Required to use pet transportation company?

Hi everyone,

I'm looking into moving my cat to the UK but have found it difficult to book him a flight myself -- the airlines are redirecting me to pet transportation companies, which cost more than I'd like to pay. Anyone have any experience booking your cat in-cabin or as cargo on the same flight as you? I understand that the regulations may need pets to fly as cargo with an airbill -- which would be okay with me -- just trying not to use the transport company!

Thanks!

We used continental with our dog last march and were able to do it on our own.  He obviously wasn't allowed in cabin but had to be on the same flight as us.  I think the only airline I talked to that wanted a relocation person was KLM and maybe BA but I can't remember for sure

My dog flew cargo on BA in October 2012 and I did not have to use a transportation company.  I did call their cargo office once directly and then used their Pet Passport office @ 888-578-4806.  I can see they are changing their cargo website a bit to merge with Iberia but the info looks about the same.

Our cat flew with my husband (but not in the cabin) on Delta from ATL to Manchester in June 2011.

The key with Delta is that the flight had to originate from one of their 'gateway' cities.

Great, thanks for the advice!

I moved over with our two cats in October of 2011, and they were in cargo on the same plane as I was from San Francisco to Heathrow. However, they had to be on a separate, pet-transportation flight from Heathrow to Edinburgh. I believe you can rent a vehicle and drive your cat yourself to your final destination, though.