Extra fees flying into Heathrow

It was required for me last fall.  And it was a headache getting it done and they asked to see it every step of the way.

Well, since I have been told by two separate airlines, that it's not required, I don't consider it a risk. I'm sorry, but I am going to trust an agents who actually book the animal, and the Defra website that clearly states that the health certificate isn't even required (much less needs to be signed by an special authority), over someone's personal experience.
It doesn't even make sense that ARC in Gatwick would need it, as the form is for stating that the animals are fit to fly, not enter the country.

The date of the health certificate must be within 10 days per Continental (I didn't ask BA).

You may feel that it's better to advise people to be "safe than sorry", but I personally wouldn't not appreciate it if someone told me I had to do something when I didn't need to.

*shrug*  Do what you like - it's your animal.  Yes, I can only speak from personal experience - but considering that my personal experience (and Dar's, and jennredd's) contradicts what your agents have told you, if I were a third party reading this thread, I'm pretty sure I'd choose to be over-prepared than possibly caught short.  After all, we all know that professionals are never wrong.   

It often isn't the airline that needs to see it but customs officials.  You are moving a live animal from one country to the next.  The APHIS form is more for customs and for them to see that the animals are safe and prepared for travel.

I was required to present the form when checking my dogs in and again at Heathrow to take my dogs home.  Thankfully, my vet knew what was needed and the people on this site helped me a lot.  In the end, it is your call.  However, if you don't have it and it is needed, you pet won't be able to leave the country.

BTW, I was told by Virgin over the phone that it wasn't needed and it was.  It is isn't up to the airlines to tell you all this.  They are concerned with the paperwork required for them and that is it.  However, when I received my paperwork from Virgin, the APHIS form was listed as being required by customs upon check-in of the animal.  For Virgin, I had to do a separate health form.  So, no, the APHIS form was not for the airline.  I moved over November 2007.

Wow, I personally would NEVER risk my pet having to be held up after a ten hour flight.  Hope that works out for you.  Maybe the rules have changed since we all flew over here.

I just spoke with British Airways again, just to asking about the health certificate. They again confirmed that I don't need the USDA vet to sign a health certificate, and that it doesn't even need to be the APHIS 7001 form. That it can just be a letterhead from your vet stating the animals are fit to fly. If you read the link that I posted from DEFRA, they state this very thing is OK.

Hmmm.. well if I were a third party reading this, I would probably give a bit more clout to the person who had most recently spoken with BA (twice). Then I would personally confirm with my airline, instead of relying solely on someone else experience (which you are suggesting people do).

Personally, I wish I hadn't posted any of this, because all it did was cause more worry and confusion on my part. But after having spoke with BA again, I feel VERY comfortable not going to the trouble of getting a "special health certificate". It saves me about $100, and a trip to the vet (as it means I can get a "fit to fly" letter and the tick and worm treatment all in the same visit.)

Also, I contacted the Texas USDA vet and was sent a very informative guide for bringing the pets into the UK and in terms of the APHIS 7001 they stated

4.  A signed APHIS Form 7001. (Optional- possibly required by the airline).
     It is recommended that you contact your airline and ask the following questions:
a.   What paperwork do they want from you in order to get your pet on the plane?
b.   From the date your veterinarian issued the certificate, how long is it good for?  (The EU certificate is valid for 4 months after signature by your veterinarian, or until the date of expiry of the vaccination shown in Part IV, whichever is earlier).  The airline may have time restrictions on the required document (for example 8-10 days from the date your vet signed).

No one was trying to cause you worry but provide you with information based on experience.  We have been there and done that.  This is why the forum exists is for those of us who have experienced it to help others going through the process.  We are honestly trying to help.

That is what the state of Massachusetts told me too.  I ended up needing the APHIS form, not for the airline, but for customs on both sides.

Whatever you decide, good luck with you move!    I hope it all works out.

No one was trying to cause you worry but provide you with information based on experience.  We have been there and done that.  This is why the forum exists is for those of us who have experienced it to help others going through the process.  We are honestly trying to help.

What she said.

Hmmm.. well if I were a third party reading this, I would probably give a bit more clout to the person who had most recently spoken with BA (twice). Then I would personally confirm with my airline, instead of relying solely on someone else experience (which you are suggesting people do).

