Lesley Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Have any of you ever taken a dog on holiday using flights instead of ferries? We are hoping to go back to taking holidays next year - we've always gone at least once a year with daughter, SIL and Lauren and Jake, and have missde our hols. with them since we moved to the farm last year. Carl and I are happy to drive right down into rural south France, taking a few days to get there and a few days to get back. We see it as part of our holiday and have done it many times(before farm and before pets!). Daughter and SIL like the quick option of flying and at the end of a holiday, they just want to be home. We started off looking at ferry crossings but it would mean 5 hours in the car followed by a couple of 6 hour days in the car for Jazz. Then we thought of flights - there are companies who specialise in sorting out flights for dogs and I wondered if anyone else has ever used them or sorted out their own pet flights? We've already started on the Pet Passport side as it takes at least 6 months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Never used any of them Lesley so I can't comment, but I have been researching several companies with a view to taking our cat with us when we move, and I do know of several people who've emigrated with dogs and been very impressed with the service provided for their pets. One of the problems though is that your pet can't be guaranteed to be on the same flight as you They seem to get checked in earlier but turn up a day or 2 later ........ that said of course I am talking about very long flights here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 25, 2007 Author Share Posted July 25, 2007 A day or two later? - I don't think Carl would cope The one I was looking at was talking about being on the same flight - I'll have to read a bit more............ I did wonder if this service was mostly for pets of people who are emigrating but there seem to be quite a few just holidaying.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 When I looked into it a while ago I think its only some companies that offer it, so in that case the animal might not be on your flight.......The site I looked at gave really good details of how it all worked, I will try and find the site again.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 I would imagine it would be quite stressful for you and Jazz to be honest. Sorry not really helpful Lesley BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Just make sure the company you use knows the difference between a baggage hold and one suitable for animals I'll PM you Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Jazz is so used to being with the two of you in the car so will probably be happier there however long it takes - as long as she's with you. You can take regular stops and as you say make it a part of your holiday. I wouldn't be able to put my pet in a cage on a plane if I had an alternative option to drive/ferry. It would upset me too much to leave them feeling so vulnerable and fightened and alone, so for my own selfish reasons, I couldn't do it. Sorry!! Not really the advise you asked for is it.... probably not very helpful as I have never done it so can't really offer any constructive advise Lesley. Many people do do it, and their pets are always ok. I'd be inclined to give the airline a call. One up side, is that the flight to France would be very short. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 I personally would do the car/ferry trip - a friend has a bearded collie, and does this. I would avoid flying altogether - just would not trust it. (deep frozen dog springs to mind ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 My FIL lives in central France. He had two Neopolitan Mastiffs that when he comes for his annual visit he brings home with him in his estate car boot. He has a little trailer that he pulls with all his gear in (he still has a house in this country that he does jobs on ). it takes him 24 hours door to door, as he has to stop regularly to exercise the dogs etc. They seem none the worse for it. If he flew home it is only a 1 1/2 hour fight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 I have never had to take any of my bears on a plane but i think its probably best to call the airlines and take a look at their websites and see what they say. If Carl can stand being away from Jazz (which i doubt) we are more than happy to 'Jazz sit' for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 I think that the need for safe animal friendly holds is why animals don't fly on all flights . There are several pet courier companies that will fly animals out for you, but they seem to have agreements with specific airlines, and I think they'd rather turn on the heat and oxygen supply in the hold for several pets rather than a solo passenger, I'm not an expert on this by any means though, we're just at the sorting the pet passport stage too. I can dig out details of companies that fly animals if it would help Lesley, so that you can make enquiries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 25, 2007 Author Share Posted July 25, 2007 Thanks for the replies. The company I was looking at is called Jets for Pets. The vet said that dogs are quite happy to fly and the area they go into on planes is temperature controlled. If it was just the two of us and Jazz, we would drive but we want to be with the family and arrive together. To do that, we would have to leave 2 days earlier and come home 2 days later - a long time to be away from a farm. My son will be looking after the farm - and would love to have Jazz but you're right Emma, Carl wouldn't be away from her for that long. SarahJo - as you say, the flight to France is only an hour and a half - a lot less travelling altogether for Jazz. We would only consider it if we can go on the same flight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 25, 2007 Author Share Posted July 25, 2007 Crossed posts KateA I think it will have to be BA - the low cost airlines won't do flights for animals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 I work for an airline. We dont transport any live animals in the winter due to the temperatures. We do do it in the summer on some flights, but not on international ones though (which France would be classed as) not sure if all the airlines are the same, or whether its got anything to do with the pet passport thing. I personally wouldnt put my dog on an aircraft for a holiday. Only the fact that im not a keen flyer myself and If I get nervous flying then I would imagine my dog would be petrified. We did look into the pet passport thing as we really fancied hiring a cottage in the dordogne and we dont go anywhere without the dog, but after hearing a few stories about people having problems getting the dogs back in to the uk (vet problems, paper problems etc ) we decided if anything goes wrong - it usually goes wrong for us so we knocked the idea on the head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 When we was looking for a Shar pei, we considered one in the States and the breeder said the only flights she really tried to avoid was the long haul flights as in 20+ hours...Otherwise she said the dogs are well checked and looked after......In the end she passed us to a breeder in Liverpool to save us waiting for his pet passport....... Sounds like a good chat to one of the airlines might be a good idea..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 I reckon it would be really expensive too! Just knowing what prices my airline charges for excess baggage and stuff like golf clubs etc.....yikes,..goodness knows what they would charge for animal transit let us know Leslely, always worth asking though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
