One of the emotionally zapping elements of shifting overseas for us was the preparations for our pet, Tin Field Canine, to accompany us. As soon as we had determined we had been shifting to Oman we instantly began researching what we would have liked to find out about flying with a canine.
*This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks*
On this publish I wished to share our private expertise of organising this ourselves and a number of the sources we discovered helpful.
Once we had been looking round for data there have been large holes in what we learn. This was primarily to do with what occurred on the airport.
Official web sites discuss you thru the authorized course of. However they typically don’t discuss with the extra ‘fluffy’ stuff about while you’ll be separated and reunited together with your pet.
So, I’ve tried to cowl each from our expertise of flying from London Heathrow, as a household of 4 plus a canine, to present different pet house owners an concept of what would possibly occur.
I don’t declare to be an knowledgeable and experiences might range relying on airline however that is the way it was for us.
Air journey with a pet – our expertise
In December 2022 we relocated from the UK to Oman for work, and our canine flew with us.
Nonetheless, the entire journey began about six months earlier than that after we came upon we had been shifting and began our pet journey analysis.
Canines aren’t a standard pet within the Center East – pet outlets in Oman extra generally inventory birds and fish. However there’s a massive expat group with canines. So we knew that it was attainable to convey a canine to Oman and proceed to present it a good way of life.
Residing in Oman with a canine was one department of our analysis. Getting ready Tin Field Canine’s authorized paperwork and reserving the flight had been extra time consuming.
We would have liked a transparent 4 months earlier than flying to begin the mandatory journeys to the vets for the vaccinations and checks required to import our canine to Oman.
We additionally discovered Oman’s necessities modified with little or no discover. It was necessary to maintain checking what was wanted in order that we complied with the most recent model of the principles.
Wherever you might be flying to its value ensuring you’ve got the most recent pointers and don’t assume issues haven’t modified.
What are the principles for flying with a canine?
There are many guidelines for flying with a canine to make sure they’ve the suitable paperwork for the nation you might be flying from and to, and that they’re being transported safely, in addition to your airline’s personal guidelines for transport stay animals.
Right here’s what we learnt together with useful sources for travelling from the UK:
Nation particular guidelines for pet journey
In case you are travelling within the EU then your canine wants a microchip, an in date rabies vaccination and an animal well being certificates. If you’re going to sure international locations in Europe they can even want a tapeworm therapy.
Examine probably the most up-to-date necessities for taking a pet overseas within the EU.
As we had been travelling exterior the EU there have been a couple of extra hoops to leap by way of. In addition to microchipping and a rabies vaccination, we would have liked an export well being certificates for the nation to which we had been travelling.
The export well being certificates ensures your pet is prepared for export and has the vaccinations required regionally.
Our UK vet hadn’t handled an export to Oman earlier than however between us we discovered the suitable steerage on the gov.uk web site.
The essential factor was that they had been registered with Defra’s Animal and Plant Well being Company (APHA), so they’d the authority to log off an export well being certificates.
This is a vital query to ask your vets from the beginning: are they registered with the APHA? Not all vets are, so you could want to seek out one who’s.
We additionally obtained a suggestion for a vet in Oman who may assist us with the import paperwork. This included detailed vaccination information and a number of the proof that went into the export paperwork. It was signed off by the Oman authorities within the week earlier than we flew.
Worldwide Air Transport Affiliation laws for flying with a canine
The IATA Reside Animals Laws cowl every thing from the airline’s duties when transporting stay animals to right journey crate sizes and the paperwork that have to be accomplished earlier than take off.
As a pet proprietor crucial half so that you can fear about is the specs on your canine’s journey crate.
It must be a particular dimension on your pet to satisfy worldwide animal transport laws.
There’s a full rationalization on the IATA web site.
We determined to purchase our canine’s crate a couple of months early to get her used to it. We discovered a second hand one on Fb Market. Nonetheless, we slipped up.