Where have any of us suggested that anyone rely solely on someone else's personal experience?  That's just plain stupid.

If I were a third party reading this, I'd roll my eyes at the lengths some people will go to in their need to be "right" and to have the last word.  Go figure.  And then I'd double-check my own paperwork, regardless of what anyone on an internet forum - or a vet, or an airline official - told me.  But that's just me.

By the way, I got my APHIS form signed for free - and didn't have to schedule any additional vet visit in order to obtain it.  To each their own....

If I were a third party reading this, I'd roll my eyes at the lengths some people will go to in their need to be "right" and to have the last word.  Go figure.  And then I'd double-check my own paperwork, regardless of what anyone on an internet forum - or a vet, or an airline official - told me.  But that's just me.

I think you've got three fingers pointing back at yourself, my dear.

I am only trying to give my experience as well.

I just spoke with British Airways again....

Hi,

Not trying to pile on, but in addition to asking British Airways, shouldn't you also check with UK Customs?  What I mean is if you don't have the right paperwork when you get to UK Customs, they won't care what British Airways told you or didn't tell you.  All they'll care about is seeing the paperwork that they want to see.

good luck,
Carl

I have contacted Defra, who say we don't need it. I have contacted BA, who say we don't need it. I have contacted Joan in Exports at USDA Vet in Texas (ie Aphis) who say we don't need it.

Wouldn't Defra give me the custom's requirement? Are they completely separate entities? I mean, don't you think Defra would know the UK customs require??

Tomorrow, I will call customs in both Heathrow and DFW, though I'm not sure anyone will be around.

*Let me just add, that it's just my personality to want to get to the bottom of things. I probably waste more time and effort in doing this, but I'm not a "just go with the flow" sort of person. I like knowing facts (I'm a scientist for heaven's sake!), and like sharing facts. I'm a little sensitive to heresay, and always want to provide the hard evidence (whether it contradicts or supports the common conception). I did NOT want this to become an argument, I'm very much a discussion kind of girl. I appreciate hearing everybody's personal experience with the process. However, I probably misread Meg's intentions in her early posts, and felt like she was slightly insulting my intelligence by assuming I did not know the difference between the two documents. I got my feathers ruffled a bit.

If you want to get down to the bottom of it, contact customs at the airport you will be flying into, I'm guessing Heathrow.  They should know what you need as they will be the one checking the animal through.  Then, you'll have the information straight from the source. 

However, I probably misread Meg's intentions in her early posts, and felt like she was slightly insulting my intelligence by assuming I did not know the difference between the two documents. I got my feathers ruffled a bit.

Totally not trying to insult your intelligence in any way - just clarifying for the sake of any future pet owners that might come across this thread.  The process is confusing enough as is without the terms for every piece of paper being nearly identical!

I, too, am one to value facts and hard evidence over word-of-mouth and rumor - I'm a librarian, it's my job! - but if there's one thing that the past two years of dealing with emigration and immigration have taught me, it's to not take the word of pretty much any official source as fact!  As is often the case in government and in large organisations, the right hand often doesn't have a clue what the left hand is doing - and it's the regular folks like us who get caught in the middle.  I've seen too many cases (including PETS situations) where incorrect information from an official source who really ought to know better has caused emotional distress and financial hardship - it's made me awfully cynical. 

Glad everyone's taking a step back. Some people been told they needed the USDA sig on the international health certificate, I know I definitely didn't. Maybe I got lucky, maybe people were told they needed it when they really didn't (and when would you really find that out). There could have been an error in any direction and perhaps it could differ per airline, airport (both outgoing and incoming), etc so lets all hold back on the criticism (from all sides). Everybody thinks they're right and there is no problem in being on the cautious side but we need to be able to give advice without negative tones.

across, for what its worth, I would have a check with customs at the airport you're coming into if you can wrangle that info because like the PP said it doesn't hurt (other than the cost of the call). That's the only other place that could possibly have any input in it. Then, do what you need to do and be confident in your decision as long as its based on as much fact as you can gather. If its going to make you worry that you don't have the signature, even if everyone involved has said you don't need it you can get it anyway. Not that cost should be a huge factor, but dont' necessarily expect it to be free when you get the USDA vet to sign papers. I've never had a vet, USDA included, sign anything for free.