Need Advice on Moving Stuff + My Cat

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

Heya, all!

I wanted to start planning my move now because hopefully, my target time to leave will be just after my exams end. It would be kinda crappy to be panicking and stressing about the move on top of my exams, so I've got a couple of questions.

Because it'll be expensive for Knight to come back here and help me with bags, does anyone know how much baggage I can take with me? A friend of mine told me to ask if I can take a sports bag and just stick a few hockey sticks on top and pile a whole lot of stuff underneath. My cat will be coming with me too, and I've spoken to the boarding cattery about organising that and they'll help me through it, but I'm hoping to keep him in the cabin.

Also, does anyone have advice on shipping? I have a lot of heavy books and stuff that I doubt I can really stuff into a suitcase to take with me. I'll be hoping to take the flight to Alaska that goes from here to Frankfurt then directly to Alaska (trust me, going via the US from the UK will take about 22 hours and poor Knight's gone through that four times now from there to here and back).

I've otherwise just got a lot of clothes, maybe three pairs of boots and various pairs of sandals (I tried denying my girlishness but by the look of the shoes, I can't escape it). There's also various little ornamental things but they're pretty sturdy and I can tuck them away in the suitcase.

I know I shouldn't be thinking about this even before they've given me an interview date, but having had Knight here for two weeks and then suddenly not, it helps me get through the days before university again to start planning.

Oh! Also, does anyone know if Anchorage is a port of entry? We think it is and we checked online, but maybe someone here might know for sure...

Hugs! Thank you guys for everything!

Magpie.

/edit: Just ignore the last thread and delete. My browser was poopy so I tried stopping and adding a few things before reposting. Rrrr.

Edited January 5, 2009 by KnightAndMagpie

[Laura+Tom 2]

Baggage - Depending on which airline you'll be flying with depends on how much baggage you can take. Normally for international flights you can take two bags for free, each not weighing more than 23kg, a carry on bag and a personal item such as a laptop bag or handbag. However if you have an internal flight too (either within Europe or the US) you will normally be restricted to one piece of luggage and one carry on bag. That's why it's worth checking with whoever you will be flying with.

Shipping - check this thread for tips http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=128548

Cat - Here's a few links for you http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...123420&st=0

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/...Pets_to_the_USA

Your point of entry will be the first US airport you fly in to.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

There's a sticky at the top of this forum about bringing pets. You're going to have to check with your airline website to see what their baggage rules are. We came together and filled big suitcases because we both have elite status on Continental, which allows more bags and heavier as a perk. See the links under Moving on this Wiki page for some shipping ideas. http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/UK_FAQ

Nick also shipped things via boat and it was expensive so be prepared for that.

Just about anyplace an international plane lands is a Port of Entry, so I think Anchorage is.

Edit: Oops, I'm repeating somebody, but I went off to make coffee and didn't post fast enough. Sorry for the repeat.

Edited January 5, 2009 by Nich-Nick

[ScratchIt 12]

Heya, all!

I wanted to start planning my move now because hopefully, my target time to leave will be just after my exams end. It would be kinda crappy to be panicking and stressing about the move on top of my exams, so I've got a couple of questions.

Because it'll be expensive for Knight to come back here and help me with bags, does anyone know how much baggage I can take with me? A friend of mine told me to ask if I can take a sports bag and just stick a few hockey sticks on top and pile a whole lot of stuff underneath. My cat will be coming with me too, and I've spoken to the boarding cattery about organising that and they'll help me through it, but I'm hoping to keep him in the cabin.

Also, does anyone have advice on shipping? I have a lot of heavy books and stuff that I doubt I can really stuff into a suitcase to take with me. I'll be hoping to take the flight to Alaska that goes from here to Frankfurt then directly to Alaska (trust me, going via the US from the UK will take about 22 hours and poor Knight's gone through that four times now from there to here and back).

I've otherwise just got a lot of clothes, maybe three pairs of boots and various pairs of sandals (I tried denying my girlishness but by the look of the shoes, I can't escape it). There's also various little ornamental things but they're pretty sturdy and I can tuck them away in the suitcase.

I know I shouldn't be thinking about this even before they've given me an interview date, but having had Knight here for two weeks and then suddenly not, it helps me get through the days before university again to start planning.

Oh! Also, does anyone know if Anchorage is a port of entry? We think it is and we checked online, but maybe someone here might know for sure...

Hugs! Thank you guys for everything!

Magpie.

/edit: Just ignore the last thread and delete. My browser was poopy so I tried stopping and adding a few things before reposting. Rrrr.

Brought cat to America in April:

Delta airline required that a reservation be made as they only allow two carry-on animals in the cabin at any time. That was no problem. The carrier had to fit under the seat (or see #3 below), that was a little more of a problem but was quickly solved by getting a soft carrier. Cost about $30.00 via eBay and available elsewhere for $40.00 and up. A complete check-up was made prior to flying and all shots that were required by my home state were administered prior to leaving home country. Complete documentation of this was coipied and placed in carrier. Bought some square absorbant pads, available at any pet department and lined the bottom of the carrier with them. Also put some zip-loc bags in the carrier pouch just in case some clean-up was necessary. Absolutely no problems were encountered. Cat was very nervous and saved it all until hitting mother earth in the states. No problems with security or immigration. Also included some kitty treats just to make her happy if she felt like having a snack. Our cat likes Frisky's Duo's. They're like kitty Scooby snacks!

Lessons learned:

1) Be prepared. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

2) Ask the airlines and check with your local government about what they expect of you.

3) If you have to check the animal as baggage please consider the weather and how long a carrier might be left sitting out in the cold. If you do check the animal make sure you have a hard carrier lest it get crushed if baggage shifts during flight. Frankly I would avoid checking the carrier at all costs!

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

Thank you all for your responses! You inspired me to be a good girl and do some research. Got lots of stuff in response, thanks to the nice chap from Lufthansa and the internet.

Looks like I can keep my miaow in the cabin, so long as him and his carrier don't exceed 6-8kg and the size of the carrier is no larger than 55cm x 40cm x 20cm. I would hopefully be flying with Lufthansa, connecting from Frankfurt with Condor, and then going to Alaska. In terms of excess baggage, I can pay for extra, and when I really think about it, I can give away the university textbooks. It would have been nice to hold onto them, but I'm not gonna pay shipping fees for them. I'm SURE I can fit everything into two suitcases, but it'll mean leaving my hot pink mini cooler behind (oh noes!...wait, I hate pink). Having a peep around the room, I really don't own that much -- it can all fit neatly into a university dorm, so it's not like a whole house. I also forgot that I need to take my electric guitar with me too, so I'll look into how I might arrange that come April.

I'm gonna go check my university mail, so fingers crossed that the Embassy have written back to me with positive news...

Magpie.

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

Also...how long does it take to process the whole pile of documentation once you send it to them, do you know? I sent it before Christmas so the mail is probably slow, but I'm not sure how long it takes for them to get back to me with the packet 3 stuff.

Mags.