Whereas the crate met the IATA’s pointers, it was too large for our airline to move as extra baggage and would have needed to be flown as freight. There have been just a few centimetres in it.
We ended up shopping for a second smaller crate that was nonetheless consistent with the principles. So, test the utmost crate dimension together with your airline nicely upfront.
Airline necessities
It’s necessary to contact the airline you’re travelling with on the earliest alternative to test their guidelines for transporting stay animals. Particularly most weights and crate sizes (see above).
Some airways will permit pets to be transported within the cabin and others the maintain. In the meantime some won’t transport animals in any respect.
You may additionally should be versatile in regards to the day you fly. Some airline animal handlers solely work within the week. And in case you are travelling to Oman, that’s at the moment Sunday to Thursday.
For those who communicate to your airline’s customer support workforce they need to have the ability to put you in contact with a person or workforce that offers with flying pets. They may have the ability to reply all of your questions.
We went round in circles for a bit to seek out the suitable particular person at our airline, Oman Air. They had been very useful as soon as we discovered them however as they had been primarily based in Oman we had the 4 hour time distinction to work round.
It’s additionally value realizing that some airways might have extra necessities over the IATA guidelines, in our case the crate had to make use of steel fastenings to carry the two halves collectively, our crate was provided with these however not all are.
How does flying with a canine work?
So, right here’s the bit that gave me probably the most sleepless nights; how does the flying with a canine work when you’ve obtained your paperwork so as?
Reserving your canine’s flight
We booked our seats within the cabin a month earlier than flying. Nonetheless it wasn’t attainable to e-book Tin Field Canine’s place within the maintain till all of the export and import paperwork had been accomplished 48 hours earlier than our flight.
This was a bit hectic however is customary follow. Our vet couldn’t confirm that our pet was match to fly and log off the export well being certificates any sooner than two days earlier than because of availability however this may be finished as much as 7 days earlier than.
As we’d been chatting with our airline from the time our seats had been booked they had been ‘holding’ our canine an area.
Oman Air may fly pets within the maintain as cargo or outsized baggage.
We went for the latter because it was cheaper and the method on the airport was shorter.
We solely paid for our canine’s flight as soon as we arrived on the airport. Different airways might ask for cost sooner.
Touring to the airport with a canine
Getting baggage and youngsters to the airport is problem sufficient. Add a canine and crate to the equation and that’s a giant ask for a household automotive.
You may additionally battle to seek out an airport taxi or taxies that may take a pet/you all.
One resolution is to make use of a specialist pet transport firm to get your canine and crate to the airport.
We opted to make all of the preparations ourselves because the invoice for a pet transport firm would have value rather a lot on prime of the hefty vets charges we had been already forking out.
See the part on how a lot it prices to take a canine on a aircraft beneath.
Our resolution? We employed a automotive for Mr Tin Field, the bags and youngsters, and I drove our automotive with the canine, crate and my father-in-law who had the duty of driving it house and promoting it at a later date.
Whichever manner you get to the airport, don’t neglect to plan your final walkies earlier than flying. In addition to the flight time you’ll be hanging round on the airport at both finish.
We stopped for a stroll at a park 20 minutes earlier than Heathrow.
Arriving on the airport
One thing that my thoughts saved coming again to was the query ‘what occurs to our canine on the airport?’.
I wasn’t capable of finding a lot about this half whereas looking the web. This left me a little bit uneasy, particularly as our authentic plan was for Mr Tin Field to fly out to Oman a few weeks earlier than the remainder of us.
I’d have been navigating Heathrow solo with two youngsters underneath 10, a number of suitcases filled with our worldly items, a canine and a crate. A number of months earlier than we flew we modified our minds and determined to all go collectively. And I’m very glad we did.
A name with Carrie from Flying with a Child additionally helped to place my thoughts comfortable. She is the flying guru and had a contact at Heathrow who gave us a little bit of perception into what occurs at check-in. This roughly aligned with our expertise.
