Recent experiences of flying dogs over.
I now there is a few old threads on this, but wondered if anyone has any recent experience of doing this? In particular what airlines allow us to do it ourselves as checked baggage? Will be going to houston if that makes any difference!
I think, as company us paying for our flights, we might get stuck if the airlines they only use won't allow it! Might have to consider paying for my own flight and taking them with an airline that allows dogs as checked baggage! Any help, much appreciated! |
Re: Recent experiences of flying dogs over.
Originally Posted by Allfourfeet
(Post 11407282)
I now there is a few old threads on this, but wondered if anyone has any recent experience of doing this? In particular what airlines allow us to do it ourselves as checked baggage? Will be going to houston if that makes any difference!
I think, as company us paying for our flights, we might get stuck if the airlines they only use won't allow it! Might have to consider paying for my own flight and taking them with an airline that allows dogs as checked baggage! Any help, much appreciated! There are a couple of websites around summarising the policies off various airlines. Pet Air Travel | Pet Friendly Airlines Pet Policies | Pet Friendly Travel THere is also the Pet Travel Scheme. https://www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad Interesting NY Times article I found on a first hand account. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/08/tr...anted=all&_r=0 Some breeds are banned from flying I believe the likes off bulldogs and pugs due to breathing difficulties at high altitudes. Hope this helps. |
Re: Recent experiences of flying dogs over.
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Re: Recent experiences of flying dogs over.
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Re: Recent experiences of flying dogs over.
Did it in April using KLM, cost EUR 200 one way. Was fairly easy to be honest: the hard part was keeping control of my emotions when he was wheeled off in his cage and during take off!
What do you specifically want to know? Bear in mind that most of the US airlines have embargoes on transporting animals as baggage during the summer months and to several destinations during the winter months. |
Re: Recent experiences of flying dogs over.
Originally Posted by sherbert
(Post 11407620)
Did it in April using KLM, cost EUR 200 one way. Was fairly easy to be honest: the hard part was keeping control of my emotions when he was wheeled off in his cage and during take off!
What do you specifically want to know? Bear in mind that most of the US airlines have embargoes on transporting animals as baggage during the summer months and to several destinations during the winter months. |
Re: Recent experiences of flying dogs over.
No, sorry, I flew from Amsterdam. I think I read on here about someone who drove over with their dog to Germany as Lufthansa also flies dogs as baggage (very easy to take your dog through the tunnel).
They go in a special section of the plane that is reserved for stuff like flowers, fruit, instruments - basically the delicate cargo. And yes of course the place they put the dogs is heated and pressurised: it's like -65 Celsius at cruising altitude! I would honestly be VERY surprised if the cargo shipped dogs go in a different section of the plane (there is only one heated baggage section) or get treated any differently at all in the grand scheme of things. I think the difference is that they get collected by a special van upon landing whereas at the baggage dogs wait and get put on the little cart with the other delicate cargo...but I don't know an now I have written that I feel awful that my dog had to go on a the little cart.... Anyway, I have a mixed breed dog (bernese, flat coated, border collie) about 25 kilos. When we picked him up at the other end he was pretty traumatised until we let him out of the cage then all was forgotten...but he was very jumpy for a month or so afterwards. Honestly, I am SERIOUSLY not looking forward to getting him back across the Atlantic but I'd probably send him as baggage again because shipping as cargo is 4 x the price. |
Re: Recent experiences of flying dogs over.
Originally Posted by sherbert
(Post 11407915)
No, sorry, I flew from Amsterdam.
Anyway, I have a mixed breed dog (bernese, flat coated, border collie) about 25 |
Re: Recent experiences of flying dogs over.
Originally Posted by sherbert
(Post 11407915)
No, sorry, I flew from Amsterdam. I think I read on here about someone who drove over with their dog to Germany as Lufthansa also flies dogs as baggage (very easy to take your dog through the tunnel).
