Extra fees flying into Heathrow

I just got off the phone with Continental's Quickpack pets program and they were very helpful. He pointed a few things I thought might be helpful to others. Continental doesn't need the health certificate sign by the USDA vet, it can just be a normal health certificate sign by your vet within 10 days of departure. He also told me to fee to fly into Heathrow through is now an extra $625 charge (paid when you pick up the animal), while Gatwick doesn't have that fee.
I think I heard the fee used to be closer to $500, so I assume it has increased.

I believe (though I may be mistaken) that Gatwick does charge a similar fee, but that the fee in question is paid for by the airline itself and is included in the cargo charges, rather than being payable as a separate charge.

Also, as far as I am aware, the thing about needing the health certificate to be signed by the USDA vet is a rule put into place by DEFRA and the officials at customs in the UK, rather than an airline rule - in other words, even if Continental doesn't require the signature, certain officals in the UK may require this signature in order to admit the animals in the UK.  Considering that other things need to be endorsed by the USDA vet (who, at least in my case, wasn't fussed that the tick and tapeworm section had yet to be filled out, and signed it anyway - I didn't have to wait until within 24-48 hours of flying to get the paperwork endorsed), and considering that the USDA vet only charges one flat fee for as many signatures as necessary, I'd advise folks to have everything possible signed and sealed just in case.

Glad to hear that Continental seems to be on the ball!

I paid a fee directly to animal reception at Heathrow when I picked up my dogs.  It was £250 ($500).  So, it does sound like the fee has gone up.

Also, as far as I am aware, the thing about needing the health certificate to be signed by the USDA vet is a rule put into place by DEFRA and the officials at customs in the UK, rather than an airline rule - in other words, even if Continental doesn't require the signature, certain officals in the UK may require this signature in order to admit the animals in the UK.  Considering that other things need to be endorsed by the USDA vet (who, at least in my case, wasn't fussed that the tick and tapeworm section had yet to be filled out, and signed it anyway - I didn't have to wait until within 24-48 hours of flying to get the paperwork endorsed), and considering that the USDA vet only charges one flat fee for as many signatures as necessary, I'd advise folks to have everything possible signed and sealed just in case.

Actually, Defra doesn't require the health certificate at all.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/procedures/support-info/documents.htm
While veterinary health statements are not required by Defra for the movement of pet animals, you may find that approved transport companies require veterinary evidence that your pet is healthy and fit to travel before they will allow it to board their aircraft or ship.

You are advised to verify if the transport company requires a private veterinary statement and the form which it should take. This veterinary statement may be provided in one of the following two ways:

    1) completion of section IX of the EU Pet Passport by a practising veterinarian confirming that 'the animal is in good health and able to withstand carriage to its destination.' or

    (2) a private statement from a practising veterinarian stating that:
    'On [date], I examined the animal described in EU Pet Passport/third country official veterinary certificate numbered [enter serial number] and found it to be free from clinical signs of infectious or contagious disease, including external parasites, and in my opinion, is fit to travel.'


It's simply a requirement set by the airline. So it differs depending on who you travel with.


We've decided to go with British Airways anyways. They are actually cheaper than Continental for us. To fly Continental into Gatwick with two cats (one in a size 100 kennel, the other in a size 200 kennel) it was around $1400 and to fly into Heathrow it was $2000. British Airways quoted us $1650 to fly into Heathrow.

BA were great to fly over here in 2006 with my dog (San Francisco to Heathrow).  But we are flying home in June on Virgin...for the ridiculous cost of £975!!! 

The animal reception center at Heathrow was a breeze, and they were great. 

Actually, Defra doesn't require the health certificate at all.

From the DEFRA site:

A third country official veterinary certificate may only be issued for an animal to enter the UK if all of the following requirements are met:

    * it shows no clinical signs of rabies
    * you have read its microchip and the same number is shown on the vaccination record and blood test result
    * it has a current rabies vaccination given after it was microchipped
    * it has been blood tested after vaccination with a result showing the rabies neutralising antibody titre at a level of 0.5 IU/ml or greater

For entry into the UK this certificate can be issued by any vet in a non-EU listed country. It is headed ‘Veterinary certificate for domestic dogs, cats and ferrets entering the European Community for non-commercial movements (Regulation (EC) No 998/2003)’. The certificate must be a single sheet in English and may also contain a translation in another language. It must be completed in block letters in the language of the EU country of entry or in English.

You should complete sections I to V of the certificate and all the details in the following box. If you are not a government-approved veterinarian, the certificate must also be dated and stamped by a veterinarian authorised by the competent authority.

Seems pretty clear to me...

The third-country veterinary certificate and a veterinary health statement are two totally different things.  The former is mandatory (per DEFRA) and the latter is optional depending on the airline.

BA were great to fly over here in 2006 with my dog (San Francisco to Heathrow).  But we are flying home in June on Virgin...for the ridiculous cost of £975!!! 

The animal reception center at Heathrow was a breeze, and they were great. 

