If you’re bringing a dog or cat to the UK, you need to read this first
Flying to the UK with a dog or cat is harder than you might think
A family looked into arranging a direct flight from the US to the UK for their pet. And they were shocked by what they found.
Their enquiries revealed a complicated and difficult process that would have been unsettling for their pets and, in turn, a huge worry for them.
Thankfully, they found a better way to travel with Pet Moves and avoided all the hassle.
But this is what they would have been faced with if they hadn’t.
Here’s everything you’ll need to do if you fly your pet direct to the UK
- If your flight is during the summer months, you’ll need to phone your airline to check when your pet is permitted to fly. This is because some airlines have a no-fly time, when you can’t fly your pets to the UK.
- If your pet can fly, you’ll need to call the pet cargo center to ensure they have space for your pets.
- Call the airline to book your own flight.
- Call pet cargo again to book your pet’s flight and give them the following information:
- The actual size and weight of your pet’s container
- The weight of your pet.
Note: if the information you give at this point is found to be inaccurate at the flight time, some airlines will turn you away.
- On the day of the flight, drop your pet at the cargo center five hours before their flight. That’s a long time for them to be apart from you, feeling anxious and with no idea what’s about to happen.
- Pay for your pet’s flight, which, in some cases, could be more than the cost of your own ticket.
- Your pet will be transported to the UK in the hold of an aircraft — and not necessarily the same aircraft you’re flying on.
- When you arrive at Heathrow, you’ll need to go and collect your pet from the Animal Center. This isn’t at the Arrivals, where you’ll land, but in a different part of the airport.
- At the Animal Centre, you’ll need to wait for them to check all your pet’s papers, then pay another large sum of money. This will be over and above what you’ve already paid for their flight.
- Sometimes your pet’s papers won’t be ready. So you’ll need to book an overnight stay near the Animal Center and collect your pet the following day.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Pet Moves makes it easier
When you travel with Pet Moves, you’ll bring your pet to the UK via Paris. A different route with different rules. And much easier and less traumatic for both of you.
To find out how Pet Moves makes bringing a dog or cat to the UK a more stress-free and comfortable experience, follow the links below.