Returning with 5 cats and baby - Direct flights to DFW or IAH?

I still have more than a year before we return, but I thought I'd throw the question out there.

We are returning to Dallas, but may stay in Houston for a month or so. Wondering if there are any direct flights into Dallas or Houston other than from London Heathrow that accomodates pets?

We are in Scotland and I dread the drive down to London with the addition of our baby, who will be around 9/10 months at that time. It was CROWDED in the Zafira driving up, I can only imagine how crowded it will be driving back down to catch the flight, unless there are larger vehicles for rent and a pet friendly hotel in the area?

Any assistance, thoughts, etc would be greatly appreciated.

We will be doing a similar thing in about a month, but with baby and 2 dogs.  We are flying Manchester to Chicago as I wanted a direct flight.  So far the 3 airlines I called were fine flying the dogs-- if they go on my flight you only have to pay the fee for excess baggage so it seems much easier.  I'm not sure what it will be like showing up with everyone but I can let you know.

Sorry i can't help much with the flights but I would guess if you are going out of London there should be more choices since its not as complicated as getting them here-- and cheaper!!!

I don't believe there are any other UK flights from DFW, besides the London flight. My BFF is flying into Edinburgh from Dallas but has to change flights in New Jersey. The only direct flights I have ever found were to London. Not sure about Houston....

I've been looking into this fairly intensively, as I am moving from DFW area to Newcastle this summer.  Things may change in a year, but as far as I know the only direct flights from Texas to the UK that take animal are BA's flight from DFW to LHR and Continental's from IAH to LHR.  I was hoping like crazy that Continental would have a flight from Houston to Manchester, but no luck.  I am still trying to figure out whether to take a connection through Newark from DFW to Manchester, or drive down to Houston to take a direct flight from there to Heathrow.  I'm pretty sure I'm doing the connecting flight on Continental, but I change my mind constantly.  It's such a hard decision.

as far as I know the only direct flights from Texas to the UK that take animal are BA's flight from DFW to LHR

We did the DFW to LHR on BA and drove to Central Scotland. The flight was just fine. The drive sucked because I had no sleep on the plane and left DH to do all the driving. I just couldn't sleep as I was so worried about the kitties. Of course, I worried for nothing.

If you're coming from DFW, I would recommend doing the route I took, rather than trying to do a connecting with animals or driving all the way to Houston. It's just not worth it. Also, Newcastle isn't as far as Scotland, so the drive should be a breeze.

Also, you said summer, keep in mind the heat embargo when traveling with pets as cargo.

I know it will be expensive but have you thought about using one of the international pet moving companies? 

BA and Continental have cancelled all their direct flights into DFW and IAH..they only go now from LHR. I believe anything from Manchester will not be a direct flight to TX. It will go via somewhere.....things have changed alot since I was a travel agent....

We had booked a flight with Continental for last November cause they still flew direct from LGW...to IAH and a month before we went they contacted us and told us they were moving us to a LHR to IAH flight..I told them if I had wanted to fly LHR to IAH I would have booked with BA! So anyways got our money back from Continental and booked with BA and got the flight 200 gbp's cheaper...still had to go LHR....

Also you will need to look at what time of the year you are flying as well as BA will not accept animals in the summer time due to the temp of the tarmac upon landing....or so I was told by the BA Animal handler person when I spoke to them at the Airport when we left in Nov last year as we were going to be moving to Houston the end of the this year.

A year from now is an eternity for airline schedules.  With the travel industry and the economy in the shape they are, I would say it is VERY hard to predict what routes will be options for you when you return to the states.  You aren't limited by DEFRA restrictions flying to the US (I don't believe) so I would say that you should be looking at your flight options no more than 6-8 months before you fly.  JMHO.

If you're coming from DFW, I would recommend doing the route I took, rather than trying to do a connecting with animals or driving all the way to Houston. It's just not worth it. Also, Newcastle isn't as far as Scotland, so the drive should be a breeze.

I can't do BA because of the heat embargo; Continental doesn't have a heat embargo because they keep the animals in air conditioned vans while on the tarmac.  But, yeah, I have a feeling the drive to Houston would be a nightmare, followed by the flight and the drive to Newcastle (closer than Scotland, but still 5 hours from LHR).  The connecting flight I'm looking at goes through Newark with a very short layover, and there is a later flight in case we miss the first connection.  It sounds unpleasant, and, like  you, I'm afraid I won't sleep a wink on the flights.  Still, with limited options. . .

It's up to you, of course, but you may want to look at connecting flights on Continental.  Their animal transportation program seems quite good.