Hi

I need to move my cat from London to Geneva in the next few weeks. She's chipped, has a pet passport and her rabies vaccination is up to date.

Ideally I'd like to travel on the same flight so I can both hand her over to the cargo handlers at departure and collect her upon arrival.

Anyone had any positive or negative experiences with pet transportation companies?

Thanks

Declan

I have taken my cat from Edinburgh to Munich where she is currently staying with my Mum. I travelled with Lufthansa and the cat was allowed to go into the cabin with me in a cat carrier. It cost theoreticall 50 Euros to take my cat that way, but I was never actually charged for it. You need to make a phone reservation to take your cat like this. It all went pretty well, although I missed my connecting flight in Frankfurt. Managed to get on the next flight with my cat no bother. I thought it was much less traumatising for the cat this way than having to go into the hold.

That's interesting. I'm being quoted between £550 and £650 for cargo!

I had read something that said cats could only travel in cabin when departing from european airports other than UK airports. Perhaps that only referred to Swissair.

My boyfriend and I are in the middle of a relocation from Manchester to Basel and have had loads of problems with our cat travel arrangements.
Speak to Lufthansa directly as they seem to be the best option, our cats have to fly to Zurich with Lufthansa (unfornately we were given the wrong info initially by another airline so we are flying separately which is stressing me out somewhat ). I'm not 100% sure however it's my understanding cats flying into CH have to go via Zurich just going off what we've been told.
We are paying approx £550 for them as cargo - we gave also been told that cats leaving the UK could not go in the cabin but that now seems like it depends on airlines.

Good luck and hope things run smoothly for you!

I also brought my cat from Edinburgh to Zurich with Lufthansa. He travelled in the cabin with me......and just the same as Bookwifey....I wasn't charged for him. The girls on the check-in were so excited that I was carrying a cat as hand luggage that they didn't ask for money for him to fly. (But, hey....who's complaining!?)

We had an hours wait in Frankfurt and then flew on to Zurich and sailed through the customs without being asked to show our/his paperwork....or being charged (what I've been told is 80CHF) to bring a cat in.

I know it's too late for you, if you've already booked your pet's travel, but for anyone else I'd say to them to insist that it is written on your confirmation that you're travelling with an animal in the cabin with you.

As a matter of interest, did those who flew with their cats sedate them prior to flying? Also, did the cats wail throughout the journey?

It actually didn't occur to me to have him sedated, and I've since read that it's not a very good idea as the animal can be, amongst other things, very disorientated. On top of that, the flights weren't very long.

As for him miaowing....he did for a little bit on taking off, but then settled down, and was no problem at all.

On the plane I thought (stupidly) that animals in the cabin would have a special place to be stored in whilst flying......No such luck! He (in his box) had to be fitted under the seat in front of me.....where handbags etc. normally go !

Looks like I can take Plumbum (the cat) with me in cabin on Swiss Air (for £50 charge) after all. I have ordered a pet carrier called Sleepypod Air which, though not cheap, matches Swiss Air's size requirements.
http://www.arelleblankets.com/product/sleepypod-air/85/

Interestingly my seat, which would have cost £425 booking one way only, came to only £137 by booking return. This was when booking by phone. I didn't see the cheap return option on the website.

Plumbum will be living in Champel. Anyone know of a nice vet nearby?

Declan

Since booking my ticket to fly with my cat in the cabin I've come across this on the Swiss Air site:


"The following countries do not allow animals to be transported in the cabin nor checked-in as “baggage”: Ireland, the UK, Kenya, South Africa, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates.
Animals travelling to these countries may only be checked in as freight. "


As my e-ticket says nothing about the cat I think I'll have to seek written confirmation.


Declan

My girlfriend brought our cat from the UK to Zurich on Swiss. She was allowed to bring the cat in the cabin - but had to ring up to arrange once she had bought her ticket. The price for the cat was by weight (about 70 quid) and you need a soft carrier (holdall style), not a hard plastic one.

I think the rules for UK are when you are taking animals to the UK, not out of the UK.

Hope it all goes well!

I am pretty sure that you can take a cat From the UK to Geneve in the cabin on Swiss.
We always found Swiss to be the most uncomplicated airline when travelling with our dogs in cabin. Good luck to you and Kitty.

Would be much cheaper and more comfortable for your cat to travel with you by car, via the Tunnel. Why not pay a friend for all the expenses to bring you over. Airlines will not normally allow you to sedate animals nowadays as it is just too dangerous.

We brought over our two cats last year from London Heathrow to Zurich with Swiss. We had them in the cabin and we didn't sedate them.

I had to call up when booking our flights to ensure that they can book them on. Once at the airport we had to pay £168 for the cat's transport although why I'm not sure as Swiss did absolutely nothing other than take our money!

Thanks for the reassuring replies.

I spoke to Swiss again and they confirmed that the cat can travel in the cabin and that the fee payable is 50€. I asked them to send an email so I'd have something to show the check-in staff (just in case they go by the online information).

So, if all goes to plan, the £137 ticket + €50 fee is quite good value. It's probably cheaper than hiring a car and driving to Geneva. Certainly a lot quicker.

Flew from Heathrow to Geneva yesterday taking Plumbum the cat in the cabin with me. She complained from time to time but with a little stroking calmed down.

Apart from the purchase cost of her flight bag (Sleepypod Air £159) all I had to pay was 50€ at checkin (Swiss). I had vacant seats next to mine so I could have her next me, rather than on the floor, for most of the flight. So much better than sending her cargo (which could be very stressful for her) for around £600.

She seems pretty relaxed in her new apartment.

Declan

Glad to here the relocation went well and that she is settling into her new home.