They go in a special section of the plane that is reserved for stuff like flowers, fruit, instruments - basically the delicate cargo. And yes of course the place they put the dogs is heated and pressurised: it's like -65 Celsius at cruising altitude! I would honestly be VERY surprised if the cargo shipped dogs go in a different section of the plane (there is only one heated baggage section) or get treated any differently at all in the grand scheme of things. I think the difference is that they get collected by a special van upon landing whereas at the baggage dogs wait and get put on the little cart with the other delicate cargo...but I don't know an now I have written that I feel awful that my dog had to go on a the little cart.... Anyway, I have a mixed breed dog (bernese, flat coated, border collie) about 25 kilos. When we picked him up at the other end he was pretty traumatised until we let him out of the cage then all was forgotten...but he was very jumpy for a month or so afterwards. Honestly, I am SERIOUSLY not looking forward to getting him back across the Atlantic but I'd probably send him as baggage again because shipping as cargo is 4 x the price. |
Re: Recent experiences of flying dogs over.
I'm definitely going to use Pet Air when I send my border collie over, it's not going to be the nicest experience for him as it is! I at least want it done the best way possible and have budgeted £1000 to do it.
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Re: Recent experiences of flying dogs over.
Originally Posted by sherbert
(Post 11407915)
I would honestly be VERY surprised if the cargo shipped dogs go in a different section of the plane (there is only one heated baggage section) or get treated any differently at all in the grand scheme of things. I think the difference is that they get collected by a special van upon landing whereas at the baggage dogs wait and get put on the little cart with the other delicate cargo...but I don't know an now I have written that I feel awful that my dog had to go on a the little cart....
Interesting about the van/cart, though. Our cats went as 'baggage' from Europe to the US, and it was all very laid back: we dropped them off at the outsize luggage counter in Germany, and picked them up from the side of the luggage carousel at LAX, with all the bulky buggies and skies! When they flew US-UK, as cargo, it was much more official: dropped them off at the airline's cargo terminal, and picked them up from the Animal Reception Centre after hours of clearance (and, yes, they got to ride in the special van).
Originally Posted by sherbert
(Post 11407915)
Honestly, I am SERIOUSLY not looking forward to getting him back across the Atlantic but I'd probably send him as baggage again because shipping as cargo is 4 x the price.
Edit for the OP: I'm 99% sure you still can't fly pets out of the UK as baggage. As with arriving pets, they have to be manifest cargo. |
Re: Recent experiences of flying dogs over.
I'd rather not pay for an agent if we can avoid it... but it isn't looking simple otherwise. We need to go from London to New Orleans... but of the airlines listed on the wiki none fly there or to (fairly nearby) Houston as far as I can see. At present flying with Virgin to Orlando, see the grandfather in law and driving 9 hours is looking our best plan...
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Re: Recent experiences of flying dogs over.
Originally Posted by DJL99
(Post 11408691)
We need to go from London to New Orleans... but of the airlines listed on the wiki none fly there or to (fairly nearby) Houston as far as I can see.
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Re: Recent experiences of flying dogs over.
Thanks... I think New Orleans 'International' has no flights to Europe and Houston only has direct London flights via BA (who I think insist you use an agent) and United (who gave me the number of a cargo company). I'll be delighted if anyone has found out otherwise though!
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Re: Recent experiences of flying dogs over.
Originally Posted by DJL99
(Post 11408716)
Thanks... I think New Orleans 'International' has no flights to Europe and Houston only has direct London flights via BA (who I think insist you use an agent) and United (who gave me the number of a cargo company). I'll be delighted if anyone has found out otherwise though!
I don't know about United. Did they say you had to use an agent, or did they just request that you booked pets via their cargo division/affiliate? When our cats flew LAX-LHR with BA, we organized everything ourselves, but we did have to book their tickets with BA World Cargo. The regular ticketing department isn't set up to take manifest cargo bookings. |
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