UK to Thailand flight with dog

[didster]

Hi All,

Coming to Thailand in July with our dog.

Anyone any experience or reviews with airlines that they used for this? Been reading the websites and looks so complicated!

Ideally we would like to be on the flight with her.

Thanks

[CharlieH]

Better in Pets forum, there is a pinned topic there regarding this.

MOVED

[kekalot]

from experience, it's not that complicated

check if you can sort it out with your airline, if its a smaller dog you might be able to have inside cabin, if not as checked baggages (probably overcharge for size and/or weight)

as far as thailand immigration,

they do want that health certificate sorted out from the government (not just from a regular clinic).

they want rabies at least 30 days before but not more than a year, also leptospiros and distemper

also an import permit that you can get via email from the Quarantine services, you need send your dog booklet containing information about shots and identifications and they email you back some code and certificate

I had that import permit, they barely looked at it and also had the proof of vaccinations.

I didn't have the government health certificate, they lectured me about "Thailand not want clinic health certificate" and made me promise I would get (somehow) a proper Canadian official government stamped health certificate (impossible to get once outside the country) a few days later,

I said yes, yes, yes and never came back.

also, I believe that you need a microchip for Phuket.

and if you do want to get a microchip, get it before doing shots because they put the microchip numbers on the vaccines paperworks.

more information:

http://thailand.angloinfo.com/moving/moving-pet-animals/entering-thailand/

or you can find a whole lot of other posts by googling "importing dog thailand" or anything similar

[Andyfez]

I feel sorry for the dog. The weather here is too hot.

[KayCee]

I've heard good things about KLM.

We brought our elderly dogs here, because who leaves family members behind. We keep them in the A/C except for when they want to be in the garden. They're well and happy. The import procedures here were easy, and the dogs (and cat) were cleared and out of the airport in no time.

I agree that being on the same plane as the animals is best. You don't want them to go to the cargo terminal and wait in the heat. If they are on the same plane as you they're offloaded with luggage, and into the cool main terminal for clearance by the animal control folks. It was a simple form filled out in advance, and a five minute look over of documents.

Lots of people with more recent experiences here can help steer you. Good luck!

[bkk_mike]

We went the opposite direction on BA, with no issues at all.

Obviously, flying into the UK, the dogs have to travel as cargo, rather than as accompanied baggage, but that's not the fault of the airline, and accompanied baggage should be fine flying out.

[alboxblue]

I came with my dog last year from UK. I came on Aeroflot, with the dog travelling on the same plane, as excess baggage. The price for the dog was £125. I found all the information needed, at the Thai Consul Hull UK website, from where I downloaded the import forms and had them filled in ready to present to the Thai animal import office. It took about 30mins to complete the import process, which cost 100Baht. Go through the goods to declare channel and the customs charge 1000Baht duty. Good luck.

[humqdpf]

I have flown a dog as excess baggage through Sumarabhumri (from Vientiane to Entebbe in Uganda) without problems. But I would suggest you very very carefully get the quote from the airline for the cost of transporting your dog as excess baggage, as my experience shows. Emirates office in Kampala had quoted me approx US$500-US$600 based on a weight of my dog (25kg) plus the crate. In Sumarabhumri the Emirates check-in agent was about to charge me about $560 when the Emirates supervisor told her that the charge was much higher, abut $1,700. This was more than flying a human of 120kg plus 40kg of baggage plus food and wine in BUSINES CLASS! Nothing I could do but pay. Emirates have not taken any responsibility for this mixup and offered me no refund when I complained later.

You really need to get a signed quotation from your airline for the weight of your dog plus crate.

Best you try to find a vet in the UK who is used to preparing dogs for excess baggage flights. Best to take a direct flight, if you can afford it. Otherwise, take the same airline for the whole journey - and research the arbitrary rules that some airlines impose.

You should check what docs you need for clearing your dog in Bangkok - you may have to get an import document from Thai authorities before you travel. You will need papers from the UK too - that is why it is best to use a vet who knows what is required, the appropriate size of crate, tests and shots etc. You should check all document requirements before you even think of booking your flight.

[DGS1244]

Do you really want to bring your dog to Thailand?. I know a number of people who have and unfortunately the dogs have all succumbed to various diseases, mainly heart infection, within a short space of time. All dogs born in Thailand have a greater resistance to local insects and infections than imported dogs. Taking them the other way round back to UK apparently works OK just difficult as you have to have blood tests etc.

[tx22cb]

Do you really want to bring your dog to Thailand?. I know a number of people who have and unfortunately the dogs have all succumbed to various diseases, mainly heart infection, within a short space of time. All dogs born in Thailand have a greater resistance to local insects and infections than imported dogs. Taking them the other way round back to UK apparently works OK just difficult as you have to have blood tests etc.

I brought my dog from the US without problem.

