May I have the attention please of customers who send pets by air. Thank you!
Something which is of concern to us animal lovers at BA is water. Very often, we fill up your pet's water bowl when he arrives at our premises, and then the water gets slopped around the bottom of the cage as he is lifted on to the van and driven to the aircraft.
When he's settled, and strapped on to "spreaders" (pieces of timber to stop the cage being in direct contact with the cold aluminium floor), the responsible, caring loader will top up his water bowl to make good any spillage. As the aircraft taks off, more water slops into the bottom of the cage.
This cold, damp blanket or straw that your poor pet is lying down on for the duration of the flight cannot be comfortable - indeed, some of the drivers tell me that, often, there are ice crystals on the blankets - and sometimes in the pet's fur, when they bring them out of the aeroplane - and that is in a heated hold. (If you have ever rested your feet in sock-soles (hopefully, never bare feet - that's yeuck!) on the cabin floor, you will realise how cold it is.)
Please would you consider buying a "non-spill" drinking bowl for your pet - considering the high cost of shipping "Animeaux Vivants," a little extra spent on a "Buddy Bowl" or a "Road Refresher" could help him have a much more comfortable ride!
Perhaps if BA (and other airlines) made it a requirement that pets can only be transported with such bowls then the problem would be avoided and our furry friends would have plenty of water for their flights?
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Lets not start a handbagging exercise.
Good points made by bealine. Why can't we just take that as stated, instead of passing the issue on to the airline?
That's valuable information. As responsible, and caring, pet 'owners' we're grateful for the advice in the unlikely event that "The Cat" (aka Storm) should ever have to travel by air..
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Perhaps if BA (and other airlines) made it a requirement that pets can only be transported with such bowls then the problem would be avoided and our furry friends would have plenty of water for their flights?
I think that's a very valid point.
I've had a look at the info ba.com gives you regarding taking pets in the hold and couldn't see anything about using a spill free water bowl. After all it's not something many people do on a regular basis so might not be clued up about it.
Must admit I'm surprised ice crystals are able to form through spilt water I didn't think it would be that cold.
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Last edited by HIDDY; Jan 12, 13 at 11:38 am..
Reason: grammar
Good points made by bealine. Why can't we just take that as stated, instead of passing the issue on to the airline?
That's valuable information. As responsible, and caring, pet 'owners' we're grateful for the advice in the unlikely event that "The Cat" (aka Storm) should ever have to travel by air..
How was I handbagging?
Bealine did made some valuable points but not every passenger reads these forums.
If airlines want to carry pets (and no one forces them to) then they can insist on whatever rules they like in terms of kennel size, not tranqulising animals etc etc.
If someones pet does die on a plane (not unheard of) and one of the reasons is dehydration then who gets the blame? Invariably it is the airline and not the owner.
Does the OP have any conflict of interest to declare here, please?
None whatsoever beyond a love for one's fellow creatures and a genuine desire to reduce the stress and discomfort to animals in our care. I would be only too pleased if airlines would recommend these spill-free water containers but as they haven't been on the market long, I expect it will take about 20 years before we see a recommendation! The RSPCA these days has become politically motivated and is now killing nearly as many healthy animals as it re-homes, so I don't expect to see their recommendation either.
Any member of airline staff who has occupied a "jump seat" by the door for the duration of a long-haul flight will testify to just how cold the air around your feet gets! Wrap four or five blankets around yourself, the cold still penetrates to your bones - and that's in the heated passenger cabin! Underneath you, where there is only a thinnish aluminium skin between you and -25C, and ice spicules become very real, despite the attempts to keep Hold 5 well heated.
I am not affiliated to any other business besides that of my employer - except for looking after my own little "Blue Cross" rescued dog, of course!
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The views and opinions expressed by me may not, necessarily, be those of my employer, British Airways.
Thank you for posting this. I am going to send this information onto a friend who is moving his cat from Florida to Yorkshire next month. He is very anxious about his beloved cat. I think he would travel in the hold with the cat if he could!
May I have the attention please of customers who send pets by air. Thank you!
Something which is of concern to us animal lovers at BA is water. Very often, we fill up your pet's water bowl when he arrives at our premises, and then the water gets slopped around the bottom of the cage as he is lifted on to the van and driven to the aircraft.
When he's settled, and strapped on to "spreaders" (pieces of timber to stop the cage being in direct contact with the cold aluminium floor), the responsible, caring loader will top up his water bowl to make good any spillage. As the aircraft taks off, more water slops into the bottom of the cage.
This cold, damp blanket or straw that your poor pet is lying down on for the duration of the flight cannot be comfortable - indeed, some of the drivers tell me that, often, there are ice crystals on the blankets - and sometimes in the pet's fur, when they bring them out of the aeroplane - and that is in a heated hold. (If you have ever rested your feet in sock-soles (hopefully, never bare feet - that's yeuck!) on the cabin floor, you will realise how cold it is.)
Please would you consider buying a "non-spill" drinking bowl for your pet - considering the high cost of shipping "Animeaux Vivants," a little extra spent on a "Buddy Bowl" or a "Road Refresher" could help him have a much more comfortable ride!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PropWasher
Quote:
Originally Posted by bealine
May I have the attention please of customers who send pets by air. Thank you!
Something which is of concern to us animal lovers at BA is water. Very often, we fill up your pet's water bowl when he arrives at our premises, and then the water gets slopped around the bottom of the cage as he is lifted on to the van and driven to the aircraft.
When he's settled, and strapped on to "spreaders" (pieces of timber to stop the cage being in direct contact with the cold aluminium floor), the responsible, caring loader will top up his water bowl to make good any spillage. As the aircraft taks off, more water slops into the bottom of the cage.
This cold, damp blanket or straw that your poor pet is lying down on for the duration of the flight cannot be comfortable - indeed, some of the drivers tell me that, often, there are ice crystals on the blankets - and sometimes in the pet's fur, when they bring them out of the aeroplane - and that is in a heated hold. (If you have ever rested your feet in sock-soles (hopefully, never bare feet - that's yeuck!) on the cabin floor, you will realise how cold it is.)
Please would you consider buying a "non-spill" drinking bowl for your pet - considering the high cost of shipping "Animeaux Vivants," a little extra spent on a "Buddy Bowl" or a "Road Refresher" could help him have a much more comfortable ride!
The last thing you want to do with AVI is water and feed it prior to or during a flight.
If you get it wrong it's not pretty.
The OP doesn't have a financial interest in this or similar products but instead works for BA and deals with this.
cs
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