Well, around mid-July I will finally be departing for the UK. It's been a long haul and included some time in Asia but I am finally ready to go. This time, my destination is different, though. It's Manchester. They appear to have different requirements/fees for my pets. I am just starting to investigate this now so I can make sure everything gets done. I just got off the phone with United - must use them because I have an unused ticket with them. Here is what they told me re fees:

1 - £55 per dog (if arriving on weekday which I am). They could not tell me what this is for.
2 - £34 per dog airline handling fee
3 - Pets on Jets fee - that was blank. They couldn't tell me what it is.
4 - AQS (which United assumes is Animal Quarantine Service) is £100 per pet

They told me to contact PBS Freight but couldn't tell me if they were the same company as Pets on Jets whom I thought was the handler in Manchester.

They also said that "comfort stop" fees are to be paid for the pets if the connection is longer than 4 hours and/or the pets are in the crate longer than 18 hours. However, you can avoid the comfort stop fees if you choose certain flights, I was told. (Apparently, if the connection means a stop of less than four hours, they water and do potty breaks for the pets anyway but they don't charge, especially if you go through Newark, NJ.)

They also mentioned that AHVLA(DEFRA) was the broker in Manchester.

I do have the phone number for PBS and will call them tomorrow; however, I am wondering if anyone else has flown their dog(s) into Manchester and can clarify the four fees above. United was quite vague about these fees and couldn't tell me if PBS is the same company as Pets on Jets or even what role each one plays.

The above fees are in addition to the flight cost for each dog.

No doubt I will get some answers when I call but would appreciate info from people here who may have flown into Manchester with dogs.

Sent you pm..

Hi we fly our mini poodle from Perth Aus (she flew 6 weeks after we had left Aus) to Manchester direct, we picked her up at Pets on Jets (based at Manchester Airport) when she arrived and off home we all went and she was fine a bit tired but fine.

I am glad your little dog made it home safely

I will worry about my pets during the flight. I just know it! But I know they, too, will be fine.

At this point, I am just trying to figure out what fees need to be paid. I just finished sending an email now to PBS Freight. I thought I would be dealing with Pets on Jets, too, but United told me to contact PBS Freight. I think I will call Pets on Jets as well. I can't get too much help to get the right answers at this point.

PBS is apparently the agent to clear the pets in Manchester - but I thought that would be Pets on Jets.

Last summer when I was planning to return then I was flying into Edinburgh and it all seemed so much simpler. There appear to be more entities involved in flying into Manchester. United Airlines wasn't very certain about it either.

They mentioned AHVLA/DEFRA is the broker; PBS is the agent to clear the pets, AQS is Animal Quarantine Service (not sure what they do since pets won't be going into quarantine) and they also mentioned Pets on Jets but couldn't tell me what role they play.

I can't wait for PBS to write back!

We paid the boarding kennel everything as they also arranged for pet transportation overseas, we just made sure we had all the vaccinations in order and also the correct paper work. Hope all goes well for you and your pets. Take care

So glad you are getting to go to the U.K.. keep in touch Windsong and best of luck.. Lots of planning for the fur babies.

Best of luck with your move Windsong.