Flying with dogs...what happens at the airport?

[offtogetmesomebrains]

Has anybody travelled with a dog from Heathrow?

We are shortly and I'm not entirely sure what happens at the airport. In terms of where you check them in. I read some reports about people taking them through security to the actual gate! Is that true?

[Lizcat]

At Heathrow you need to make arrangments to deliever the animal and the correct approved box and all your export health certificates and import permits for country of origin to ACS Port of London Authority who will only load your dog into it's box shortly before the flight departs and then deliever them to the plane moments before they shut the hold and ensure that your pet is on the hold manifold so that the captain knows to have the heating on.
In realtiy the vast majority of people use some like Airpets to deliever to complete the final paperwork with the vet and deliever the pet to the airport.
Where are you travelling to and do you have all your completed paperwork?

[Lizcat]

Meant to say it is really worth having two copies of paperwork first set that is attached to the box, second set which is couriered to your destination should the first set get lost and final a third set that you keep. In the actually quite frequent event that the first and second set of paperwork both go missing you then copy your third set and take to where your pet is to obtain release always always retain yet another copy for yourself. Too many years working quaratine has taught me that you can never have too many copies of the paperwork.

[offtogetmesomebrains]

Thanks so much for your reply, Lizcat.

We're flying with Air Canada to Montreal. They have told us very little about the actual procedure at the airport. Our dog is travelling in the hold like you describe. Not going cargo like most info on the internet talks about. We've got multiple copies of paperwork like you say.

I'm just going to ring Air Canada and make sure the booking is still sound...

[Lizcat]

I am afraid cargo or hold there isn't any difference. It is entirely normal to use a specialist for the last bit and I would imagine air Canada are expecting this. Do you have your crate that conforms to the international standards for travel ACS at heathrow are very very strict about this ( as they should be) and will not allow an animal to fly in the incorrect crate.

[offtogetmesomebrains]

Yes, we're all sorted with the regulations and box, etc.

I spoke to the airline. They want us to take her to the checkin counter on the day we fly.

[theodorakis]

I had a nightmare. I had a call from Qatar airways telling me my dog couldn't fly because the plane had been changed to a smaller one. I was sitting in Doha waiting for him and was hysterical. I called Heathrow and although the man (Steve from Animal Hospital) said they didn't deal with outbound dogs, he went and found out what was happening and witnessed the despatch and called me from the runway to say he was loaded. Fabulous.

[theodorakis]

I have a Canadian contact if you want help, pm me.

[theodorakis]

Have pmed you details of a Canadian relocator who deals with Heathrow a lot.