Flying with dogs

[DarkAndDusty]

MN dog lovers, can anyone tell me about experiences of travelling on commercial flights with a dog?

What sort of costs and logistics are involved? What's the deal with quarantine? How do dogs tend to cope with it generally/is it very stressful or dangerous for them?

Would it be reasonable for a dog do a 7-hr flight (each way) every year, eg to join a regular family holiday? Or is that mad..

It's mad!

Coming back into the UK dogs can only fly as cargo, flying out toy sized breeds are allowed in a carrier in the cabin by some airlines. Costs likely to be thousands and flying cargo can be hugely stressful for a dog.

A relation recently emigrated to Australia. He used a company called PetAir that coordinates the logistics and health aspects. It cost £5000. And I think a 7 hour flight for the dog and back for a holiday is bordering on cruelty.

I had friends who did this and I honestly don’t understand why. I’d rather have a house sitter. There are stories every year about dogs dying in crates in transit, I wouldn’t want to take the risk for a holiday. I would fly with a dog if I was relocating or if it was the only way for it to receive life saving medical care (the latter only probably as I think about it).

What size of dog and where they flying to?

Small dogs can travel in the cabin in many european flights. So could be worth considering Eurostar to France and flying from there.

Why on earth would you put a dog through that stress?

Utterly mad. Dogs die doing it.

Assuming you're in the UK - it costs a small fortune as they need to fly cargo. You need to drop them off hours before the flight and collect them hours afterwards. Plus, depending on the country, they'd need weeks of quarantine before being allowed in.

Why do you want them to come with you?

Thanks all.

We're based in the UK and looking at getting a dog in a couple of years but we usually spend a few weeks (3-4) each year at a family home abroad. I would love for doggie to join us - it's a place that is ideal for dogs - but it sounds like that's not going to work. So we will have to rethink our travel plans in the future or get a dog sitter. I'm just worried that's a long time for us to be away for a dog, isn't it? Does anyone else do this?

We’ve left our dogs for 3 weeks, no disasters.

It would be infinitely better to leave your dog home, in kennels or with a boarder than to put them through that flight twice in a month.

You may also find you can't do it as the length of quarantine would be too long anyway.

Please don't put your do through that. They'll be fine in kennels or with a sitter.

The only solution is to fly from France or Ireland. France is by ferry a few will accept dogs to stay with you rather than staying in the car) or driving via Eurotunnel. Eurostar don't accept dogs.

You can then fly more or less anywhere but your dog has to be under 6 or 7 kilos. Flights from France are usually more expensive. They will need the travel documents from the UK each time (valid only 4 months) and cost about £300 or more or get them a Europeen passport.

So possible, yes, straight forward not!

As a dog sitter I can say that the dogs I have sat for have been left by their owners for 2 months or so sometimes - no ill effects at all - just greeted the owners when they came back and carried on as usual when they were away.

That is reassuring to hear, thank you

I live in Spain and have ner found an airline that will fly my dogs England to Spain. I can within the EU. So very very strange