Flying a dog from Murcia or Alicante

Hi David,

You can fly the dog back without using a pet transport carrier, and Aena (the Spanish Airport Authority) have produced some guidelines regarding transporting pets. Only a few airlines provide this facility, and I know that British Airways and Monarch will transport pets on certain flights. It has to be done on an aircraft which has a special area between the hold and the passenger cabin.

As far as getting your pet on board the plane, my experience has been that you either check them in at the airline desk and someone comes and takes them to the cargo area for boarding or you are asked to take them straight to the cargo area - it depends on the airline and the airport.

Hope this helps.

Linda





dear Gary,
We have a Yorkshire terrier which we wish to transport from either Murcia or Alicante airport without having to use a pet transport carrier
and not having to leave in a holding area other than the cargo excess booking in depot. The reason for this query is our dog is very sensitive
an epileptic and when we retuned to England last time we were told that the only way to send a dog back to England was via a recognised pet
carrier
is this correct.
Yours faithfully
David

Bringing a dog into Spain

Hi Linda

Thanks for the reply. I'ts been very helpful. I'll definately watch out for the right place to pick my dog up from at Alicante airport now!!

Regards
Rachel


Hi Rachel,

You need to check the EU pets website to check you have all the correct documentation. If this is a bit confusing then Defra is another site to check.

It varies from airport to airport where the animals are left for collection so the best thing to do is to check with the cabin crew on your outgoing flight and then again with the ground handling agents waiting outside the aeroplane when you land. But be warned your dog could still be unloaded with the rest of the luggage and put on the carousel as this has happened to quite a number to people! This also happened to me but my animals were none the worse for it.

Provided all your paperwork is in order all of your fees will have been paid at the UK end and there is nothing further to pay here.


Linda

Hi Gary

I am going to import my dog into Spain in August this year and want to check a couple of things with you please.

1. My dog will have a Pet Passort from the vets in the UK. Does she need to have any other documentation to bring her into Spain?

2. The airline that is flying her over is ThompsonFly - where do I collect her from once the plane has landed?

3. Are there any fee's that I will have to pay on entering Spain?

Many thanks
Regards

Rachel Saker

Transporting dogs from the USA into Spain

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is the first time in two months that I have gotten the facts!!!! :) I am so appreciative!
Janet

Hi Janet,

As you are travelling Iberia all the way they should automatically transfer your dog on to the next flight, but as she is on a long haul flight from JFK and depending on how much time there is until your flight to Las Palmas, they may require you to look after her/walk her around for a while.

The best people to contact are Iberia's baggage handlers at Madrid. Their telephone numbers are 902 400 500/ 807 117 011 or fax 915 874 125

I transported my pets from the UK to Spain and it is still a bit of a "grey area" here, but their system seems to work (when you persevere with it) so make sure you check with the airline crew and ground handling staff where your dog is as often as you can during your journey.


Linda


I can't seem to get a straight answer to this: I am flying on Iberia from JFK to Madrid, then switching planes, also on Iberia to fly to Las Palmas, Canary Islands. My question is this: My dog is traveling in the hold. What happens when we get to Madrid? Do the luggage handlers just put her on the next plane or do I need to get her somehow and bring her through customs in Madrid? Our flights are two hours apart. Thanks for any information that you can provide.

Janet Caner

Sending a cat from Palma Mallorca to UK

Can you give me information regarding sending a cat from Palma Mallorca to England.1 What Airline can accommodate this.2 What British Airports accommodates this.3 Do i have to travel with the pet, as the owners are at present living in Britain and would be there to collect.4 An approximate cost.As far as chipping and certificates are concerned, i have all the information i need as well as the container requirements .

RegardsA.Michael

My Reply...

Hi Alex,
I am not great with info on travelling with pets but as far as I know all airlines & UK Airports are happy to take cats..
The best thing to do is find the airlines that go to the UKairports you want to go to and then look at their FAQ pages or call them.
Regards

Gary Ingram
Holiday Apartment in Marbella

Dog Passport travelling to Spain

Hello Gary,
Like your website.
Do you have any information about taking dogs on flights given that they have passports etc. sorted? We have 2 labradors and would like to start taking them on our longer Spain trips.

