Frequently Asked Questions
If you have questions about moving pets to the UK with Pet Moves, we have the answers.
“Pet Moves was available to answer all my questions and address all my concerns.”
Flying from your location to Paris
Why travel to the UK via Paris?
Direct flights to the UK don’t allow pets in the cabin. Instead, they’ll be packed into the hold of a cargo plane. The hold won’t be air conditioned and if it gets above a certain temperature, the airline could refuse to fly your pets.
Flying to Paris means you’ll avoid putting your pets into cargo or handing them over to pet shippers for days at a time.
Certain flights to Paris allow you to keep your pet with you in the cabin or, at least, in the hold of the same plane. So you can arrive at the airport together and leave together, without being separated, or with a much shorter separation time.
Which airlines allow pets to fly in the cabin?
Most of our customers choose Air France or Delta and have had good experiences flying with their pets. You can also fly with KLM, United Airlines or Air Canada.
These airlines will allow you to fly with a pet up to 8kg (including the weight of the carry case) with you in the cabin.
What if I’m flying with a larger dog?
Larger dogs will travel in the hold as excess luggage, but this is totally different from cargo. Your dog will accompany you to the airport and travel on the same flight, in an the air-conditioned section of the hold.
What if I book my pet as traveling in the cabin, but they end up in the hold?
Sometimes pets booked to travel with Pet Moves fail to meet the requirements for airplane cabin travel and end up in the hold.
If this happens, we may need a larger vehicle than we originally set aside for you and this may incur an extra charge.
Can I stay overnight in Paris and travel with you to the UK the next day?
Yes, if you’d prefer to rest and stay overnight, we’ll collect you from your airport hotel, Paris hotel or residence and take you across to the UK then.
You’ll need to specify exactly where you’ll need picking up from on your quote form as this will affect the timings and cost of your travel. Pick-ups from the city will require a longer journey and cost more than pick-ups from hotels at the airport.
Traveling to the Eurotunnel and UK
Where do you pick up from in Paris?
We can pick you up from:
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Orly Airport (ORY)
TGV station for train connections (nearest our regional base)
Your Paris residence or hotel
Paris mainline train stations.
How much can your vehicle carry?
Our largest vehicle can accommodate up to five family members with pets and luggage.
We have a complimentary allowance of one suitcase per person, but additional suitcases can be carried on request.
Each additional item of luggage, including carry-ons, will carry a handling fee of £50, if agreed in advance.
The maximum weight of any suitcase must not exceed 30kg.
Why take the Eurotunnel?
The Eurotunnel is the easiest and fastest way to cross the English Channel with your pet. It’s a drive-on-drive-off train, which allows us to travel together in our vehicle, and the crossing takes just 35 minutes.
There are dedicated pet exercise areas each side of the tunnel, so your pet can take a comfort break before and/or after the crossing.
Why can’t we take the Eurostar?
The Eurostar is a passenger train, which runs between Paris and London St Pancras International, but it doesn’t allow pets onboard.
How long is the journey to the UK?
A typical journey from Paris to London takes around six hours.
From Paris to Folkestone typically takes a little over four hours.
But actual journey times will depend on the Eurotunnel schedule.
Where will you drop us in the UK?
We’ll take you to an agreed destination point, which will usually be:
Folkestone Central Station — the nearest train station to the Eurotunnel terminal, with fast trains to London in around an hour
Dover, for National Car Rental agencies offering one-way hire
London mainline stations
Your door if you’re traveling to the South East of England.
Can you take us further than London or Paris?
Yes, we’ll consider and quote for any destination on request.
However, due to EU drivers’ hours regulations, there are limits on the amount of time we can be driving.
To go further, we would need to include an overnight rest stop at a pet-friendly hotel. We can then resume our journey, refreshed, the following day.
Do you offer journeys from the UK?
Yes, we’ll pick you up at an agreed location — usually in London or South East England — and chauffeur you and your pet to Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris.
As there’s the potential for delays with this journey, we recommend you arrive in Paris the day before your scheduled flight and arrange an overnight stay.
If this isn’t possible, we’d recommend a pick-up point in Folkestone, and a Eurotunnel Fast Track ticket to give us priority if there are delays.
Traveling with Pet Moves
Can you help me complete the paperwork I need?
Yes. When traveling with a pet, it’s vital to ensure you have all the correct paperwork for Border Control. Having assisted many passengers through this process, we’ve become experts in ensuring these forms are completed to the standard required.
Our personal service includes guidance and support with all the regulations, including travel documents, veterinary requirements and legal rules.
Do you offer a reduced rate for return journeys?
Some clients have asked us if we offer a reduced rate for a round-trip or return journey back to Paris. And the answer is no.
This is because a return journey won’t cost us any less to provide and, therefore, a reduced rate isn’t viable.
Can my pet travel alone with Pet Moves?
Yes, absolutely. It’s not always possible to travel with your pet, but transporting them with Pet Moves is the next best thing.
We’ll treat your pets as we would our own, with kindness, care and individual attention.
Our experienced chauffeur will collect your pet from the agreed pick-up point and chaperone them to their destination, with regular breaks for comfort and refreshment.
Every pet is different, so we’ll consult with you to make sure we deliver the personalised care they need. And we’ll keep you updated with texts or emails during the journey.
Does your quote include food or accommodation?
No, but there will be scheduled comfort breaks for you and your pet during the journey.
Why do you need a non-refundable deposit?
The deposit covers the cost of your Eurotunnel tickets and any other fees we need to account for when arranging your travel. It also covers us for our admin time and any unavoidable losses.
Is there anything you don’t do?
To ensure we deliver the best service and care, we have some rules in place for the safety and comfort of everyone.
- We don’t transport a multitude of pets in the back of a van, where we can’t give each one individual care and attention
- We don’t mix and match different pets or customers — each Pet Move is exclusive
- We only take family pets, with or without their owners — we don’t collect or transport puppies from breeders or provide transport on behalf of anyone else
- We don’t allow smoking or vaping in our vehicles
- Apart from the Eurotunnel, we don’t book travel or accommodation
- We can’t arrange your pet’s documents for you, as they need to be issued by a vet in the country you’re traveling from — but we’ll be happy to advise you on the documents you need and check them to ensure a smooth border crossing
- We don’t collect pets from cargo centers.
How much do you charge?
The starting price is £1695 + the Eurotunnel fare.
You may be surprised to discover, the cost of our Pet Moves service is comparable with sending your pet in cargo to the UK. But without all the stress, hassle, separation and inconvenience.
And while you may find cheaper services, you won’t find one that cares for your pet as well as we will.
Our fee is variable, according to your specific needs, but your pets’ wellbeing is priceless.