Hi - at the end of this year - I will be returning to the UK to live (I am in US presently) and will be taking my adult Standard Poodle dog with me. I have studied the Defra site and am fully conversant with the requirements for the Pet passport Travel scheme - so my query isn't about that.

What I'm looking for is someone who can give me a rough estimate of how much it is likely to cost for me to transport my dog on the same flight? This will enable me to work out a financial plan, prior to my departure (which will be any time from October 2009 to Jan 2010).

Defra site rules (dated 2005) only appear to approve BA and Virgin Atlantic airline routes - yet someone on this list (back in 2006) mentioned having shipped her dog from US to UK using American Airlines (with whom she was extremely satisfied). Does anyone know if American Airlines are now included on the Defra list? and if so - any idea of cost for transporting a dog via their airline from US to UK??

Thanks - Terri in Ojai, CA

ive just done continental ailrline heathrow to houston....but a lot will depend on the size/weight of your dog. it was about £800 for 20kg pup. it would be ok coming into heathrow but willl never ever fly continental outwards again :(((((

Hi Sam ... thanks so much for your reply - it's really appreciated. My dog is currently 50lbs but will be 70 lbs max when I travel from LA to Heathrow. What did you mean when you said "it would be ok coming into Heathrow"?? Do you mean it's cheaper coming from US to UK??? Sorry to be so obtuse :-(  Thanks - Terri

When my friends moved back to the USA, it cost approx £1200 to transport their Bernese Mountain Dog (50kg or so).  He flew with Continental airline into Newark.

I have been told delta are very good I believe you go into their cargo section..

Hi Terri

As well as the size and weight of your dog there are other factors involved.  Off the top of my head is (a) where you'll be flying from in the US to your receiving airport in the UK;  (b) what time of year you'll be travelling - in certain months special AC packs have to be installed to regulate temperature control, which adds to costs; (c) not all airlines will deal directly with a member of the public re animal transport - you may have to source a dedicated animal carrier service to deal with receiving, crating, customs paperwork etc.

Prices can vary enormously - when I sent a pup on a direct flight from Glasgow to Newark around 4 years ago we were quoted with prices ranges as much as £600 apart so it pays to shop around and also to ensure you have as much info re regulations from both authorities and from any airlines you're able to choose from.

HTH with some of your queries,
Best wishes,
Teri :)

no Britlady I meant.....coming in is ok but going out with continental....never again....disgraceful handling and treatment of live cargo and had I not been there to supervise i dread to think what could have happened......but presumably thats just the plebs at the outward cargo area this end and they are prob OK coming INTO heatthrow as your dog would go via the animal reception.