connection flight with unaccompanied cats

We are looking to ship our cats on before we actually move to stay at my in-laws so we can pack, sell our house and concentrate on our 2-year-old.  Problem is there are no direct flights from Iowa to Heathrow.  The closest is Chicago, but in the dead of winter, I don't want to make that 8 hour roundtrip journey when the weather can be completely impossible.  Has anyone ever sent unaccompanied pets with a flight connection??  How does that work?  We usually have to get our luggage in chicago and take it to another counter when we fly back and forth, so I'm assuming something would need to be done with the cats too.  Any help would be great!

I have no insight at all. Does the airline offer connecting flights for animals? If so, I can't imagine they'd let anything go wrong. That would be the worst possible PR for them.

Dead of winter?  Hmm, they might not let the cats fly at all if it is below a certain temperature.  That is one of the pet safety rules.  They don't fly if it is below or above certain temperatures.  Check with the airline.

I'm not sure, I haven't actually called because we're still at least 6 months out on it.  Also, we have pretty limited choices from here anyways.  Great!  We don't have many options about when they can fly!  It will be cold, but that is Iowa for you.  Either steaming hot, or deadly cold.  I may just have to do some calling around to see what can be done.  We are just starting the PETS process today with the chipping and vaccinations.  Just wondered if someone had some info before I spend the afternoon on the phone!

look at the airline websites. that should cut down on your calling. You'll have to fly specific routes anyway so check defra's website about the available airlines/routes and that will cut down some of the checking you'll do.

I flew out of Chicago with 2 cats. BA and BMI both have heated transport vans, so as of 18 months ago, you could fly pets in winter with no restrictions. I, personally, wouldn't survive the worry and stress of a connecting flight with cats(I barely survived a direct one, and I was on it with them!) Plus, I'd worry about the stress on them being loaded twice and moved around.

I will say, BMI was great, and the pet transport people in Chicago were soo caring and helpful..

Thanks for the info everyone.  I may have to fly to chicago just to make sure they end up on the chicago to Heathrow plane ok.  I really don't know what else to do.  I don't think that the 8 hour round trip in the winter would be any safer.  I really hate being in the middle of nowhere!!!!!!!!!  You can't get anywhere without a hassle.