Travel with Pets - Pet Transfer UA to QA

(My apologies if this is a cross post)
I am travelling from ORF to CMB via IAD in August. My first leg of the journey is on UA and transfer to Qatar Airlines @ IAD. I am shipping two cats in cargo.

I call UA and they have confused me all to pieces about shipping the cats, they can't say yes or no if they will transfer the cats without my intervention in IAD. QA on the other hand says if UA is going to transfer my luggage to their airline, they will transfer my (Wifes) cats :rolleyes:.

Kind of freaking out here. Already changed my reservations once because of cat in cargo problem.

Any advice, similar situations?

Power FT'ers ^

B/R's

~n

My first question is whether UA (or your other airlines) ship animals in August. My understanding is that many airlines do not, as they can't control heat on the tarmac.

I know you have concerns for your pets and want them to travel, but I urge you as their guardian to consider this carefully. I've been at IAD in August and the heat is terrible.

Please think it over.

But - are you transporting your cats for a vacation or because oyu are moving? If oyu are moving, I would contact a pet cargo company and pay the extra fees to them to warrant your pets will travel safely and healthily. Cargo companies are experienced with the special requirements for moving animals int he heat.
One source for reliable pet cargo companies is the Animal Transportation Association
http://www.aata-animaltransport.org/

If you're just taking them for a vacation, even a lengthy one, please don't. Cats unlike dogs would rather stay in familiar surroundings for a short time then follow their "owners"

(Dogs have owners, cats have staff )

United does not have a general embargo for transporting cats
in summer. They don't accept short nosed dogs like boxers for
example. Of course if it is extremely hot at the origin or
connection airport, they can still decide on the day of departure
not to accept the animal. QA answer is probably correct if United
has a baggage agreement with them, which to my knowledge they
do and they transfer the bags to QA at IAD then the cats will be
transferred as well. You have to make sure to get a bag tag for
the cats to your final destination. I agree with the other posters
that it is not a good idea to take the cats if this is just a holiday.

Please continue to follow this thread in the FlyerTalk Travel with Pets forum. Thanks for your understanding.

Jouy31
TravelBuzz moderator

Have you considered taking the cats in-cabin? Then you don't have to worry about transfers.