catsassy

I've spent a few days trying to book 2 multi city return tickets on an Open Skies flight from NY (JFK) to Paris (ORY) return LHR-BOS.

We would be taking 2 cats on the outward leg. The return leg is a vacation/business trip.

First of all I've been sent from pillar to post with the phone calls and been told I can't book this trip online as we are taking cats.
My calls have been redirected to pet cargo (not what I want) and finally I get through to someone that says they can book this flight but currently the system is down.
It's been down for 5 hours now..

So my question while I wait is 'Has anyone flown this route with a pet in the cabin?'
Any advice? Paperwork needed? I can't really decipher from the website https://www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad/overview if I need a pet passport or a form from my vet.

Hoping to travel in early December!

Thanks for any advice!

aidy

I researched it for my better half you can take the cats into the Cabin into Paris.

How will you get them from Paris to London? As they can't go in the cabin, only way is on channel tunnel or ferry if there in a car

TabTraveller

http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/...ling-with-pets

Answers on the website.

UKtravelbear

Just to clarify you are leaving the cats in France?It's not clear where you are leaving them.

In which case you need to comply with French regulations rather than UK ones.

catsassy

Thinking we'd need to hire a car, drive to Calais and then take Eurotunnel le Shuttle to Folkestone as they allow cats in car.
Destination is south coast rather than London.

catsassy

No we aren't leaving them in France we are taking them to the UK permanently.

catsassy

^
Yes, I looked at this.
It says we need pet travel and medical certificates. I think that's rather vague!
I do not have any answers from BA yet as to what exact documentation is necessary.

DoctorCopper

OP, the rules on bringing a pet (cat, dog or ferret) into the UK are very clear from the link you provided in your original post. I believe you will need some time in France, to consult a competent vet, to ensure you meet the UK requirements. This is essential to avoid your cats being placed into quarantine. As BA is unable to provide the necessary veterinarian facilities to bring your cats into the UK, it is no surprise to me that BA is unable to respond to your request. Best to contact the rail company for info. Doc Copper (who has experience of crossing the Channel with a dog).

flatlander

You need to go by car with an animal across the tunnel; you can't take it on the ferry as a foot passenger and you can't take it on the Eurostar (probably except an assistance dog). An acquaintance of mine faced this problem when trying to repatriate his lost cat back from Paris.

You need to meet the rules precisely: rabies vaccine a suitable time ahead, veterinary check in France, etc. However, given those, it's straightforward to take a dog, cat or ferret [1] through the channel tunnel; they have a dedicated pet checkin area. If you need a vet recommendation in the area, I can ask my mother, who does this trip with her dogs a couple of times a year. You will, in practice, need to stay overnight in Northern France or Belgium to do the veterinary formalities.

Word of advice: check very carefully that the animal's microchip number is recorded properly on the paperwork. It will be handwritten or transcribed several times and you will have a lot of trouble if the number on the various records do not match.

[1] All of whom have a rabies vaccine available

catsassy

Thanks Doc Cooper,
I think I've found the link I need. It's a health form for animals travelling from non-EU countries to the EU.
I think if my vet completes this document then I'm covered to take the cats from France into the UK without seeing another vet in France.

BA are not responding to my request to book tickets on Open Skies as their system is down. I've not asked them about the various paperwork requirements but I've been told space s available for 5 or 6 small pets in the cabin.

https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...rritories.docx

catsassy

Thank you!
I'd worked out the necessity of a car and taking the euro tunnel (le shuttle) but I think it's possible I won't need to see a vet in France if I have the necessary documentation form USA. See link for document.

https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...rritories.docx

Cats have been ISO microchipped and have current rabies jabs valid for the next 11 months. I understand they also need to see a vet here for a health check less than 10 days before travel to certify them fit to travel.

Have I got my all ducks in a row??

I would appreciate the vet recommendation in case I need one in France though.
Thank you!

SleepySynapse

If I have understood correctly you are flying with two cats from the US to Paris, and then into the UK via Eurotunnel. The cats will then stay in the UK. You will therefore be required to meet both French rules and UK rules.

***Disclaimer: I am basing this on my non-professional understanding UK/general EU rules. The consequences of mistakes are severe (prolonged quarantine of your cats) so take professional advice from your vet, a government helpline, or a specialist pet travel agency. I would be surprised if BA would advise you on exactly what paperwork is required -- there's a lot of legislation here and it's a big risk for them to take.***

Rules for entry into the UK are on the link in your first post. The UK classifies the USA as a 'Listed Country' for purposes of pet travel. For entry into the UK (or, I believe, France) directly from the USA your cats will need:
- a microchip. This will be read at the border crossing into the UK (and into France) to check that the microchip number (and therefore the cat!) corresponds to all paperwork.
- A rabies vaccination (with a specific inactivated or recombinant vaccine; your vet will be able to advise), carried out after the cats were microchipped. The last vaccine of the initial course must be administered at least 21 days before travel (the UK government says before 21 days before arrival, the French Embassy says 21 days before departure).
- A Third Country Official Veterinary Certificate. The PDF template for this is available via your link. This certificate must be issued by a vet in the USA (possibly a specific US Dept of Agriculture vet but ask your usual vet for advice) fewer than 10 days before your arrival into France. I believe you can then use the same certificate to enter the UK from France up to four months after the certificate issue date.


This is complicated by your indirect routing, so I would contact the UK's Pet Travel Scheme Helpline to confirm my above advice:
Pet Travel Scheme helpline [email protected]
Telephone: 0370 241 1710 [use Skype!]
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (closed on bank holidays)


If you want to travel in December you will need to start this process ASAP. Some rabies vaccines require multiple injections weeks apart, and travel can't commence until 21 days after the last injection of the course.

DoctorCopper

catsassy, the anti-rabies vaccinations are a lengthy process and are best completed prior to travel, with of course the supporting documentation. Prior to entry to the UK, it will be necessary for your cats to have been inoculated against tics and fleas. Rather than taking my advice, I strongly recommend you seek the expert advice of a veterinary expert. That is what I rely upon. Doc Copper

catsassy

Cats are already ISO microchipped and upto date with rabies vaccines.
The problem I have is my vet isn't familiar with taking pets overseas so I'm researching this information myself. If I have to find another vet so be it...

catsassy

I didn't read about the tick and flea medication but that should be easy enough. Our cats are indoor only (too many coyotes and other predators to allow them outside here).