some more cat travel questions

Okay, I have just a few more questions for those of you who've done this! My husband will be taking our cat via Northwest Airlines this Wed. night. We've been told that he'll need to take a bus or cab to the British Airlines cargo facility after he lands and that the cat will not be release for 3 or 4 hours.  My father-in-law plans to meet him at the airport, but at this point we have no idea where and when they should meet up.  After going to the B.A. cargo facility, I think he has to go somewhere else, and I'm not sure whether it's a Northwest building or some official animal inspection site. Does anyone know the sequence here?

Also, does my husband have to go immediately to the B.A. cargo facility, or can he collect his luggage and meet his dad at the Northwest terminal, and then drive over to B.A. cargo? And those 3 or 4 hours of observation: does that clock start ticking once the cat has landed, or once the cat arrives at the observation site, or once my husband arrives at B.A. cargo and fills out the forms?  If my husband can meet his dad at the usual place outside customs and all that, then the rest doesn't really matter--they can just muddle through it together.

I know my Northwest rep. would be able to answer these questions, but it's a Sunday morning and my husband wants to call his dad today. Thanks, and I hope this sin't complete garble!

Are you flying into London's Heathrow?  If so, you travel to the Animal Reception Center (ARC).  Maps available on DEFRA's site with directions.  My cargo department in DC gave me a map also.  There is no official clock ticking.  It took over 5 hours to get my cat.  It just depends on how busy the customs dept. is.  The ARC has to wait for the customs clearance before your pet can be released.  You husband should certainly get all his luggage, as ARC is several miles from the airport.  I'd have his dad meet him at the airport after he's gotten through immigrations and customs and take the directions and head over to ARC.  Maybe grab breakfast (or lunch) beforehand.  Once you get to ARC, you just have to wait.  They can tell you that your pet is there safely, but you can't see it or anything until they release it.

Thanks, Kristina. No, I forgot to mention, they are flying into Gatwick. As long as he can meet his father before they go onto the next stage, I think everything else will fall into place. 5 hours! They can look forward to a loooong chat. They haven't seen eachother in almost 2 years!

Thanks, Kristina. No, I forgot to mention, they are flying into Gatwick. As long as he can meet his father before they go onto the next stage, I think everything else will fall into place. 5 hours! They can look forward to a loooong chat. They haven't seen eachother in almost 2 years!

When I flew into Gatwick, I collected all my baggage first and met my husband outside the in the arrivals hall.  We had no idea where to go so I went to the information desk who called the animal reception and confirmed to me my cats had arrived (i could hear them meowing in the background!)  The person on the phone gave us directions and we went to find the place (wasn't too hard but did take a few wrong turns at first!)  When I go there they told me it would be about an hour or so.  So we went to get something to eat and then came back.  It mght take a bit longer as most people seem to have had several hours wait but that was at Heathrow. As long as they are prepared to have to wait a few hours then you should be fine.

We brought our cat via Northwest from Kansas City to Detroit then onto Gatwick.  We didn't fly with the animal, though - so pickup was arranged through Northwest's agent LadyHaye International Pet Agents. http://www.ladyhaye.co.uk/

They arranged to meet us at the McDonalds parking lot on the exit road from Gatwick.  It was pretty easy.  They took care of most everything from the pickup perspective, gave kitty a walk and new food/water, and turned her over to us.  The cat was ready about 2-3 hours from the time that the flight arrived.