This is a new thread and is part two of the thread in the link below where we were discussing budgeting for taking our pets back to the UK.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=798735

At this point in time I am looking at three options for transport:

1 - USA to Edinburgh, Scotland direct
2 - USA to Amsterdam and then taxi/train/ferry into Hull in the UK and then up to Scotland
3 - USA to Paris and taxi/train/ferry into the UK and then up to Scotland

The first option is the least stressful because when the plane lands we are exactly where we want to be but it is also the most expensive.

Still looking into the options.

Are there any additional fees for the pets that have to be paid upon entrance to the UK? I've read certain posts that mention high fees being paid but I don't know if that is because they flew directly into the UK or not.

We are taking our cat to UK from the US at the end of June. We fly to Brussels, take the train from the airport to Brugge, which takes about an hour and a half to an hour and 50 minutes. It's not necessary to book the train in advance. Then we get a taxi to the ferry terminal at Zeebrugge, which is about 13 miles away, for the ferry overnight to Hull. The tourist office in Brugge told me there are plenty of taxis at the railway station, so not necessary to book in advance, and the fare is 50 euros.

It seemed the shortest route to get to the north of England without flying directly into the UK. Also way cheaper for the cat. I'm looking forward to eating Belgian chocolates on the ferry! Will let you know how it goes.

Regarding Option 1:

The only non-stop flight to Edinburgh from the USA is with United Airllines from Newark, New Jersey on a narrow-bodied Boeing 757 jet with just one centre aisle. These jets were designed for domestic use, but they found that if wing tips were added the planes could fly to some western European destinations without refuelling.

http://www.edinburghairport.com/flig...s-and-airlines (see New York/Newark)

I used to do voluntary work at Newark airport for the 'Travelers Aid' charity and assisted many Brits arriving on United flights from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, Belfast, LHR and for a time, Bristol. The planes to Heathrow are nice as there is competition from other airlines on this route...but sadly they mostly use older jets to the regional UK airports....very cramped and often only a drop-down from the ceiling TV.

You would need to contact United about whether or not they would allow 4 pets to fly on the smaller B-757 to Edinburgh. However you face the problem of actually getting to Newark with them from the midwest (I would certainly do it if sailing on the QM2 though ).

Furthermore.....United seems to have an appalling record as to the welfare of pets booked to travel under their 'Petsafe' programme.....just look at the comments on United's own website from unhappy pet owners (see below, 3 pages of comments). I added the link on a previous thread, I referred the comment on page 2 posted by a Patricia McIlreavy in August 2012 as she suggested to use Air France instead:

https://hub.united.com/en-us/news/co...r-animals.aspx

(They don't even seem to monitor their own website for the bad reviews! )

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/united-...6#.UbS5BvmHef4

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ansported.html

http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stori...nge-their-ways

There are many more similar complaints if you google United Airlines Petsafe Reviews. It is now a much bigger airline after merging with Continental Airlines so obviously they do transport many pets and of course other airlines have had problems too with transporting pets (many incidents do seem to be with ground handling issues). However, I would personally be wary of booking as many as 4 pets on United on the EWR-EDI route.

Windsong; there is currently a discussion on the USA board about emigrating from the UK to the US and bringing pets along. Obviously there are not the same regulations as the US is not rabies-free, but you may wish to read the comments from some posters on the thread:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=798291 (see posts #7 and 8)

Not sure if I said "nonstop" but I should have said "direct", meaning no plane change. I found quite a few flights that go from the main airport here to Edinburgh with one stop and no plane change. In fact, one of them only stops for 50 minutes. I think it is Delta. This is terrific for the pets. However, I suspect I will take them into Europe anyway.

BA's price included the UK fees but they are in the hundreds - around $500 or $600.

He he....I'm on a roll.....nothing on TV on a Sunday night lol!

OK - Prices for pets travelling under the PET Passport scheme:

P & O Ferries:

Calais - Dover route (or vice-versa) 15 GB Pounds per pet

Rotterdam, Holland or Zeebrugge (Belgium) - Hull route 17 GB Pounds per pet

http://www.poferries.com/tourist/con...g_your_pet.htm

http://www.ferriesfromhull.com/hull-to-rotterdam.php (Here's an idea...you could get your significant other to take his LandRover and caravan to Holland or France and meet and collect you and the pets there. You have to clear the pets at customs & immigration at the first airport they arrive at in Europe then they're good to go. You might also want to think about spending a couple of days or so in mainland Europe to get over the jet-lag before travelling to the UK on the ferry...)

Other prices and ferries here:

http://www.drive-alive.co.uk/pet-travel.html

http://www.directferries.co.uk/news/...rry_travel.htm (note prices may be a little higher than in May, 2011 when this was posted)

Here is a 4th Option: Take the ferry on DFDS Seaways from Amsterdam to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (closer to Edinburgh than Hull):

http://www.dfdsseaways.co.uk/ (Pets are allowed on this ferry)

Reviews:

http://www.france-forum-frenchentree...ic.php?t=90904

You have to make sure the ferry route you choose allows walk on passengers with pets, unless you hire a taxi or have someone who can take a car over to the continent and travel back with you on the ferry. There are a limited number of kennels on the ferries, but if you have a vehicle the pets can stay in the vehicle during the crossing.

So . . . this means that, in addition to the veterinary prep and the paperwork, there is the cost of the flight AND a large fee to pay on arrival in the UK for each pet. Is this correct? (Unless we enter through Europe, of course.)

Yes, a non-stop means the plane makes one departure and one landing, going from point to point.

A direct flight means the flight can make a number of stops from the first departure to the final destination.

However....it may be quite stressful for pets to endure more than one takeoff and landing to get to the UK? What happens to them if the plane is delayed due to weather, mechanical issue, late arrival of incoming flight, air-traffic control, lack of flight crew/out of hours and they're on the ground or in the cargo hold, waiting to embark the plane? I've been stuck on planes departing from Newark airport for 21/2 to 3 hours, but fortunately these were non-stop flights only (United, Virgin and BA flights).

Where are the stopovers on the Delta flights to Edinburgh? US, Canada, Paris, Amsterdam etc?

Yes. BA quoted me inclusive of the UK customs charges. I put this on the other thread but you may have missed it in your excitement

Costs for flying my dog Denver to LHR, May 2013

First Appointment:
Office visit - 29
Microchip - 64
Rabies Vaccination - 24

Second Appointment:
Examination - 59
Tapeworm treatment -17.76
Paperwork by vet - 135.00

USDA stamp - $38

Crate (40"x27"x30") - $108

BA Fare (including UK customs fees) - $1719

Total: $2193.76

That all looks about the same as I paid back in 2006 (25 kg dog) - BA must be keeping their animal fares down!

My dog is 40lbs/18 KG. I was quoted $1890 on the phone but when I got to BA Cargo, the very nice man who checked us in said he'd run some calculations and see if he could reduce it. Glad it went down and not up!

Does anyone know how much has to be paid per pet upon landing in the UK?

(Working on my budget for the eventual move.)