London - Miami with cat

[Candide08 30]

Hello,

While we are waiting our K1 visa, I am starting to think about the best and safest way to bring my cat with me.

 

Ideally I would like her to travel in the cabin with me, is it possible?

 

Does anyone could share previous experiences and/or advise me the best airlines/company ?

Thank you,

 

[TBoneTX 45,287]

Thread is moved from Off Topic to the "Moving to the US" forum, where similar threads are posted.

[millefleur 5,046]

14 hours ago, Candide08 said:

Ideally I would like her to travel in the cabin with me, is it possible?

Yes, it is possible to travel with the cat in the cabin, there are certain requirements/restrictions around that depending on the airline. Usually each airline will have a "traveling with pets" section on their website. Calling and double checking with the airlines directly over the phone is also recommended.

 

There are a quite a few people here on VJ who know about traveling with cats, so hopefully they will chime in soon.

 

[WaterLeaf 200]

I thought a few airline already stopped the process of storing the animal in the overbin cabin?

 

Edit: here is a couple of links

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/01/united-airlines-is-banning-some-animals-from-cargo-hold-after-pet-deaths-mix-ups.html

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/united-airlines-new-pet-policy-bans-these-dogs-and-cats/

Edited February 17, 2019 by WaterLeaf
added links

[dentsflogged 352]

On 2/17/2019 at 10:50 AM, WaterLeaf said:

I thought a few airline already stopped the process of storing the animal in the overbin cabin?

 

Edit: here is a couple of links

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/01/united-airlines-is-banning-some-animals-from-cargo-hold-after-pet-deaths-mix-ups.html

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/united-airlines-new-pet-policy-bans-these-dogs-and-cats/

With the exception of the case last year when a traveller was told to put their pet up there (and the blame is equally on the employee AND the person who decided "sure that's a good idea" IMO) resulting in the death of a puppy in flight, NO airline has ever said to put a pet in the overhead bin - every airline I have seen all say that the pet's carrier must fit under the seat in front of you. 

United has (quite rightly, IMO) banned specific breeds from being in the cargo hold - their physical deformities (which is exactly what brachycephalic pets have) make it harder for them to breath as it is, but the changes in pressure and temperature can and does kill them. 

OP check very carefully the restrictions for your cat to leave the country, and also the airline restrictions on breeds, health checks etc.  I'd also suggest to have your cat get a once-over from their vet with the assumption of airline travel to get their A-Ok that it's in good health and travel won't be a detriment to it. 

Also, I don't know about the UK, but I know from Australia there weren't any airlines that allowed pets in the cabin with you either to or from the country.  I ended up having to ship my cat using a shipping company and collect her from a hub city then fly home with her domestically in the cabin - it was crazy expensive and stressful but worth it as she sits next to me purring and seeing how my husband is so lovely to her (despite him being a dog person)

[Zoeeeeeee 797]

On 2/16/2019 at 3:29 PM, Candide08 said:

Hello,

While we are waiting our K1 visa, I am starting to think about the best and safest way to bring my cat with me.

 

Ideally I would like her to travel in the cabin with me, is it possible?

 

Does anyone could share previous experiences and/or advise me the best airlines/company ?

Thank you,

 

Hi @Candide08,

 

I can’t say definitively for cats - but I flew to America with my dog a couple of years ago - he was in the hold, but it was specifically set up for live animals, so he was fine. I believe that no animals can travel in the cabin from UK to US (I know they can on domestic flights within the US or on some European flights - but I don’t think they can transatlantic, except service animals of course).

 

To fly a pet from UK to US, you have to use a pet travel agent - you can’t arrange it directly with the airline. I also believe you can only fly from Heathrow or Manchester, though I may be misremembering that.

 

The only other option for pet transport from UK to US is via the Queen Mary 2 cruise - it goes from Southampton to New York and has kennels for dogs and cats. I’m taking my dog on it in November, as he’s 14 (in 2 days!) and has a heart murmur, so flying isn’t an option anymore.

[Candide08 30]

Hello,

Thank you all for your messages!

 

@Zoeeeeeee I didn't even know about this cruiseship! Thank you, it seems a little expensive though.

 

The  only reason I would like to travel in the cabin with my cat are too make sure the airline doesnt loose her... and make sure she is ok at all time. However, because the bag must be little.. it is probably not the most comfortable for a pet! Also I cant really find an Airlines that accept cabin pet transatlantic!

 

I found a company called World Care Pet. I think I will have a look more into these companies.

 

If anyone else had a previous experience travelling to usa with pet, please let me know!

 

Thank you,

 

[dentsflogged 352]

On 2/20/2019 at 3:41 PM, Candide08 said:

Hello,

Thank you all for your messages!

 

@Zoeeeeeee I didn't even know about this cruiseship! Thank you, it seems a little expensive though.

 

The  only reason I would like to travel in the cabin with my cat are too make sure the airline doesnt loose her... and make sure she is ok at all time. However, because the bag must be little.. it is probably not the most comfortable for a pet! Also I cant really find an Airlines that accept cabin pet transatlantic!

 

I found a company called World Care Pet. I think I will have a look more into these companies.

 

If anyone else had a previous experience travelling to usa with pet, please let me know!

 

Thank you,

 

You may have luck with keeping her in the cabin on non-direct flights, however you'd need to be very careful as she may end up in quarantine in one of those places or due to being in one of those places.  

