Who takes care of horses in KLM cargo?
Jul 14, 2018, 5:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2018
Programs: CX, BA
Posts: 16
Who takes care of horses in KLM cargo?
Hello everyone on the FT community, new member here.
My horse will be flying on KL888 HKG-AMS on 16 July, on the 747 combi (in the cargo hold,of course :P). Anyone on the same flight?
Very interested to know if anyone has connections with the people who take care of the horses on the flight. It's a long shot but would be awesome if anyone has some information!
My horse will be flying on KL888 HKG-AMS on 16 July, on the 747 combi (in the cargo hold,of course :P). Anyone on the same flight?
Very interested to know if anyone has connections with the people who take care of the horses on the flight. It's a long shot but would be awesome if anyone has some information!
Jul 14, 2018, 6:16 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: AMS
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum, TK Star Alliance Gold
Posts: 172
I know they use multiple professional grooms to escort the horses - depending on the number of animals travelling. You could check out the AF-KL-Cargo website or call the Animal Hotel at AMS.
Jul 14, 2018, 2:55 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Milwaukee
Programs: AA Pl, KL Platinum for Life
Posts: 384
Hello everyone on the FT community, new member here.
My horse will be flying on KL888 HKG-AMS on 16 July, on the 747 combi (in the cargo hold,of course :P). Anyone on the same flight?
Very interested to know if anyone has connections with the people who take care of the horses on the flight. It's a long shot but would be awesome if anyone has some information!
My horse will be flying on KL888 HKG-AMS on 16 July, on the 747 combi (in the cargo hold,of course :P). Anyone on the same flight?
Very interested to know if anyone has connections with the people who take care of the horses on the flight. It's a long shot but would be awesome if anyone has some information!
Best of luck to you!
Jul 14, 2018, 3:40 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2009
Location: AMS
Posts: 2,055
According to this blog post: https://blog.klm.com/how-a-horse-flies/ they will start doing it using the full freighter 747s which aren't going anywhere for the foreseeable future.
Jul 14, 2018, 3:59 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Expect KL888 will be a lucky flight!
https://www.seatguru.com/airlines/KL...00_combi_B.php
https://airlinegeeks.com/2018/04/20/...que-747-combi/
Many horses are flown around the world.
Charters/Part charters
https://www.irt.com/
International Horse Transport | Shipping Horses by Air
The Dubai royal family's has a B747 freighter, operated by Dubai Air Wing, just to transport there own horses. Some other horse owner may have a truck.
https://www.seatguru.com/airlines/KL...00_combi_B.php
https://airlinegeeks.com/2018/04/20/...que-747-combi/
<snip>
KLM remains the sole operator of the 747-400M after EVA Air retired theirs in 2015. With their old age, these 747s will soon be retired as KLM continues taking delivery of newer and more efficient planes. While a flight on the Combi is like any other 747 flight, for aviation enthusiasts, the rare bird is one many seek to fly before the last one is retired.
KLM remains the sole operator of the 747-400M after EVA Air retired theirs in 2015. With their old age, these 747s will soon be retired as KLM continues taking delivery of newer and more efficient planes. While a flight on the Combi is like any other 747 flight, for aviation enthusiasts, the rare bird is one many seek to fly before the last one is retired.
Charters/Part charters
https://www.irt.com/
International Horse Transport | Shipping Horses by Air
The Dubai royal family's has a B747 freighter, operated by Dubai Air Wing, just to transport there own horses. Some other horse owner may have a truck.
Jul 14, 2018, 9:11 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2018
Programs: CX, BA
Posts: 16
They fly with a professional who takes care of them during the entire flight. I flew on a 747 combi from AMS to JFK and during the flight the horses caretaker opened the door between cargo and the passengers and showed the passengers the horse. I will never forget it. I'm not sure how they will be able to transport horses once the 747's are retired from their fleet.
Best of luck to you!
Best of luck to you!
Jul 14, 2018, 9:18 pm
#9
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I've heard stories of major racehorses having their own groom, trainer, vet, etc. down in the hold with them during the flight, but this might be the equivalent of an urban legend.
Jul 14, 2018, 11:01 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,303
When horses fly: Getting a horse to the Rio Olympics | NBC Olympics
https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/an...ondon-olympics
https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/36898318
Jul 14, 2018, 11:48 pm
#11
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Jul 15, 2018, 1:10 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2017
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Race horses travel with their own trainer to avoid any doping or foul play, you might have been able to request you travel with your horse but maybe you need some vet / trainer credentials.
Jul 15, 2018, 5:15 am
#13
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Join Date: Jul 2018
Programs: CX, BA
Posts: 16
Thanks all for your insightful input! I actually had no idea 747 combis existed until recently, let alone used for this purpose. had i planned better I could have booked myself on the same flight!
Jul 15, 2018, 7:15 am
#14
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Very interesting thread. I think the only KL 747s I've flown on were combis. ORD-AMS, JFK-AMS-JFK a few times.
Never thought that there might be live things behind the wall.
Never thought that there might be live things behind the wall.
Jul 16, 2018, 10:58 am
#15
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