our 2 westies are about to relocate - 1hr 40mins flight or 2day drive cross europe ....? i dont travel well, especially on crazy foreign roads and i feel my nerves would make the 2 days a nightmare - although they love the car.
I think they will be just too big to take in the cabin (45cm length MAX) even though they are within the weight limit.
Just looking for your experiences of doggy travel as cargo - in an individual crate travelling at the same time as they always look out for each other- would they just go to sleep?
which would be the kindest option?

(yes, i am an overprotective westie mum!)........

I can only respond in respect to my own experiences, having immigrated to Australia from the UK.  This meant a 26 hour flight for my two beloved dogs - the only option of course, otherwise a mammoth drive :)

They both faired very well, and were absolutely fine after the flight.  They then spent the next 30 days in quarantine, and bless the young lady who looked after them so well, her first words when I phoned to get an update on their arrival, was 'they haven't been to the toilet in their crates at all'.  That made me feel so awful bless them :(  But, other than that, they honestly didn't seem any the worse for wear.

It sounds as though you'll be fairly stressed out yourself particularly if you don't travel well.  The doggies would pick up on that I think and be pretty vexed themselves. 
If you can arrange to be at the other end to collect your Westies, I'd opt for the flight.

Not sure what the ruling is re: flying pets into Europe, but long haul dogs aren't allowed to travel in the same crate.

Where abouts in europe are you travelling to, I don't think cabin travel is allowed on most european flights out of UK, could be wrong though.

I have done both going to Finland and both were fine, the pup seemed perfectly happy after his flight and probably slept through.
But I prefer to have them with me & drive with them.
I am heading off in a weeks time again, driving as the girl travelling is 60kg without the crate so don't even want to know what the charge of flying her would be :).

I have also taken other people's dogs with me in a car before, so that could be an option if you ask around, somebody else might be travelling to where your dogs need to go...

we are travelling from Bucharest Romania to Warsaw Poland .. tried to find pet transport companies but none in this area (unless someone knows better!) Pets are allowed in the cabin but i think they are not gonna be the right length for the bag - i wouldnt enjoy the 12hrs driving for 2 solid days and i know they would pick up on it.... so it might be the cargo hold for 1hr 40 + ground logistics...

I have no idea about Warsaw, Poland, but here at Alicante Airport there is no special collection point for dogs and cats.  They come out on the conveyor belt/carousel.  My gang came by road but those who fly seem to survive the flight and the carousel alright.