Having a Panic Moment!

Ok, so I leaving on the 13th, to arrive in Manchester Friday morning. My cats are flying from Cincinnati to Cleveland, Cleveland to Newark, then Newark to Manchester. I should note that I will not be on the Cincy to Cleveland or Cleveland to EWR flights, but will be on the EWR to MAN flight.

I assumed that the 24-28 hour clock starts from the time of the first flight, not the flight leaving Newark. Their check-in is 7am, so I counted from there and had the tick/tapeworm done today around 16:00.

But now I'm 2nd guessing myself and wondering if I should have counted the 24-48hr time period from the time of the Newark to MAN flight. They are arriving in Newark around 1pm and the MAN flight leaves around 7:30pm. I wasn't give a check-in time for the MAN flight since Continental is transfering them to the various flights.

Which is correct?!? Did I screw up? Whats the worst that would happen if I did screw up?

Also, CO is offering a service they call Day Kenneling. Basically, once they arrive in EWR, their staff will take the cats out of their crates and place them in a kennel where they have access to water and a litterbox and could stretch their legs a bit. I'm a bit leery of having anyone handle them as 1) I don't know how stressed they might be from flying, and I don't want them to hurt themselves or somebody else, 2) I'm paranoid they might escape from the handler or the kennel and 3) I'm paranoid a handler might not put them back in the correct kennels and 4) A handler might not close the kennel properly allowing them to escape. What would you all do? Given the long layover in EWR (almost 6 1/2  hours), I thought it might be ok to do this, but my fears are telling me to go the other way.

My thought would be that the time of the international flight is the important one, but if Continental is taking care of the transfers and the cats are only actually being checked in once, this may not be the case.  I'd suggest a call to DEFRA to make sure.  44 (0) 207 238 6951

I would ensure that any transfer from crate to kennel is done in an enclosed room and then do the day kenneling option because of the very long layover. 

Which is correct?!? Did I screw up? Whats the worst that would happen if I did screw up?

I would think absolute worst case scenario would be that ARC in Manchester would hold them for 24 hours to re-administer the tick/tapeworm treatment. That would cost more, obviously, and mean you're separated from them for longer, but wouldn't be the end of the world either.

I would also go for the day kennelling option. Make sure the cats have collars with their names on them, and as mirrajay said, that Continental takes every precaution not to lose them.

I would think absolute worst case scenario would be that ARC in Manchester would hold them for 24 hours to re-administer the tick/tapeworm treatment. That would cost more, obviously, and mean you're separated from them for longer, but wouldn't be the end of the world either.

I would also go for the day kennelling option. Make sure the cats have collars with their names on them, and as mirrajay said, that Continental takes every precaution not to lose them.

Ok, I just called the agent that handles animals at Manchester, and he said that the time starts from the first flight, not the international flight. Phew! He said I'm not the first person to have that panic moment either!

The last time I tried to make them wear collars, my cat practically choked on it. I could barely get one finger between his neck and the collar, and he still managed to get it into his mouth and was choking on it and it was cutting into the corners of his mouth. I thought about putting another collar on him, I'm just afraid of a repeat of that when no one is there to remove it. I wonder if they do a paper collar of some type?

I wonder if they do a paper collar of some type?

When I worked at an animal shelter this is all we used due to choking risk.  If the airline does not provide them, perhaps a local shelter could give you two.

Hope everything goes smooth for you, we will be using the newark route with our dog into Manchester soon so looking forward to hearing how it goes. After all is settled please let me know. 

I called the airline again to ask some questions and they told me about the kennel thing (the first 2 calls they never mentioned it) is it mandatory or only if there is a long layover?  The agent said it was $100 additional

GOOD LUCK it is an amazing feeling when you finally get the animal back talk about a stresser!!!

When we flew our animals they made us take the collars off.  I dont' know if that is standard for all airlines but for Air Canada, it was. 

I think the day kenneling option is open to anyone who asks for it, but if you don't have a longer layover, I don't see that it would be worth the price. Originally we were only going to have about a 3 1/2hr layover, and they said the kenneling option was available then too. Yes the cost is quite high too, $100 for the 1st pet, $75 for the additional. I think I'm going to do it, though, despite the price and my concerns. I just hope my trust isn't misplaced.

Good luck with your pussies, yes paper collars sounds a good idea if they don't like collars.  Though I am sure that the airline will label the cats when they come out of there carrier, or keep them in an enclosed kennel.

If you are worried give them a call and ask.

I would hate to have to fly my animals anywhere as I am quite potty about them, I have three cats and a dog lol x