Behindthecurtain

As I am returning to the UK on the 23rd of January, I am bringing the moggies with me.

When I came out here, I contacted BA on their number in the UK and checked them in at the Heathrow Vets place.

When I looked to bring them back, I get a link to IAG Cargo, and when checking pets, I am directed to use a travel agent.

Have things changed? Can I not just contact BA, bring them to their animal cargo place at DME?

Anyone have any recent experience with transporting moggies? Or is this just a case of jump on the phone?

Also bringing Ms BTC, but that one is way way more complex... So happens three to five months later

corporate-wage-slave

I export and import animals by air by virtue of my farming activities. I don't think I've shipped cats, but I've certainly moved dogs and livestock around the world.

I've always used a specialist agent simply because I live some way from Heathrow, and so I can't do it all under my own control anyway. I use one of the firms listed on the IAG Cargo website.

IAG Cargo has taken over the role of BA World Cargo in this area, presumably just an internal reorganisation, and as you say they are inviting people to use agents (though I think they do retain some direct customers, but we are talking Newmarket's finest here, rather than a pair of felines). Also in North America they handle matters directly.

I do ring up IAG Cargo from time to time, and they've always been very helpful and easy to deal with, so maybe call them. I'm sure they can can give good advice on moving pussies from Russia with love.

Behindthecurtain

Thanks CWS, I will call them on the UK Line next week when I am back, as strangely my English is better than my Russian. I will however avoid telling Ms BTC about importing pussy, as that could result in a Loretta Bobbet situation

BAg Lady

Hi Behindthecurtain.
I brought 2 cats over to the UK from Romania at the end of November using BA. For some reason BA no longer authorises travel agents to handle pet shipping from Romania and it has to be done through BA Cargo.
The BA Cargo agents in Romania were fantastic and handled all of the arrangements, adding the cats to my booking so that I could travel on the same flight. If I recall the pet flight reservation can only be made not earlier than 2 weeks before the date of travel. Be warned it is very expensive. 2 cats from Bucharest to London cost EUR 1900 and that is without the costs for the crates, pet passports and vet fees .
If you have any questions I will be happy to answer where I can. Good luck!

Steve Oh

FWIW when I recently took a cat from here to Rome, whilst BA wanted over Ł1,500 for it, Alitalia did it for Ł70 with priority boarding, as the cat was sat on my lap throughout the flight.

Might be worth checking other carriers, or a connecting flight to Italy.

BAg Lady

I was hoping to do that from Bucharest, but whilst it is fine to take cats in the cabin when leaving the UK, they must enter the UK as cargo.

Steve Oh

Ah ok, wasn't aware this is the case.
Our cat had just had enough of th UK and wanted to live somewhere warm(er)

corporate-wage-slave

Air France transports cats even more cheaply, a mere €75 per pussy, as one might expect, and they can travel in the cabin or in the hold.

They can't travel in the cabin to the UK on any airline. What some travellers do (mainly intercontinental passengers), particularly if they don't want their pets in the hold, is to fly from whereever on Air France to Paris, then use Eurotunnel, not Eurostar, to get them into the UK in a car. Alternatively via a sea ferry. Perfectly legal so long as all countries are in the Pet Passport scheme.

Behindthecurtain

Thanks guys. Vet's here been advising Air France. Looks like the Hairyflot miles have a use

pinkcat

probably a common request from cats in the UK, did your cat check out the mouse and bird situation before it went???

fdem

Hi, if you are worried about putting your loved moggies in the cargo hold perhaps you could look at DME/Paris on Air France (if they fly there) and then take either taxi back to UK, or rent a car in Paris dropping off at home in UK. It isnt the most straightforward way but if you calculate the cost of transporting cats in cargo plus the risk.

I have friends living in Budapest who did exactly that as their cat was quite elderly and they didn't trust the cargo hold.

Sixth Freedom

I have never seen anybody else's pussy on a BA flight...



Extremely interesting thread though. When I was at QR I read with interest the Ground Services Manual's directions on the proper handling of falcons. They had to be accommodated in the economy cabin and as far from infants as possible!