Our airline, Oman Air, had advisable attending to the airport earlier than check-in opened so we had loads of time. We arrived at T4 4 hours forward of our flight which was high quality.
After saying goodbye to my father-in-law on the T4 terminal drop off space, we unloaded Tin Field Canine’s crate, grabbed two trollies for this and our baggage, and walked into terminal.
I requested my father-in-law to take it gradual going house in order that if issues all went improper on the final minute he may flip round and ‘rescue’ Tin Field Canine.
We determined to maintain Canine on her lead as she wouldn’t have been comfy in her crate, which was now at a humorous angle on an airport trolley.
Examine-in
Examine-in was already open so we joined the queue. It quickly turned apparent that a couple of of our fellow passengers had been nervous about canines. Fortunately the Oman Air workforce noticed us and requested us to maneuver over to the much less populated Enterprise Class lane.
The workers made a fuss of Canine and a few youngsters in the primary line came to visit to say good day, which all helped to ease our nerves.
We checked in our maintain baggage, paid for our canine’s flight and had been requested to come back again to check-in an hour and a half later after we’d be taken by way of safety.
Whereas we waited we saved Tin Field Canine on her lead and sat in Caffe Nero (there wasn’t an enormous quantity of selection). She additionally went for a ultimate stroll exterior the terminal constructing.
Going by way of safety
After an hour and a half we went again to check-in the place a beautiful member of the Oman Air workforce escorted us by way of the flight crew safety line. This was when Tin Field Canine needed to go in her crate on the trolley (at an angle).
All of us popped our hand baggage into the trays and walked by way of the scanner whereas Canine’s crate was wheeled down the opposite aspect of the bag scanner.
The customs workplace was simply on the opposite aspect. Mr Tin Field took Canine in to a room the place a customs officer rapidly checked by way of the export paperwork and inspected the crate.
And in a flash Canine was being rolled away by an airport animal handler.
That was an hour earlier than our flight took off. There was no time for responsibility free purchasing or grabbing a meal, in order that’s one thing to remember in case you are travelling round a meal time.
Tip: don’t e-book an airport lounge in case you are flying with a canine – you received’t make it!Â
Meals and water
Your airline provides you with steerage about water and meals on your pet. We supplied bowls to hold off the crate door and our airline added water.
We had learn someplace about freezing water in one of many bowls and tried this out however it will have defrosted lengthy earlier than Canine was loaded on to the aircraft. It ended up within the sink at Caffe Nero pre-security.
The bag of meals we left with the crate wasn’t given to Canine. It was simply there in case of delays which fortunately we didn’t have.Â
What occurs as soon as your canine leaves you?
If solely pets may discuss! I’d like to know what our canine considered her expertise. She’s a little bit of a nervous factor so we all know she wouldn’t have loved it.
One thing we did to present us some additional reassurance was to place Apple AirTags* on her collar and on her crate.
This allowed us to see the place she went within the airport and that she had been delivered to our aircraft earlier than we took off.
We had been additionally in a position to observe her within the airport after we landed in Muscat.
We purchased a pack of 4 AirTags – two for Canine, one to go in a suitcase and one other for our belongings that had been being shipped by sea.
You will get canine collar attachments* for AirTags on Amazon.
Arrivals and the reunion
Our vets in Oman had given us a helpful step-by-step means of what would occur on the airport after we arrived.
As soon as we’d been by way of passport management we headed to the bags carousel the place we had been advised Tin Field Canine can be ready for us with different ‘outsized baggage’. She wasn’t there so we checked her Apple AirTag location and will see she had left the aircraft.
A couple of minutes later (though it felt like an age) we noticed her crate being rolled by way of the bags corridor in the direction of us. What a reduction!
Inside her crate Tin Field Canine appeared bemused however unscathed and blissful to see us. I’ll have had a little bit sob at this level. I’d had little or no sleep on our crimson eye flight.
Subsequent we went by way of the ‘Items to declare’ lane at customs the place an officer checked our paperwork and charged us a small import payment. The temporary from our vet in Oman mentioned an airport vet is perhaps referred to as to log off the import paperwork, however they weren’t on this event.
