Share Your Non-Cargo Travel Experience?

I'm looking for updated posts regarding moving small animals to the UK in ways other than shipping them cargo. We have two Shih Tzus who travel in the cabin with us domestically (U.S.) and whom we WILL NOT put in an airline cargo hold. I understand that we cannot fly directly to the UK with them in the cabin. Would love to hear from folks who have:

1) Flown to the EU with pets in cabin and then gone on to the UK from there.....where did you fly into? Did you get your tick and tapeworm treatment in EU or in U.S.? How did you get to UK? Paperwork problems doing it this way? Other considerations? OR...
2) Queen Mary 2 Experience? I've seen the one very helpful discussion...are there more folks who have done this out there? OR...
3) Any other method I haven't thought of?
Thanks in advance for your advice. This is the best forum I've found for this type of pet discussion.

Hello! I've yet to fly my cat Loki to the UK however I've been doing research and I think you may be able to fly your dogs in cabin. Here's a neat website that I've found that breaks down some airlines to give you an idea of who may or may not let you do this.

Summary of Airline Pet-Transport Policies

I may be wrong, but, I don't think you can fly internationally with a pet in the cabin, which includes to the EU.  Someone feel free to correct me if I am wrong....

I may be wrong, but, I don't think you can fly internationally with a pet in the cabin, which includes to the EU.  Someone feel free to correct me if I am wrong....

I've been reading and I see some places that will let you fly with them in the cabin. They just have some strict rules.

"American Airlines
American Airlines allows pets as carry-on luggage or checked as baggage, depending upon the weight of the animal. Other temperature, size, and breed restrictions may apply. For more information, call American at 800-433-7300. You can also visit www.americanairlines.com—look for information on "Travel Assistance" under "Programs & Services."

"Delta Airlines
Delta allows pets in-cabin year-round and checked as baggage. Temperature, size, and breed restrictions may apply. Delta limits the number of carry-on pets per flight to one in first class, one in business, and two in the main cabin. Pets are accepted on a first come, first served basis. The fee for pets carried on or checked as baggage is $75 when traveling within the United States or Canada. For more information call 800-221-1212 or visit www.delta.com."

"Northwest Airlines
Northwest allows pets in-cabin, checked as baggage, or shipped via VIP Same Day Package Service or cargo. Temperature, size, and breed restrictions may apply. You can get more information by calling Northwest at 800-692-2746 or visiting www.nwa.com."

"United Airlines
United Airlines allows pets to travel in-cabin or to be shipped as cargo. Temperature, size and breed restrictions may apply. For further information, call 800-241-6522 or visit www.ual.com."

I'm not positive but it sounds as if you just have to check with each airline to see what they will or won't allow. I'm going to research more as the time gets closer.

I think those are only domestic flights.  I am in the midst of the process with my dogs and none of them will let them fly in the cabin on an international flight and they are only 10 and 15 pounds. 

This is the Defra website showing approved routes and carriers into the UK from non-EU countries. 'Accompanied animals' means you, or someone you know, must be on the same flight as the animal. No one lets you carry the pet in the cabin with you for an international flight (unless it's an assistance dog).

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/procedures/support-info/routes_longhaul.htm

I looked into taking my cats on the QMII, and if I could have had my cats in my room with me I would have done it. But the thought of them being in crates for so many days and having to 'visit' them, didn't appeal to me.

I think those are only domestic flights.  I am in the midst of the process with my dogs and none of them will let them fly in the cabin on an international flight and they are only 10 and 15 pounds. 

I think you're right. No in-cabin pet travel on international flights.

I think you're right. No in-cabin pet travel on international flights.

I'm really not sure at the moment because some of the Airlines I've looked at have said yes and some have said no. >.< I'm going to worry about it later when it gets closer to his flight which isn't until Dec. However I did find this so I'll try to do more research.

NWA

"United Kingdom (U.K.) regulations do not permit carry-on pets or accompanied pets traveling with passenger luggage. All animals, including service animals, must be transported using the cargo service.

Northwest welcomes pet dogs, cats and ferrets traveling with their owners on non-stop flights from the U.S. to London-Gatwick under provisions of the U.K. Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). Pets that meet the rules of this program can travel as cargo from the U.S. or Canada to the U.K. without having to undergo the six (6) months quarantine."

Then they also have this.

"From September 15, 2003 onwards, Northwest Airlines will accept pet dogs and cats traveling with their owners from either Detroit or Minneapolis/St. Paul direct to London-Gatwick under the provisions of the U.K. Pet Travel Scheme (PETS).Pets that meet the rules of this program can travel to the U.K. from the U.S. without having to undergo 6 months quarantine."

But then there are REALLY WEIRD sounding airlines like Swiss that make you wonder if they make it up as they go along.

