First of all, after posting a question on the visitors board (cocker puppy weight)I would like to thank JaneS for her speedy reply, it was very helpful.
Unfortunately I have found out today that my plan has a vital flaw. I was told by the airline that they needed the weight of pup, weight of carrier and carrier dimensions. I was also told I would need proof of pup's age (they didn't say what the age had to be).
However, on visiting the BA site today, I read that "pups have to be at least 10 weeks and must be weaned and able to eat on their own" before travelling by plane. My puppy will only be 8 weeks when I pick him up!
Does anyone have any experience of dogs travelling by plane? Why, if a pup is "weaned and and able to eat on it's own" can it not travel at 8 weeks? Is there a health/safety reason for this, or is it just BA policy? I would be very interested to hear your views on this and also any advice for me if I do end up having to travel for 7-8 hours by car and ferry.
Thank for taking the time to read this post
Shirley
P.S I have been a lurker for some weeks now and have found this site very informative.

Hi shirl, hope this will be of some help to you. I recently had to fly a nine week old pup from Scotland to England, and chose Ryan Air, as not only were the rules and regulations re flying dogs easier, but they were by far and away the cheapest. As I dont know where you are flying from and to, perhaphs this will not be possible but worth your while to find out.
The pup was carefully taken on and off the plane each end, and the flight for him was only £15. The stipulations were as follows.....The cage had to be big enough for the pup to stand up and turn around in, and that was it.
No age minimum, nothing else at all.

Hi Shirley

I had my first dog bought over by plane., and yes they do have to be over 10 weeks and mine had to have a veterinary certificate to say she was fit to travel. The only thing was that she had to travel in the cargo area, which I thought might have been a bit too traumatic for her, saying that the Airline crew were fantastic, making a huge fuss of her at the Uk side and when she got to Jersey.

My second dog we tavelled over to get her, which was a lot easier in my book. I was always told that the pups could not travel too young because of their ears, but I may have been misinformed.

I think you should do what is best for you...from my experience, sorting out the flight, weighing the box, the box then had to be certain dimensions, they needed copy of the veterinary certificate etc etc was a bit of a hassle, plus I kept getting different information from BA staff members, so it was much easier to take a couple of days off work and go get her myself. We just stopped off at regular intervals and gave her some food and water, and on the boat back she was perfect..she wasn't stressed at all..

Hope this helps a little

Natasha

Thanks Phillipa and Natasha. It's good to hear about different peoples experiences. I already have the Vari-kennel and have given the dimensions and weight to the airline, so most of the organising and ground-work has been done. Flying Ryanair is not possible, althought they are hoping to provide a low cost service to the Outer Hebrides in the near future, so it's good to know that they are easy to deal with.
Not sure what we'll do yet but even if we do have to take the dreaded ferry it'll definitely be worth it!:-)
Have just recieved e-mail with pics from my breeder and am unsure if I can wait another 3 weeks to pick up pup (Morgan, we think)!!
Thanks again for the replies
Shirley

i had berry flown over to ireland for marie, she was 10weeks, but all they asked for was the box dimensions and a letter from my vet saying the pup was fit to travell, it all went really well,

I flew 2 puppies over to Germany in February this year with BA. They couldn't leave here until they were 16wks old as Germany requires the Rabies vacine to be a minimum of 30 days old plus their normal vaccinations - there was no requirement for a health cert but I had a private one done anyway as the pups were doing an overnight stay at heathrow.

I did it all myself and found it to be a very nice easy experience and the pups were fine when they arrived the other end. I took them to Manchester Airport, where they were weighted in the cage with a full water bottle the gents dealt with all the paperwork and labelling of the kennel and played with the pups for about half an hour before they had to be rekennelled. I could track their progress by the BA website using the tracking number given to me when I paid for their journey etc.

I`ve brought 2 pups over here at seperate times & they were allowed to stay with me on the plane. I used Iberia & providing they were under a certain weight & size it was ok to take them on the plane.
Christine2

I was wandering whether this was possible I see it is I am most likely getting a puppy later in the year from Sunerland I am in London I know British Midland do a return flight to newcastle airport for £90 I have not checked out their pets policy though would he probably have to go in cargo? It would be very good if he could sit with me in the plane but they probably would not allow it.

one of my pup of 8 weeks,went to austria and sat on her lap,with a small cat cage next to her,that was jan 2000,so things may have chage since then,