rpurdie

Hi - first post in the forum!

I got a quote for a small cat from LHR to T.O - £462 from passportforpets.com

This includes (where required):-

Airfreight
1 x IATA Approved Kennel “24 x 16 x 20” inches (complete with water bowls and funnels)
Airline Handling
Aviation Security Fee
Fuel / War Surcharge
Airline AVI Check Fee

RockiesFellow

If your dog and kennel combined is too heavy for an excess baggage item, which I think is 32kg, then you can still ship them yourself on the same flight as freight. Air Canada have good information here.

We used Air Canada to ship our Lab and her kennel (36kg combined) to YYC. We dropped her off at the AC freight terminal at LHR. They're really well set up for pets. Then we boarded, and the flight crew relayed a message to us to confirm she was on board.

The other end was a little fiddly. We had to go through immigration, and then out of the airport to the freight depot. When we got there, someone was out in the parking lot walking our dog! They then gave us a piece of paper which we had to take back to customs at the airport for a stamp. Then you take your stamped paper back to the freight depot and they give you your dog.

She was 11 years old at the time, and we were worried she would be traumatised. In fact, apart from being a bit thirsty, she was less frazzled than we were!

RockiesFellow

Oh and a few bits of practical advice.

1. Make sure you buy the travel kennel well in advance and get your dog used to it. We fed ours in the kennel for 2 months before the flight.
2. Allow plenty of time for dropping off your pet at the airline's cargo terminal. You don't wan't the stress of being late for check-in.
3. The kennel comes with little water bowls, and you can set up a funnel on the outside so the airline staff can add water.
4. The airlines wont carry sedated pets

pedrozola

we moved from Calgary to the UK then back to Calgary from the UK both times we used Animal Couriers to move our Australian Shepherd speak to Leslie or Jan we found them the best quality and the cost was bang on, there is so much you can do yourself, we flew from Manchester.

Good Luck

paolob99

I struck gold.

Air Transat

You can load your dog yourself

I have had to buy one way ticket going out, as there is no flex fare for the return (I am going out for 4-6 months) and one way for the dog, so will simply repeat the process coming back.

I go out early April, the cost of the dog is 275 CAD, cost of the one way flight is 557 CAD

so 832 cad or £530 quid for one man and his dog (one way)

from gatwick to vancouver

I was being asked to stump up £1500 plus just for the dog!

quite pleased with that...

only neg point is no flex for the return leg

Theoldfields

We have the same arrangement for Manchester to Vancouver in early June but have had conflicting advice from Air Transat on where to take the dog!

Do you take the dog to the cargo area or is it treated as oversize baggage?

paolob99

I will have a look at my instructions (my flight is lgw because manchester flights dont start until may i think

btw, I used to live in lincoln, brant road, one of my fave places with great memories

Bucks_Family

I've a question, there hasn't been a definitive answer on this thread (yet, I think).

We're planning to take two dogs on the same Air Transat flight as us in August from Manchester to Calgary.
One is a border terrier. Him, plus his sky kennel, will be well under the 32kg for excess baggage on Air Transat. We reckon he'll cost us £180 as per this page on the AT website.

The other is an Airedale terrier, (22kg),he plus his kennel will weigh in at around 37kg, so we expect he'll need to go cargo but on the same flight. I checked with AT Cargo today, and they have no bookings to ship dogs on the flight we want, so space isn't a problem at the moment. They're going to ring me back with a quote tomorrow. The lady I spoke to in cargo today was honest enough to admit she had no idea how the "excess baggage thing" worked for transporting live animals, "that is a passenger department thing, we're just cargo".

With the border terrier, we know we have to phone a number on that web page at least 72 hours before the flight to tell them we're bringing a dog, but when it comes to check-in, would we just take him to the desk as we would any other excess baggage, pay for him, and drop him at the outsize baggage conveyor?! :-)
We know with the airedale going cargo, we'd need to take him to the cargo centre at least 3 hours before the flight, that's fine.
What do we do with the little one?! :-)
Thanks!

Theoldfields

That would be very helpful - thanks. We have the confirmation from Air Transat but no instructions.

Glad you enjoyed Lincoln.

paolob99

http://www.airtransat.ca/en/Informat...ageur&tmpl=GEN

Bambalina

Hi all.

My Dog and I are travelling with Air Transat from Gatwick to Toronto on Friday 15th March. The cost for her, 22lbs and a large Vari kennel, was $275 inclusive. I booked her direct with Air Transat in Montreal whilst booking my own flight online (you need your flight booking reference to add to your pets booking) She will be travelling as checked baggage on the same flight as me. I have been told to just turn up at check-in with her and her kennel.

Previously, we both flew from Toronto to the UK in November 2012. She travelled with Air Canada to Heathrow whilst I flew into Gatwick. Travel into the UK is not as simple due to UK regulations. Cargo only on approved routes with approved carriers. Only Air Canada would allow me to book her into cargo myself without using a third party company. She flew into Heathrow, mainly because they have an animal handling company that will receive your pet, clear customs and the vet for you, and they are allowed to release the animal from the cage prior to everything being sorted so that animal can relieve itself. And they will even clean your dog up if necessary! I flew into Gatwick with Air Transat mainly because it was so much cheaper and because it can take up to 5 hours for your pet to clear customs, so there was plenty of time to hire a car and drive to Heathrow and collect her. It cost $1743 inclusive just for her!!! She arrived safe and well, if a little nervous.

Hope this info helps

ookie123

Would highly recommend Petair. (this is different to Airpets) Extremely helpful and friendly.

For those of you who are considering flying with pets during the summer months please check with the airline as when I was researching I read that some airlines will not transport animals during these months.

London-England-Lads

As far as we have been told you go to check in with dog and they sort it out then !

Rob

sms1984

Yeah, you just take your dog to check in with you. We got bumped to the front of the queue too

Natalieb207

Hi, We are traveling to Calgary from Gatwick on the 24th April. I have booked our Boxer on the same flight as us direct with Air Transat. I have double checked with Air Transat about weight limit and have been told twice no limit. As my Boxer is more mastiff size and weighs around 40 kg.

Any body else traveled from Gatwick with their pets? Whats the procedure? Do you have to get there earlier if you have your dog with you?