Originally Posted by Catri

We were given quote for around £2,800 from Airpets.
We have a small Shih tzu cross and a very large 70kg bear ( Newfoundland)
We are not possibly moving until next yr but am wondering if we can do it cheaper?
Though may be slight problem getting a crate for the bear!
Would be interesting to hear how other people with large dogs managed.
At a last resort I will put a saddle on her, with all our belongings and start making my way now!

Originally Posted by Bucks_Family

The dog needs to be able to stand up properly, and be able to turn around and lie down. We've an border x welsh terrier, about 10kg, and he'll go in a medium sized vari kennel. Our other dog is an Airedale, about 23kg, but now we've measured him, he seems pretty tall, so will need a giant crate, even though when you shop around for crates on the web (look for sky vari kennels for starters) they suggest an airedale should fit in an "extra large" crate. The trouble is, our local pets at home doesn't stock extra large or giant crates, so I can't measure him up against one, so I just have to trust our measurements. There's quite a leap in price between extra large and giant, but he's our dog and he's got to be as comfortable as possible.
Plus the airline can refuse to take him if they deem him too large for his crate, so we've no choice really, it's a giant one!
As a way of gauging the crate you might need, try this page.

Originally Posted by Derpmaster

I would definitely find some sort of pet travel company and not do it yourself. Most airlines don't accept homemade custom crates, because the dog will chew it's way out and go running around the inside of the plane. You also have to clear CFIA when you arrive, which means documents of all shots ect. That costs extra money which a dog forwarding company probably already covers

Originally Posted by Bucks_Family

I know what you mean, it concerned me too until I read this thread from 3 weeks ago. Have a look at Ailsa n Dave's posts, #95 and #103. It has reassured me that things will go smoothly. That's first hand, recent experience, and it tells me what I need to hear :-) They flew from Glasgow, so I'll be double-checking with Manchester once the Calgary flights start up in May.

Originally Posted by franfluff

ok so spoke to Air Canada today who were very helpful, if the dog & crate are below 32kg the dog can fly at excess baggage at the cost of £175, you will need a letter of the vet stating the dog has been vaccinated against rabies and that the dog is fit to travel, the dog will be assessed at the other end by a vet to confirm it all again at the cost of $30 which i think is great. Now need to find a light approved crate that the dog will fit into comfortably and all below 32kg in all eek!!! Any heavier then the dog needs to fly as cargo and you will need to go through a pet company and that is where the HUUUGE bill will come in! xxxx

Originally Posted by ninaDGBCA

The problem with Manchester is that it's not real AT staff but service agents staff and they have no clue.

So best get it written down, ask the AT hotline lady to send an email or print their terms and conditions.

We told them it even says on their homepage that the 5kg rule doesn't apply for nappy bags but that woman was adamant we need to pay. I just went around the corner and shuffed everything in the bottom basket of the buggy and in the Phil and Teds carry cot with the baby and it was fine. Flew with US airways last Christmas. Pleasant airline but again in Ottawa real US Air staff let us take 5 suitcases each under 32 kg but a combined weight of no more than 23kgx5. Manchester "service agent have no clue but feel important" told us every suitcase has to be under 23kg and there is no combined weight

Originally Posted by Bucks_Family

Here it comes straight from the horse's mouth (not that I'm comparing the lovely Air Transat lady in Montreal to a horse)...

I sent an email to the lady who confirmed my dog's booking, my email said:
"My dog is an Airedale Terrier, who weighs about 23kg. His travel crate will weigh about the same, as it will be a large crate. Please confirm that this combined weight of 46kg will not present a problem when we check-in at Manchester airport on Wednesday 7th August?"

Her reply this afternoon states:
"Dear Mr XXXXXXXX,

Thank you for choosing Air Transat for your upcoming flight.
We would like to confirm to you that, the weight that you have specified for your animal and cage will be accepted at our check-in counters."

That'll do for me.

Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian

Make sure you show that email to the check in counter staff
Left hand right hand syndrome.

Originally Posted by Bucks_Family

Things must have changed recently then, I queried Air Transat specifically about this 3 weeks ago, as our dog + crate will be around 40kg, and the response from the man on the phone was "weight is not a problem, just make sure the crate is the proper size and type".
This reduced our cost from £750 to £180 (Manchester to Calgary in August)