 

Unfortunatley, ever airline I spoke to wouldn't allow pets in the cabin on flights longer than ~8 hours because of the issues that crop up - they need to have somewhere to relieve themselves except they must remain in their carrier at all times, so I'm sure you can see the issue that would come from that (And I certainly wouldn't want to be the person having to sit next to the smell of fresh cat pee/poop for the rest of the flight - at least babies can be changed and their used diapers thrown away) 

As for the shipping option - my cat arrived last week from Australia. 

In the end I used a transport company that came recommended by friends and it all worked out fine. They sent a video of her as she was getting ready to be put on the plane and then emailed me an update when she landed and was processed, including photos of her in the "comfort break" kennel getting petted by one of the workers there.   

 

It wasn't cheap by any means - Total cost for just HER to get from Australia to Phoenix (where I collected her - not even including the cost of getting ME to her and then both of us to home) was AU$3500 (about 1,900 pounds) but I got quotes from 3 different companies and I couldn't reconcile choosing the cheapest one (who quoted AU$1900) because I couldn't figure out where they were cutting corners to still make a profit on that but I didn't want to find out if it was to the detriment of my pet. 

 

To me, it was worth it, though I know plenty of people who think I'm crazy to have spent that kind of money on a cat. My husband commented the day after she got here that he hadn't realised how low-key unhappy I'd seemed until she was here and I wasn't anymore. I hadn't even noticed, but I sleep better now, and the three of us spend evenings on the couch where she's full of purrs and snuggles (mostly for my husband, the little traitor). 

Good luck - I'm sure you'll work out what option suits you best

[Candide08 30]

32 minutes ago, dentsflogged said:

You may have luck with keeping her in the cabin on non-direct flights, however you'd need to be very careful as she may end up in quarantine in one of those places or due to being in one of those places.  

 

Unfortunatley, ever airline I spoke to wouldn't allow pets in the cabin on flights longer than ~8 hours because of the issues that crop up - they need to have somewhere to relieve themselves except they must remain in their carrier at all times, so I'm sure you can see the issue that would come from that (And I certainly wouldn't want to be the person having to sit next to the smell of fresh cat pee/poop for the rest of the flight - at least babies can be changed and their used diapers thrown away) 

As for the shipping option - my cat arrived last week from Australia. 

In the end I used a transport company that came recommended by friends and it all worked out fine. They sent a video of her as she was getting ready to be put on the plane and then emailed me an update when she landed and was processed, including photos of her in the "comfort break" kennel getting petted by one of the workers there.   

 

It wasn't cheap by any means - Total cost for just HER to get from Australia to Phoenix (where I collected her - not even including the cost of getting ME to her and then both of us to home) was AU$3500 (about 1,900 pounds) but I got quotes from 3 different companies and I couldn't reconcile choosing the cheapest one (who quoted AU$1900) because I couldn't figure out where they were cutting corners to still make a profit on that but I didn't want to find out if it was to the detriment of my pet. 

 

To me, it was worth it, though I know plenty of people who think I'm crazy to have spent that kind of money on a cat. My husband commented the day after she got here that he hadn't realised how low-key unhappy I'd seemed until she was here and I wasn't anymore. I hadn't even noticed, but I sleep better now, and the three of us spend evenings on the couch where she's full of purrs and snuggles (mostly for my husband, the little traitor). 

Good luck - I'm sure you'll work out what option suits you best

Thank you very much for sharing your experience with me!

I totally understand that you spent that money to ensure that she had the safest journey. Actually if I have to do the same I would at the end, she deserved the best!

Could you please give me the name of the company you used? Maybe they are in the UK too. I think it is nice they gave you updates.

Thank you!

[MalinB 51]

I fly with my dog quite frequently between Copenhagen and the US (have been flying to both DC and LA). He is a min pin and small enough to fly in the cabin with me.  If I remember correctly though, pets in the cabin is not allowed to and from the UK. Would it be possible for you to travel to for example France, and fly from there? Most airlines will allow a pet in the cabin, just make sure you call them to book your ticket so you can get the confirmation for the pet right away. Usually, only a couple of animals per flight will be allowed. 

 

It it is cheaper (around $100 one way) to keep them in cabin, but most importantly, you can keep your pet with you at all times. It is actually quite hassle free to travel, at least with a dog.

 

Good luck!

[Candide08 30]

57 minutes ago, MalinB said:

I fly with my dog quite frequently between Copenhagen and the US (have been flying to both DC and LA). He is a min pin and small enough to fly in the cabin with me.  If I remember correctly though, pets in the cabin is not allowed to and from the UK. Would it be possible for you to travel to for example France, and fly from there? Most airlines will allow a pet in the cabin, just make sure you call them to book your ticket so you can get the confirmation for the pet right away. Usually, only a couple of animals per flight will be allowed. 

 

It it is cheaper (around $100 one way) to keep them in cabin, but most importantly, you can keep your pet with you at all times. It is actually quite hassle free to travel, at least with a dog.

 

Good luck!

Hello,

Yes travel to France is something I could do! Thank you very much for sharing your experience 😊

[DBR 36]

My wife traveled from the US - UK and she said she wasn't able to bring her cat in the cabin, even though he was certified as a therapy cat, he had to go in the hold, although she did make sure she went with an airline with the lowest deaths for animals stored in the hold. (Simple Google search will show you the answers for that) she's not had any problems domestically in the U.S.