pet travel USA-UK-Europe
Mar 4, 2018, 1:19 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 219
pet travel USA-UK-Europe
Hi, I wish to take my small dog from LAS to OTP via LHR on BA0274 connecting to BA0884 (2h45 layover)
Can you please advise me on what paperwork is required and what the procedures are, in general?
Thank you so much,
S
Can you please advise me on what paperwork is required and what the procedures are, in general?
Thank you so much,
S
Mar 4, 2018, 1:22 pm
#2
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,914
Have a look at this link:
Mar 4, 2018, 2:20 pm
#3
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,210
Some additional reading material I hope you will find useful...
https://www.iagcargo.com/en/page/product/pets
https://www.iagcargo.com/en/page/product/pets
Mar 4, 2018, 2:24 pm
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
You will also need to look at the same for Romania and then deal with BA. Or more particularly its vendor, IAG Cargo.
Unfortunately, there is no "generally" answer as the requirements are specific to the routing, e.g. US-UK-ROMANIA.
Unfortunately, there is no "generally" answer as the requirements are specific to the routing, e.g. US-UK-ROMANIA.
Mar 4, 2018, 2:27 pm
#5
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,735
My suspicion is that this will be far easier to do on Air France, particularly if the dog is under 8 kgs (they probably won't weigh the dog so no need to put Rover on to a diet if just over!). Small dogs can travel in the cabin, though not in Business class. On BA the dog will have to go in the hold and be transferred at LHR, where they will be checked and looked after by the City of London Corporation Heathrow Animal Reception Centre during the transfer.
Mar 4, 2018, 2:36 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: LCY
Posts: 1,222
The most important part of the procedure will be finding a local vet some weeks before travel who is experienced in the paperwork required by European Union states. As well as the paperwork, microchipping and vaccinations, they can also help you arrange your animal screening with a nearby USDA office and either provide or put you in touch with a suitable crate to load the creature into the aircraft cargo hold.
I've never dealt with transporting animals on connecting flights but it is worth checking if the connection is long enough for any necessary inspections made at the transit point. It may be that the animal will travel on different flights.
I've never dealt with transporting animals on connecting flights but it is worth checking if the connection is long enough for any necessary inspections made at the transit point. It may be that the animal will travel on different flights.
Mar 4, 2018, 8:30 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,262
The most important part of the procedure will be finding a local vet some weeks before travel who is experienced in the paperwork required by European Union states. As well as the paperwork, microchipping and vaccinations, they can also help you arrange your animal screening with a nearby USDA office and either provide or put you in touch with a suitable crate to load the creature into the aircraft cargo hold.
Mar 4, 2018, 9:07 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 461
Having moved my little man from the UK to Australia my strong advice would be to find a specialist company in the US who can handle the whole thing for you. It can be an absolute admin nightmare. For us it was the most stressful and complex part of relocating to the other side of the world. We use Pet Air UK who might be able to point you in the direction of somebody in the US... Personal advice is to avoid Airpets at all costs, PM for more information on that if you would like.
Mar 5, 2018, 1:11 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,921
You also need to know whether airports through which you want your pet to travel have the appropriate animal welfare facilities. I travelled on Turkish through IST but my cat flew LH through FRA as Istanbul lacked the appropriate facilities to deal with an animal flying long haul.
Mar 5, 2018, 1:32 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,105
If travelling with your pet on BA, make sure the pet carrier is generously sized. They're very particular about it being big enough, and can consider a container too small when a vet thinks it is OK. Having to source a new carrier at zero notice when you try to check your pet in is not fun, as my partner knows.
On the other hand, I'm confident that they will look after your pet well. Our cats survived the BA experience OK, and other people I know also had good experiences.
I would never send an animal on United.
On the other hand, I'm confident that they will look after your pet well. Our cats survived the BA experience OK, and other people I know also had good experiences.
I would never send an animal on United.
Last edited by flatlander; Mar 5, 2018 at 2:39 am Reason: add anecdotes
Mar 5, 2018, 5:59 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: London
Programs: Mucci Grandee (Upgraded), BA Silver, AZ MilleMiglia
Posts: 3,107
My suspicion is that this will be far easier to do on Air France, particularly if the dog is under 8 kgs (they probably won't weigh the dog so no need to put Rover on to a diet if just over!). Small dogs can travel in the cabin, though not in Business class. On BA the dog will have to go in the hold and be transferred at LHR, where they will be checked and looked after by the City of London Corporation Heathrow Animal Reception Centre during the transfer.
Mar 6, 2018, 4:57 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: USA & UK -- AA EXP 3.5MM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Avis President's Club
Posts: 6,411
KLM and Air France are pet-friendly. BA is not.
The rules and regulations are arduous. You'll need to check and double-check to make sure the paperwork is correct.
Shop around for a company which specializes in this. We recently moved two dogs and two cats from the USA to the UK. In retrospect, it was a smooth experience. However, at the time, it seemed like quite a large hassle. Everything takes longer and costs more than expected.
The rules and regulations are arduous. You'll need to check and double-check to make sure the paperwork is correct.
Shop around for a company which specializes in this. We recently moved two dogs and two cats from the USA to the UK. In retrospect, it was a smooth experience. However, at the time, it seemed like quite a large hassle. Everything takes longer and costs more than expected.
Mar 6, 2018, 5:29 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Peterborough, UK
Programs: BA Silver; IHG Spire; Avis P+; Global Entry
Posts: 1,505
It's not viable to take the pet to the UK. My wife and I bought our cat over from Canada (flew from the US).
In the end we flew the cat on Delta to Paris and drove the rest of the way, the cost to take her in the cabin was $200
Your post will get some very good tips in the https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-pets-645/ forum
In the end we flew the cat on Delta to Paris and drove the rest of the way, the cost to take her in the cabin was $200
Your post will get some very good tips in the https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-pets-645/ forum
Mar 14, 2018, 4:14 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,105
To support this, Snopes says:
Last year, 18 animals died while being transported on United — there were six cases on all other U.S. carriers combined, according to the Department of Transportation.