Flying cat from UK to USA

[Naddy&Mikey 2]

I'm also in the process of deciding how to fly my beloved cat from the U.K to Chicago. It's a mind boggling stuff! I've had quotes starting from £564 to nearly a £1000!!! I think I'm going to go through an airline rather than an agent, the cost would be considerably lower.

I was told that they don't necessarily need the rabies shot before they go, but it would be needed 14 days after arrival. I'm going to get my cat micro chipped, rabies shot & pet passport here in the U.K, costing around £120, then I'll have to book her for a 'fit to fly' check from 7-10 days before she flies.

I am currently looking for an IATA approved cage because they have to be a certain size. Has anyone got any suggestions on which one to buy that would be accepted by the airlines?

[Maple79 1]

Ok.. Firstly Lufthansa and every other airline we tried- (pretty much all of them), will not take any pets in the cabin from or into the UK. So it is cargo hold in the UK or not at all. During the summer months only airlines with climate controlled holds will fly your pets cargo. BA and Virgin basically. BA will only go through an agent (cheapest quote I got for my cat for the basic package was £795!) I decided to cut out the middle man and go with Virgin for £395 using a Sky Vari kennel as suggested over the phone by Virgin who named it as one of their accepted pet carriers.. http://www.doggiesolutions.co.uk/vari-kennel-airline-approved-sky-kennel-8750-0.html

I was told by my vet too that the cat had to have a rabies shot. So I had that done, she is already micro-chipped which they also ask and spayed so the only thing left now is to get her fit-to-fly certificate. My vet also told me that I didn't need the pet passport outside of the EU if I had no plans to bring her back into the UK.

Hope this helps!

[Maple79 1]

Another thing, Virgin told us to measure the cat from nose to the start of her tail and then from her feet up to the tips of her ears and then add 2" to work out the carrier size.

Minimum size cage VAA will accept for travel is 53 x 40 x 38 cms (21 x 16 x 15 inches)

(Thanks for the tip Nich-Nick, if she won't eat them I will try your way! I have gone through a couple of different antibiotics when she has had flair ups and nothing has seemed to help, I am certainly willing to try anything at this point.)

[Azsara 110]

Aren't the animal import rules state dependant anyway ? I need to revise those myself.

I see you finally got your NOA2 - congrats !

Thank you so much thats very sweet!

[Azsara 110]

Ok.. Firstly Lufthansa and every other airline we tried- (pretty much all of them), will not take any pets in the cabin from or into the UK. So it is cargo hold in the UK or not at all. During the summer months only airlines with climate controlled holds will fly your pets cargo. BA and Virgin basically. BA will only go through an agent (cheapest quote I got for my cat for the basic package was £795!) I decided to cut out the middle man and go with Virgin for £395 using a Sky Vari kennel as suggested over the phone by Virgin who named it as one of their accepted pet carriers.. http://www.doggiesolutions.co.uk/vari-kennel-airline-approved-sky-kennel-8750-0.html

I was told by my vet too that the cat had to have a rabies shot. So I had that done, she is already micro-chipped which they also ask and spayed so the only thing left now is to get her fit-to-fly certificate. My vet also told me that I didn't need the pet passport outside of the EU if I had no plans to bring her back into the UK.

Hope this helps!

Thank you this is VERY helpful! Yea cheapest agent quote i had was around the same.

They also recommended me Pets Mates or Atlas carriers. But I think im going to go with the one u linked.

So nervous about her travelling but it will be worth it

[Naddy&Mikey 2]

Thanks for the link re Pet carrier, most helpful! I'm absolutely dreading putting my cat through that eight and a half hour flight. I wanted to fly over beforehand and have her flown out a week or two later, but I don't have anyone who can take her to the airport, so she'll have to fly with me on the same flight. Not only will I be stressing about POE but waiting to see if she made the flight safe and sound. Going to be a very long day me thinks!!!

Edited July 16, 2013 by Naddy&Mikey

[rjm_cmyk 75]

You guys with cats - you think it's costing you a lot ? Trying shipping a tall lurcher. I've had quotes so far ranging from just over £2200 to £3300 - buying a big enough crate will be £250 !

I'm sure I can get a club class ticket for about this and we can both then fly in style :-)

[Azsara 110]

Thanks for the link re Pet carrier, most helpful! I'm absolutely dreading putting my cat through that eight and a half hour flight. I wanted to fly over beforehand and have her flown out a week or two later, but I don't have anyone who can take her to the airport, so she'll have to fly with me on the same flight. Not only will I be stressing about POE but waiting to see if she made the flight safe and sound. Going to be a very long day me thinks!!!

I am also very very nervous I think im more nervous about Nala's well being on the flight than the entire visa process lol. Call me sad

[mimistar44 5]

just my experience when I moved to France from U.S.

Almost 2 years ago, I flied with 2 cats ( in the same kannel ) with air France. ( paid $200-250)

they were in baggage area.

During the Flight, flight attendant was very nice, he tole me my cats are in baggage area safely.

when I picked them up at air port special baggage area, They were so miserable from over 14 hours travel.

I was told later that i shouldn't feed cats right before flying. it caused more sickness?

but anyways, They were happy to be in new home, healthy , love french cat food!

now I and my husband are moving to U.S. feel sorry for my cats to go over again.

[Azsara 110]

just my experience when I moved to France from U.S.

Almost 2 years ago, I flied with 2 cats ( in the same kannel ) with air France. ( paid $200-250)

they were in baggage area.

During the Flight, flight attendant was very nice, he tole me my cats are in baggage area safely.

when I picked them up at air port special baggage area, They were so miserable from over 14 hours travel.

I was told later that i shouldn't feed cats right before flying. it caused more sickness?

but anyways, They were happy to be in new home, healthy , love french cat food!

now I and my husband are moving to U.S. feel sorry for my cats to go over again.

Thanks for sharing! Hopefully this is the last time they have to travel! Im glad they were okay!

[rjm_cmyk 75]

General advice indeed requirement is not to feed prior to flights. I'm hoping that will be the biggest discomfort my hound has to deal with.

[rjm_cmyk 75]

Fleeeeppin 'eck.

VA want £1400 for shipping my lurcher LHR-SFO. Plus another £250 for a crate. That's more than premium economy and she won't get any food !

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

My VJ friend who flew her cat Bean on Lufthansa from London to Frankfort to Seattle to Anchorage, Alaska said she should have put some wee pads in the crate. He was fine but wet and smelly.

[yvy23 11]

Does anyone know if this new rule also applies to Dublin, or if cats are still permitted in the cabin on flights leaving Dublin? I honestly don't think my cats would cope with the combination of the new and frightening experience, and being separated from me - although they are 10 years old, they were feral as kittens so are desperately over-attached to me and terrified of being left with people they don't know If I can't take them in the cabin from Dublin, I'm somehow going to have to get them all the way to France (from the Isle of Man) which is going to be a nightmare journey :/

[Naddy&Mikey 2]

I hope someone gets back to you yvy23 regarding your query.....

I finally booked my flight and my cats too. Were leaving a week tomorrow from Heathrow with Virgin Atlantic. It ended up costing £397 for my cat and £929 one way for me. The pick up details at Chicago O'Hare seem somewhat confusing, So I'm hoping it's easier than it looks. Because it's going to be hard to do as I won't have a car on arrival.

Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly. I will report back once I've settled. Good luck to all other's that are going through this process.