Travel woes:

Hi everyone!

I'm arriving in the uk on August 3rd and am bringing my 2 cats with me from Texas(DFW). Unfortunately, there's an embargo on live animal cargo out of DFW(until September). We're flying to Boston and the cats will be traveling in the cabin with me(they can't be checked either) on a JetBlue flight. The carrier required dimensions for the in cabin flight and cargo disallow using the same kennel for both legs if the trip.

Should I assemble the required cargo kennels and check them as baggage or leave them in a box to be assembled at the airport in Boston? I'm concerned about the crates getting damaged or lost.

Any advice?

I would assemble.  If there's a missing or broken part, you'll know before Boston.  Plus if you have a late flight with less time, potentially needing tools, etc.

Yeah, I'm just worried about something being damaged *on the way* to Boston when it's checked.

Yes, definitely assemble.
My cages only had plastic fixings to fit the top half to the bottom half and I was worried that they would come apart mid flight so I took them to the cargo depot a few days before and they drilled holes and fitted cable ties to keep everything safe and sound. You don't want to be messing around putting them together with a flight to catch.

The cages themselves are pretty sturdy but maybe you could bubble wrap and box them for protection during the first flight?

Yeah I hadn't thought of that. Good point. I could always box them assembled. My flight gets in at 4 and I don't have my flight to London until 11 but your way is definitely better.

Good luck for the journey!