Back2UK

Your welcome, good luck.

Tanto

I just phoned BA Executive Club and was told that BA no longer transports animals (other than service dogs) to London (or anywhere?). I was told last week that BA World Cargo transports only on one flight per day and was trying to get more info re/ continuing on to Hamburg.......My head is still about to explode!!
Does anyone know anything about this?
Many thanks,
Tanto

pennylessinindia

Are you going to Germany as the final destination - if so use my favourite airline Lufthansa - the best for dogs have great facilities at Frankfurt and staff very dog friendly and you do not need an agent if you fly on the same flight

Poppy girl

Most Airlines only have 1 flight cargo for pets a day, Virgin have just started 2 from SFO on certain days............why fly BA when you can go Virgin!!

OK so it looks like you want to go to Germany I was not aware of that, as Pennylessinindia said why not go direct with Lufthansa!!.........but I am confused your original post stated you want LAX to Gatwick!!

Poppy girl

Please note that British Airways World Cargo at Heathrow and Gatwick no longer deal with members of the general public/non-account holders, for the shipping of private goods/freight/live animals. All booking requests must be received via a recognized freight forwarder/pet agency who can make all the arrangements on your behalf directly with British Airways World Cargo

Sod that all the extra charges with a pet carrier.

email this lass and call her as well she is great and will walk you thru the steps A to Z
[email protected] all the staff are wonderful you have to book via the UK office not the US.

Red-Sea-Angel

I am right there with you!! I have spent the last 3 days trying to get hold of BA world cargo here in Egypt. I finally spoke to someone today and they gave me the same info I'd already seen on their website, and the number of an agent! I'd seen the bit that Poppy Girl quoted about needing an agent when travelling from the UK but had hoped it wouldn't be necessary this end.....apparently I'm wrong

I called the agent and to be fair he did tell me something I'd not been able to find out previously (the dimensions for the cat carriers). He also said there's many additional stamps needed for the paperwork this end and that's what he does....but I still think it's a swizz!

We were advised by our vet to use BA since they have a good reputation for animal transportation. Though the agent agreed, he asked why we weren't going to use Egypt Air, especially since this is who we are flying with! He said he sends animals with them all the time and they are fine, and cheaper....so now we're waiting to hear back from said agent, who apparently we simply must have with quotes from both airlines.

I think getting our 2 kitties to the UK is going to cost even more than getting us there....sigh....

Good luck with it all Tanto.

Guinness

wow that is pretty pricey, we flew 2 large dogs and 2 cats from Toronto to Manchester with Ladyhaye total cost $3,200

Poppy girl

Cough Cough lol I said you DO NOT NEED an agent and I never said from the UK I said from the USA LOL

Poppy girl

I have no idea thats what it cost me!!

Red-Sea-Angel

Apologies for not being clear Poppy Girl....I was referring to your post immediately prior to mine, where you quoted in bold directly from the BA website But remember, my mind is about to explode with all this so be patient with me

Based on the information I got today, it's going to cost around 800GBP to bring our 2 cats with us. We are waiting to hear back from another 'mr fixit' at the airport so can hopefully get this all booked soon!

Poppy girl

Thats cool make sure that's all the cost's remember I included the USDA fee's California only I believe, the crate cost and also its more expensive to fly from the west coast...............hope it all works out well for you sure it will, and yes it is stressful but so worth it in the end, don't forget to get a pet passport when back in the UK just incase you travel again

Tanto

Thank you all for your input and information! My head exploded yesterday and I am going to take a little break from all this for a day or two!!! To clarify briefly, I am looking at 2 possible destinations - London or Northern Germany. When one of my contacts in Berlin said no to the puss, I started thinking about London. The contacts in London are closer to Gatwick, hence my request for info on flying directly into that airport (impossible from the West coast, it seems). I'm looking at the easiest and least stressful journey for the puss!
Virgin and Lufthansa look good to me...........more later.

Tanto

Red-Sea-Angel

I can't decide whether to be furious, cry, or bury my head in the sand!!

We have followed our vet's instructions regarding the order things need to be completed to travel with our kitties: microchip, vaccination, blood test, then wait 3 months.....then, while checking something else on the DEFRA website yesterday I see it says, in bold print, there must be a minimum of 30 days between the vaccine being administered and the blood being drawn....we have 13 days

I immediately contacted the vet who assured me it was no problem since this wasn't the kitties first vaccination, but merely their booster, so the blood was drawn well over 30 days since it was administered... However, it was their first vaccination AFTER they were chipped.

I'm freaking out

Our vet is adamant that the rules relate to a first ever vaccine, but it doesn't say that, and I'm really concerned.

Anyone have any experience/thoughts on this?

We have sent the lab results to 'mr fixit' at the airport, who in turn has sent them to James Cargo. He will also send copies of their passports (don't think that's the correct term, but it's a yellow book will all their details and immunization info in) tomorrow and we will wait to hear if we're ok

If not, we need to get another blood test done and will need to wait until 3 months after the draw date for the cats to travel It's a nightmare since DH has a job hopefully lined up for late August and DD is due to start school in September....

I have a headache!

Jerseygirl

Why will you have to wait 3 months? I thought it was 21 days after the blood test.

Red-Sea-Angel

We're in a unlisted non-EU country, so it's 3 months from the date the vet takes the blood. I wish it was 21 days!