Flying with cats

[recom273]

I need to fly with two cats - from Hat Yai to Khon Kaen.

 

Because speaking with customer service is impossible - can anyone fill me in on their experience?

 

Do all airlines offer a service on all flights? - We have problems the only direct flight would be with AirAsia and we have only found info about nokair.

 

I can only imagine the stress and headache of changing flights with two cats at DMK. 
 

Any advice appreciated.

 

 

 

 

[tonray]

Cats on "Nok"Air...that's actually pretty funny...

[Amplish]

I only know that Thai Air used to allow cats as carry-on for domestic flights, while paying extra for the weight of the cat. I did that several times for flights between Krabi and Chiang Mai, several years ago. Some years ago I talked to someone on a Nok Air flight and they had to put their pet in the hold, not with all the other luggage, they have a special compartment for live animals. I am not sure about Air Asia, but what I can find on the Internet shows they do not allow pets in the cabin. If customer service is not available, then perhaps you can ask at the airport when they are checking in for a flight. Not on the day of your flight of course.

[recom273]

3 minutes ago, Amplish said:

I only know that Thai Air used to allow cats as carry-on for domestic flights, while paying extra for the weight of the cat. I did that several times for flights between Krabi and Chiang Mai, several years ago. Some years ago I talked to someone on a Nok Air flight and they had to put their pet in the hold, not with all the other luggage, they have a special compartment for live animals. I am not sure about Air Asia, but what I can find on the Internet shows they do not allow pets in the cabin. If customer service is not available, then perhaps you can ask at the airport when they are checking in for a flight. Not on the day of your flight of course.

Yes, it’s turning into a nightmare.

 

Nokair seem to offer a great service, we called at midnight and the rep gave us the cargo phone line - we called the next day, they only take pets for direct flights - due to COVID there are no flights from HY to Udon or Khon Kaen. It’s a flat 800B per carrier.

 

We could take multiple flights, but they won’t transfer the cats and we have to collect the cats off one flight, they said they will accept them the next day - which doesn’t work, where do we keep cats in a hotel in BKK? and we are racing the removal truck with furniture.

 

Looks like we will fly to Don Muang, track down Nok Air cargo and get a relative to drive us 7 hours to Khon Kaen. At least that avoids a 12 hour road journey from the south to BKK.

 

It’s now impossible to speak to a human on the phone at airasia - it may be possible to put them in the hold, but I have a feeling the answer will be ‘no’

 

Im a bit tired of airasia - they do offer a direct flight to KKC but have only just recently reopened the route. This would be the best way, but not if they don’t accept animals in the hold. Once we make this move I think it’s time to ditch them.

 

We have a flight at the end of May to visit the architect, so will need to ask counter staff.

 

I will check thai, thanks for the suggestion.

[Grusa]

Try this:-

 

[OishiRefill]

Cats are permitted to travel with their owner(s) in the third class section of Thai railways. Khon Kaen & Hat Yai have rail stations.

[recom273]

6 minutes ago, OishiRefill said:

Cats are permitted to travel with their owner(s) in the third class section of Thai railways. Khon Kaen & Hat Yai have rail stations.

Good thinking!

 

I think that’s a long journey, maybe 24 hours .. one of them doesn’t stop crying as soon as she goes in the box, even taking it 30 mins to the vet or catery! We wouldn’t have many friends on the journey.

 

I think we found the way now, but many thanks for the comment.

[PETERTHEEATER]

Mai ow meeao. Choke dee kap.

[recom273]

A FYI - Our two cats finally flew on Nok air yesterday.

 

Unfortunately you can only send on direct flights and there is no guarantee that there will be a plane with pet facilities on any given day.

Due to COVID, internal flights are a bit hit and miss, we had to call every night at 5.00 pm to enquire wether or not any of the flights the next day. After calling for a couple of weeks, it seemed that there was about a 50% chance of a flight, but could have been an evening or a morning flight.

 

We took the first morning flight, a week before we are due to move and the cats will spend a week in a local cattery in Don Mueang, there is an specialist taxi service, that will pick up your pet and deliver to a local Cattery or kennel. They could probably organize an onward flight too.

 

Apart from the irregularity of flights, pretty painless experience.