Thanks


My Reply...

Hi,

We have been asked this question alot and only have this information so far.
Taking pets to Spain

It would be wonderful if when you return you could let us know how you got on so we can pass the infomration on to other people who also want to take their dogs with them

Kind regards

Joanne

Taking Pets to Spain

hello gary,

we are taking our dog to palma on a ba flight in april and wonder if you answer or help us with the following questions:
where do we collect her from?
How far is it from arrivals?
How long will it take to collect her?

If you have any english speaking contacts that can help us if you are unable, we would be really grateful.

Look forward to your reply

The martin family.

My reply...

This is all the information I can find from the Main Spanish Airport Website AENA.

"Pets accompanying their owners on a trip can be accepted as luggage when the corresponding tariff has been paid, regardless of the class in which the passenger is to fly.
As a general rule, these animals must be checked in and loaded into the hold of the aircraft, where they will be placed in a container which some airlines can provide.Sometimes they are allowed to fly with their owners in the passenger cabin, provided that the pet does not cause any bother to nearby passengers. The owner must fulfil certain requirements and is responsible for the pet's care and transport during the flight.

For this, the maximum measurements of the container must be respected, as well as the conditions of the maximum permitted weight of the animal with its container or cage, as applied by the airline and that should be previously consulted.

Animals must travel properly documented, through a pet passport or veterinary certificate, identified by way of a microchip or tattoo and with all required vaccinations (in some countries with an evaluation of antibodies). You can find more information at:http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/liveanimals/pets/index_en.htm.It is wise, when booking or purchasing the ticket either at the airline or the travel agency, to express your intention of taking a pet on board and to be informed of the specific conditions for transportation.

Guide dogsDogs trained as guides to accompany a passenger with a disability will, in general, travel in the cabin, unless prohibited by national regulations or the airlines. The dog's transport, whether in the hold or in the cabin, will not be charged. It is not necessary to carry out any special procedure, but the dog must wear a muzzle, collar and lead. If the dog is to travel in the cabin, it will be placed next to the passenger in a place indicated by the crew."

Then this was something that my friend wrote for me who brought her cats over.

Hi Jo,

Pet transport is a minefield! It depends on where you are flying in from. For example, if you are coming from Gatwick then only Monarch and British Airways will transport the animals and then only on certain flights (which tend to be a couple mid week) because they need to be on aircraft which have a special area between the passenger section and hold.

Also the airline will not necessarily guarantee that your pet will travel on the same flight and will probably ask you to check with the carrier. Both Bev and I had to do this and then they took 24 hours to get back to me. The person concerned needs to check with the airline they are using - www.ba.com is the best and this website has some pretty detailed information on transporting pets abroad like size and approved carrier type, etc.

When I brought the cats over from the UK they were checked in with me at the normal check in desk then taken away to the vet centre until they were ready to board. At Malaga they are meant to be left at cargo for you to collect, but mine were put on the luggage carousel in the arrivals hall! Bev has been told that she has to take her cat to cargo when she checks in so maybe the system has improved since I arrived.
So the short answer to your question is that it is up to the owner to make sure the airline carrier can accommodate the pet and book it on because the agents will not guarantee it. And the dog should be collected from the cargo section at Malaga but they should double check with the staff when they arrive here.

Hope this is not too muddled and answers your question!

I hope this gives you some idea.

Gary Ingram

Travelling with Pets at Palma Airport

Hello. i am going on a British Airways scheduled flight from london gatwick to Palma in April this year.
I am travelling with a dog and need to pick her up from the in europa handling dept can you tell me where this, and how far I need to walk when I leave baggage reclaim .

I know the airport well but have never taken a dog before. i would be grateful for any help.

Many thanks,
E

My Reply...

Hi E,
Im not 100% of where you need to go. best thing to do is to call 0034 902 404 704 and they do speak English.

We have known people whos cats came out on the carosel with the luggage before!
Gary Ingram
Holiday Apartment in Marbella