Flying with your dog..?

[WindyCommon]

Has anyone here flown their dog to Portugal or another similarly mainstream European destination? I have found and read up on the veterinary/vaccination etc requirements, and also on the required transport kennel/box. But I am struggling to find out how the process works from a practical point of view. If you have experience of this, could you help me with the basic questions below?

- Where will we have to take our dog and when? I'll probably fly with BA out of Gatwick.
- Does your dog (always) fly on the same 'plane as you?
- How does collection work at the other end? Presumably you have to go somewhere with the necessary paperwork. When?

I'd be really grateful for any help with this. Thank you in advance.

[bexVN]

Sorry I don't really have anything helpful to add but thought I could at least bump your post in the hope some one who has done this will see it this time!

[Bluesgirl]

I looked into flying to Europe with my dog last Summer, and didn't get far. It appears fewer airlines are allowing it. Here are some guidelines I found online:

http://www.dogjaunt.com/guides/international-airli...

I decided to take the ferry to Santander (Brittany Ferries) instead, with my daughter, the dog and the car. We returned from Bilbao. It was expensive but the plus was being able to drive wherever we liked when we got there. The kennels on board were well organised, with an exercise area etc and it made for an unusual and interesting trip. The kennels on board were fully booked , so it may be a bit late for this year's crossings, but I'd definitely recommend it.

[shoebag]

My Greyhound and 2 rabbits flew on the same flight as me from Heathrow to Chicago with British Airways. I used PetAir (I think it was 5 years ago) who I met near Heathrow with the animals. They put Dave the Greyhound in a crate and used cable ties to make sure no one tampered with the crate. In my mind I thought they were going to take him to a secure area where he would be allowed out to exercise as it was 3 hours prior to the flight taking off to Chicago. The flight was an additional 8 hours flying time. As soon as I got on the plane I asked to speak to the Captain as I was paranoid they would forget to turn on the heating in the hold. It was not until I landed, cleared customs and had gone to the cargo collection point on the outskirts of Chicago`s O`Hare airport that I realised Dave was not let out for a wee break at Heathrow. Once he was put in the crate that was it. He held his wee for 13 hours and the first thing he did when the cable ties were cut and the door of the crate was opened was to run to the nearest tree for a very long wee.

[Joey Ramone]

This thread not complete without worlds best dog-flying video

https://youtu.be/z54_d7j-7cc