affair £285 per person
So even with the $500 one way car hire fee, plus hotels x2/3, plus fuel for 16 hours driving = probably going to save us money, lol!!!
We spotted that the only other airline who fly's direct London to Halifax is Westjet, and only from April 23rd onwards for the summer season (ends in October I think?), with prices in the £250-£280 per person range. BUT no pets allowed in the hold on any of their flights via London. But best bet for sure if you don't have a pet to move!!!
London > Halifax direct with Air Canada £1,450 per person
London > Toronto direct with Air Transat/Candian Affair £285 per person
So even with the $500 one way car hire fee, plus hotels x2/3, plus fuel for 16 hours driving = probably going to save us money, lol!!!
We spotted that the only other airline who fly's direct London to Halifax is Westjet, and only from April 23rd onwards for the summer season (ends in October I think?), with prices in the £250-£280 per person range. BUT no pets allowed in the hold on any of their flights via London. But best bet for sure if you don't have a pet to move!!!

#11
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WestJet do permit dogs either as Cargo or checked baggage: https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel-info/pets

#12
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WestJet do permit dogs either as Cargo or checked baggage: https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel-info/pets
On that page click the 'Checked Animals' tab then click 'Restrictions' and you'll find this:
"United Kingdom WestJet does not accept pets for travel to/from Glasgow or London Gatwick"

#13
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Ah, good spot! That potentially scuppers things for us in a few months time also, so now taking an even greater interest in this thread.

#14
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There is conflicting info out there, and you really need to delve deep. The Westjet is a good example, on the surface it looks all good for pet travel, delve deeper and that excludes the UK!
Hence looking at all available options for us now to fly April next year :-)

#15
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There must be a cheaper way of getting dogs from the UK to NS than shelling out a four-figure sum to a pet transport company.