"Take your special companion along with you when you travel. With SWISS, your pet can travel on all flights to any destination of our network either right next to you in the cabin or in cabin-like conditions in the baggage compartment of the aircraft.

Please note that air transportation of animals is subject to a number of regulations which can differ considerably from one country to the next.
All necessary documents must be provided in the original, such as: export, import, and transit permits, health or vaccination certificates. Your animal must be booked in advance."

In the BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT?! WHAT?! O.O Are they crazy?!

So with all that there's one last option that I can see which I got from DEFRA about flying your pet over. They have a list here of different airlines as well as a lot of private jets. It may cost more but you wouldn't have to put your pet in cargo. I'm going to just have to think about it later. It really upsets me at the moment to be having to get him micro chipped, I have no idea how to react to him having to fly in a cargo hold.

The pets are completely safe in the "cargo" area.  In fact, they are in an area which is safe, temperature-regulated, and free of the distractions that can scare a pet in the cabin.  One of my dogs has flown that way before, when he was just a puppy, and he was fine.  Playful and happy when we arrived.  I know it is scary but hiring a private jet will cost you thousands!  Under DEFRA, you have to book the whole plane, not just a seat in the plane.  Talk to some of the people here who have already moved their animals.  I think everyone's animals arrived safe and unharmed.

Good post Sadb.

Personally, I would have been much more stresed having my cats in the cabin with me, especially for such a long flight. What if they peed or threw up? No one wants to smell that for 7 hours. I would have been so stressed about the other passenger's comfort. What if the person next to me was deathly allergic to cats? I love cats, but that doesn't mean I want to smell their pee for hours or hear them meowing loudly because they're stressed out.  Plus, in order to fit in the cabin you would have to get a smaller crate. My cats had nice large crates that they could stand up and turn around in. A few days before I left I slept in a t-shirt which I then cut in half, putting half in each crate which would hopefully comfort them on the flight. I don't know if it did, but it made me feel better as their mom! Honestly, it's not as bad as you think.

People thought I was crazy for paying over a thousand dollars to bring them over with me. If I had booked a private jet to bring them over, surely they would have thought I had completely lost my marbles!

We flew our dog over to the UK 2 years ago. He did fine. He also had to go to quarantine for 2 months and he had no problems there either. I think travelling with pets is way more stressful on the human than the animal.

I'm really not sure at the moment because some of the Airlines I've looked at have said yes and some have said no. >.< I'm going to worry about it later when it gets closer to his flight which isn't until Dec. However I did find this so I'll try to do more research.

NWA

"United Kingdom (U.K.) regulations do not permit carry-on pets or accompanied pets traveling with passenger luggage. All animals, including service animals, must be transported using the cargo service.

Northwest welcomes pet dogs, cats and ferrets traveling with their owners on non-stop flights from the U.S. to London-Gatwick under provisions of the U.K. Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). Pets that meet the rules of this program can travel as cargo from the U.S. or Canada to the U.K. without having to undergo the six (6) months quarantine."

Then they also have this.

"From September 15, 2003 onwards, Northwest Airlines will accept pet dogs and cats traveling with their owners from either Detroit or Minneapolis/St. Paul direct to London-Gatwick under the provisions of the U.K. Pet Travel Scheme (PETS).Pets that meet the rules of this program can travel to the U.K. from the U.S. without having to undergo 6 months quarantine."

That last quote says nothing about flying in-cabin. "with their owners" probably means on the same flight in the cargo hold. The statement is most likely referring to this being a new approved route on the PETS travel scheme.

Thanks for all of your thoughts...a couple of points:

- Darlithia: Regardless of what is allowed, I encourage you to deal with the pet transfer sooner rather than later. We have flown domestically with our two dogs in the cabin several times, and you must make sure that you reserve space for them in advance. Especially if they're in the cabin, as there are limits to how many pets can be in the cabin. Then you have to double and sometimes triple check with the airline to make sure they have the pet reservation in their system, because sometimes it falls through their cracks. That having been said, however, ...

- I realize that you cannot get a pet in-cabin directly to the UK, and that the PETS scheme does not allow for private jets (we are not about to go that route anyway!). However, I have been told that NWA will let you fly them in-cabin to Amsterdam. I also have heard that you might be able to get them to France.  Still looking for anyone who might have done this or found out definitively whether it can be done....then get them into the UK (assuming you've followed all of those rules to the letter).

- I appreciate the good and hopeful wishes of those with good cargo experiences, but cargo is not an option for us. Period. Without going into detail about some of the reasons, one is that many airlines will not accept dogs with pushed-in faces (such as our Shih Tzus) in cargo because of the potential for breathing problems. Additionally, we will not have our dogs quaranteed (which of course means we will be in TOTAL compliance with the PETS travel scheme); I would turn around and come back to the U.S. before having that happen. Just looking for folks with real-life experience that is NON-cargo. Thanks.

Is the QM2 an option for you guys at all?