I will say that Virgin was brilliant with my dogs when we flew over last November.

From the DEFRA site:

Seems pretty clear to me...

The third-country veterinary certificate and a veterinary health statement are two totally different things.  The former is mandatory (per DEFRA) and the latter is optional depending on the airline.

Sorry, not sure why you thought I was confused.
I'm strictly referring to the Aphis 7001 certificate, I am aware that the 3rd country veterinary certificate needs to be signed for the USDA vet. But it helps out to not have to wait 10 days before to get them both sign by the USDA vet. In other words, I can send off the third country certificate now. And then just get a normal health certificate from my vet 10 days before.

I also just got off with the phone with BA and then also don't need the USDA very to sign the health certificate.

BA were great to fly over here in 2006 with my dog (San Francisco to Heathrow).  But we are flying home in June on Virgin...for the ridiculous cost of £975!!! 

The animal reception center at Heathrow was a breeze, and they were great. 

Glad to hear. It will be nice, because it means the cats will be on the same flight as us. However, we are a little worried about the weather. If it gets over 85F, they won't let the cats fly. We are flying out from Dallas at the end of May, so you never know what the weather will be like. We are praying for rain!

BA World Cargo and the staff at the Animal Reception Centre at Gatwick both required me to present an APHIS 7001 certificate that had been signed and sealed/endorsed by a USDA vet - the former in order to accept my cats for shipping and the latter in order to release my cats to me after arrival.  This was in October 2006.

I don't know if the date on the certificate must be within 10 days of flying or not - mine was, my cats were processed, so I had no reason to worry.  I do remember calling the USDA vet's office in Conyers, Georgia in early September 2006 and being told that I could not schedule an appointment that fell any earlier than ten days prior to departure.  I can't imagine why they would have said this if the ten-day rule did not apply, but I can't know for sure!

As with any other PETS issue, I advocate the "better safe than sorry" concept - you are of course free to do things any way you like, but I will always advise those who post to this board to cover all bases, even those that they may have been told (by professionals in the US and/or the UK) aren't necessary.  It's a lot easier than fixing a problem on the day of departure!

BA World Cargo and the staff at the Animal Reception Centre at Gatwick both required me to present an APHIS 7001 certificate that had been signed and sealed/endorsed by a USDA vet - the former in order to accept my cats for shipping and the latter in order to release my cats to me after arrival.  This was in October 2006.

I don't know if the date on the certificate must be within 10 days of flying or not - mine was, my cats were processed, so I had no reason to worry.  I do remember calling the USDA vet's office in Conyers, Georgia in early September 2006 and being told that I could not schedule an appointment that fell any earlier than ten days prior to departure.  I can't imagine why they would have said this if the ten-day rule did not apply, but I can't know for sure!

As with any other PETS issue, I advocate the "better safe than sorry" concept - you are of course free to do things any way you like, but I will always advise those who post to this board to cover all bases, even those that they may have been told (by professionals in the US and/or the UK) aren't necessary.  It's a lot easier than fixing a problem on the day of departure!

Are you sure they don't mean a USDA certified vet? Meaning you don't have to go to the USDA vet but any vet certified by the USDA? Cause we flew over in August and that wasn't a requirement for us at either BA World Cargo or at Gatwick.

Are you sure they don't mean a USDA certified vet? Meaning you don't have to go to the USDA vet but any vet certified by the USDA? Cause we flew over in August and that wasn't a requirement for us at either BA World Cargo or at Gatwick.

Nope, they were very, shall we say, verbose about the necessity of the USDA vet signature - as was the USDA vet herself, in Conyers.

Granted, things may have changed since 2006.  Still, though, if you've got to get one thing signed by the state vet, why not get them all signed?  I hate to sound like a broken record, but better safe than sorry - no one's ever been penalised for being over-prepared!

Nope, they were very, shall we say, verbose about the necessity of the USDA vet signature - as was the USDA vet herself, in Conyers.

Granted, things may have changed since 2006.  Still, though, if you've got to get one thing signed by the state vet, why not get them all signed?  I hate to sound like a broken record, but better safe than sorry - no one's ever been penalised for being over-prepared!

i would just be nervous waiting until that late to get the papers signed. The health certificate has to be done within 10 days of leaving (the form itself i think says its only valid for 10 days). That would be the only reason not to do it.

I'm with you Meg.  When I came over here February 2006 I had to stop off at the South SF USDA vets office and have the certificate signed and he checked Raisin out.  This was on our way to the airport the day we flew out!

I'm with you Meg.  When I came over here February 2006 I had to stop off at the South SF USDA vets office and have the certificate signed and he checked Raisin out.  This was on our way to the airport the day we flew out!

you guys are right... it can't hurt but it def wasn't required last fall. I HAVE NOT checked to see if they're requiring that again so, to all wondering, always check out info on your own to make sure you know what you really need as things change (like in August I could fly from ATL to LGW but this year they say they can't due to heat embargoes -- fortunately the other direction is fine).