This was a reduction as we had been additionally advised this might trigger an extended delay.
So, about an hour and a half after touchdown we exited the airport to start our journey in Oman!
Observe me on Instagram to see how Tin Field Canine is getting alongside!
How a lot does it value to take a canine on a aircraft?
The worth of a canine’s flight will range relying on their dimension, whether or not they’re touring as freight or cargo, your airline and the vacation spot.
Our medium-sized canine’s a technique flight from London Heathrow to Muscat Worldwide Airport with Oman Air value £245 in December 2022.
After all, there are lots of extra prices to flying with a canine than the flight. We estimate that we spent £2,250 on getting our canine to Oman.
In addition to the flight we needed to pay for:
- a rabies vaccination and a Titer check to show the antibodies had been in Tin Field Canine’s blood.
- Shopping for an IATA customary crate.
- UK vets invoice for the export well being certificates.
- Oman vets invoice for the import certificates.
Our total invoice was inflated as a result of our canine wanted a second rabies vaccination and Titer check as a result of the primary check got here again exhibiting much less antibodies than wanted.
This induced us a final minute flap as a result of the second Titer check couldn’t be finished till a month after the second vaccination. And by that time we had simply over every week do go earlier than our flight. As outcomes often come again inside seven working days we opted to quick observe them, costing a whopping £850.
So, For those who had been to do the identical flight as us with a medium sized canine, and didn’t have the unhealthy luck we did with Titer checks, the general value may very well be someplace round £1,200.
It’s additionally value saying that there are lots of firms that may facilitate journey door-to-door and do all of the leg give you the results you want. It’s most likely a much less hectic choice however the quotes we obtained would have added 1000’s of kilos to the price. This was one thing we couldn’t afford.
Ideas for flying with a canine
To wrap up, right here’s a couple of additional snippets of studying to save lots of in case you ever end up shifting overseas with a pet:
Communicate to somebody who has already finished it
If attainable, get in contact with somebody who has already moved to your new house with a pet.
On the bottom recommendation was tremendous useful to us, from discovering a neighborhood vets to rearrange the import paperwork, to what it’s wish to stay with a pet within the nation. Â
The crate
As soon as you might be assured you’ve got discovered the suitable journey crate, introduce your canine to it forward of flying.
We purchased ours a couple of months earlier than and it turned Tin Field Canine’s mattress, so was a well-known house. She didn’t appear to note after we downgraded it to a barely smaller dimension.
Treatment for flying canines
The IATA advises towards sedating or tranquillising pets after they fly. Some airways can even not settle for tranquillised animals. It is because when they’re motionless they’re extra more likely to undergo an harm.
Nonetheless, there are different issues you are able to do.
Tin Field Canine could be fairly nervous in conditions the place there’s loud and sudden noises, like firework evening. So after we’ve identified one thing like this was arising now we have given her pheromone tablets prescribed by our vets. These assist to calm her.
She’s beforehand taken these tablets after we did a 4 hour ferry crossing to Jersey within the UK.
We gave them to her once more within the weeks earlier than and after our transfer, in addition to utilizing an Adaptil pheromone diffuser plug*.
It’s tough to know if these complimentary remedies are actually efficient however they appeared to assist.
So, that’s our expertise of flying with a canine. We’ve got solely ever finished it as soon as so I’m not an authority on the topic and different folks might have completely different experiences with completely different airways, airports and locations.
For this reason I’ve supplied hyperlinks to official authorities and company web sites the place you’ll be able to test the most recent steerage.
Have you ever flown with a canine? I’d love to listen to the way it went.
Extra doggy tails on Tin Field Traveller
Right here’s some extra of my posts for canine house owners like us:
Disclosure: this publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks marked with *. For those who click on on one in all these and make a purchase order I’ll earn some fee. This doesn’t have an effect on the value you pay.
