Flying with cats in cabin to the US

[PetronellaBridgerton]

Has anyone flown from London to the US with their cats in the cabin in a small carrier? I’ve got two old and small cats I would prefer to transport them this way rather than as pet cargo in the gold. It also seems much cheaper doing it this way?!

Which airline have you found that will carry pets in the cabin internationally? I know it's fairly commonplace within the USA but I don't know if any major UK airline that will carry animals in the cabin.

I’m looking at SAS which currently offer it. (It means going via Copenhagen).

(And KLM seems an option too)

How are you getting them to Copenhagen / Amsterdam?

So I would book from LHR to the US using that airline? It’s a detour but wouldn’t it work?

I looked into this last year, and the only option we found was to fly from France.

After much deliberation, we ended up going direct from LHR with them in the climate controlled hold. They were fine, and in the end I think it was a lot less stressful for them than it would have been with them shoved under our seats and subjected to all the smells and crying babies and passenger announcements and being jostled around on the way in and out.

You can’t fly out of UK with animals in the cabin - this would only be from France

They would have to go in the hold from UK

Thank you @PickledPurplePickle and @VoltaireMittyDream that explains it.

A number of non-UK airlines allow pets in the cabin when travelling from (not to) the UK. However, no airline that flies directly to the USA does.

*flies direct

I have friends and family who have flown to the US with cats and dogs in cabin. The only direct option is paying for a seat on a chartered jet, which is likely to cost $9k. It is very steep. www.k9jets.com/

The more economic option is take a ferry to Europe, then fly directly to the US.

That seems like a lot of stress for the cats. Is it a permanent relocation?

When we moved to the USA we were advised by the vet not to take our older cat if at all possible

Yes it is permanent, I wouldn’t bring them for a holiday 😊These cats are 14/15 and very, very relaxed. I would just prefer the cabin as

1. It prevents any issues with temperatures on runway which might complicate departure.
2. It is much, much, much cheaper.

They might be able to stay in the UK however I don’t really want to leave them here 😞

What about people in the cabin who are allergic? I am allergic to cats. Brings on asthma.

@Twila1 do you know which ones that would be? Even departing from the UK?

I can’t imagine a cat carrier would fit comfortably by your feet?! They’d need largish carriers to move around. I think mine would be happier in the hold! Are they bonded to each other - they might work well together in one large dog crate? My sibling pair would be happy in the same carrier so long as enough room.

Buy an extra ticket so you have two under seat areas to work with.

I'd hate to put them through this. Is there anyone here they know and could stay with?