Hi all,

I'm currently pulling my hair out because of Air Canada. We booked our flights from Heathrow to Vancouver for April 9th. When we mentioned taking our cat as checked baggage (as mentioned on their own website), we were told because he is a British domestic shorthair that he is more succeptable to some breathing disease?! They therefore said he would have to go via Air Canada Cargo.

When I phoned Cargo (at Heathrow airport) they said we'd been told nonsense and that he should go as excess (which is incidentally £300 cheaper) and that I should therefore call reservations back.

Guess what reservations said?!

Yep, you guessed it. They said Cargo were talking nonsense and that he could NOT go as excess baggage. I lost my temper a bit and demanded to speak to a supervisor...

After 25 minutes on the phone I was finally told that actually yes he would be able to go as excess baggage.

As soon as I get home tonght I'll be calling them to get him booked-in... the person I spoke to said he'd be there until 6pm and I'll make sure I speak to him again! Otherwise I'll just get told the same BS as before...

Anyone else had this problem? We're beginning to think we should have just gone with a 3rd party company like airpets

Sorry for the rant

M & B.

It really depends whom you speak to at Air Canada. The first time I called, I was told I couldn't fly my cats because I was flying in March. The second time (I called because I was told otherwise from Air Canada Cargo) I was told they couldn't guarantee that there wouldn't be a dog on the same plane and he couldn't understand my concerns. Have just spoke to them again today and now just debating on air kennel as they need dimensions.

The only reason I am not using an agency is that I think it will be easier on the cats as there will be less time away from me and easier to collect as we won't have to do to Cargo. Very stressful though ... so yes, I know what you're going through and the frustration with AC.

Hope that it works out, if you get the same stuff ask for "manager"...........

should be real easy to book your cat on the flight, but like normal we all seem to get just the wrong person on the end of the phone
Goodluck
LB

Phew this makes me glad I went with Thomas Cook....so straight forward to book my cats on the flight. Like you haven't got a million and 1 other things to worry about.

were your cats booked on with you or in cargo Farjo, I have to sort the dog out coming over and it's turning in to a nightmare!

They are booked on with me MM on the same flight. I booked my flights on CA and the cats are going through TC cargo via an agent doing the customs entry form. Are you sending your dog with a pet agent?

finally got Air Canada to agree to let him go as excess baggage

It'll be £109 rather than nearly four hundred! Going mad at them must've worked! We don't need to complete any customs forms... just the export health certificate from the vet and he's good to go

This sums up most of my dealings with Canadian "officialdom".

Half the time they have no idea what they are talking about, yet they will swear black is white!

I have learned that if you don't like the answer, the best thing to do is to ask again, (and possibly again) and hope you get somebody different on the phone, until you get the answer you are looking for!

totally agree with that statement, i did that with the local gas company some months ago and finally got it sorted
No point in stressing these days, just hang up the phone and call again or ask for a line manager

I'm using Petsawayuk to send my dog & cat out to Canada. I have found them to be less expensive than using AC directly as they are looking at flights with Thomas Cook. (you have to use an agent with them)

Good luck