My advice is to take the pooch to a Thai vet for a checkup and consultation - the vet will recommend the medicines required - in my case, something monthly for heart worms(?) and fleas/ticks, and something yearly.

I have found the pet care in Thailand to be very good, with good pet hospitals and good variety of local/imported dog food.

Now, if your dog is a huge furry St Bernard ....

[Farang99]

Do you really want to bring your dog to Thailand?. I know a number of people who have and unfortunately the dogs have all succumbed to various diseases, mainly heart infection, within a short space of time. All dogs born in Thailand have a greater resistance to local insects and infections than imported dogs. Taking them the other way round back to UK apparently works OK just difficult as you have to have blood tests etc.

I have imported dogs to Thailand twice. Never have any health problems, but it is true the breed I like is short haired and enjoys the heat. Much happier here than in the UK where they need coats and rugs and all the rest of the "keep warm" paraphernalia.

I also moved dogs from Malaysia to the UK - this was back in the 60s when the poor beasts had to be in prison ("quarantine") for 6 months immediately on arrival. Much easier nowadays.

[sappersrest]

I used a company called Pets Away in the UK cost more but saves all the stress, especially as it was part of the big move.Thai airways were very good kept us informed . The dog was in a separate Temperature controlled hold we were on the same flights .Ignore all the spreaders of doom and gloom,Our dog loves it here, and all the neighbours love him too, he is a cross between a black lab and a greyhound (Lurcher)He was a rescue dog, he now has a Thai rescue dog as a housemate.

[steven100]

There are plenty of dogs in Thailand already. They are generally referred to as ' soi dogs ' , I'm sure you could pick one of them up easily as no thai person wants to admit owning one unless there is money involved.

If you do decide to bring your dog along , will he be flying first class and has he already accrued any mileage points ?

[didster]

Hi

I have looked into this and have had quotes from various places - seem extortionate. May try to do myself - try to organise paperwork myself and discuss with airline direct - although confused as some airlines seem to work with these companies??

However, just wondered if anyone knew this as had 2 different answers about this:

Does a dog have to have been in GB for 6 months before (as we took our dog to Europe for 3 weeks)

One company says that she can't fly until 6 months after the visit to Europe

And another comapny says the rule is that if "The regulations state that she must have been resident in six months prior to export OR have a valid rabies vaccination (that needs to be given at least 21 days prior to departure) so as she has had a rabies vaccination this should be fine.

Anyone know???

[humqdpf]

Hi

I have looked into this and have had quotes from various places - seem extortionate. May try to do myself - try to organise paperwork myself and discuss with airline direct - although confused as some airlines seem to work with these companies??

However, just wondered if anyone knew this as had 2 different answers about this:

Does a dog have to have been in GB for 6 months before (as we took our dog to Europe for 3 weeks)

One company says that she can't fly until 6 months after the visit to Europe

And another comapny says the rule is that if "The regulations state that she must have been resident in six months prior to export OR have a valid rabies vaccination (that needs to be given at least 21 days prior to departure) so as she has had a rabies vaccination this should be fine.

Anyone know???

I would not rely on just the opinion of someone on an internet forum for a definitive answer. Best you check with a vet in the UK who specialises in pet transport.

I take it that the quotes you got were for transporting your pet as cargo. Yes, that will be extortionate. But you will also pay highly with some airlines for taking your pet as excess baggage - I was ambushed by Emirates with an extortionate charge on check-in despite being given a much lower verbal quotation on booking the original ticket (you pay the excess baggage on check-in). Best to get your quotation from the airline office in writing with a signature on it.

[JusMe]

humqdpf was hijacked by Emirates. Many years back, I was hijacked by Thai Air. I was transporting my dog from Canada through Los Angeles to Bangkok and then domestic onwards.

He was travelling air cargo on the same flight as I was on. Everything confirmed by telephone calls, even to the Thai Air Cargo department at LAX.

Got to LAX fine; went to get the dog onto the Thai flight, and was told I had to pay several hundred dollars more. I even gave them the cargo department telephone number, but someone glanced at it and simply said that it wasn't a Thai air number.

Had no choice, but at least a good credit card. Nailed me for the same extra charge on the return. Later, after complaining, I got a letter from them saying sorry for the inconvenience. Nothing more.

Edited April 28, 2015 by JusMe

[didster]

Hi

Been doing research and think I know what injections/paperwork I will need. And she can go as Devra has confirmed with rabies injection she is fine

The thing that is confusing is whether I send her as excess baggage or Cargo? I think excess baggage will be expensive as she weighs almost 30kgs and that is without the kennel.

Cargo may be cheaper - if this is the case - then do you have to go through a air freight company. I want her to be on the same flight as us so do the airlines have their own company? I have had quotes from some pet moving companies and these are high as they include all sorts of extras that I do not want. I am willing to do paperwork myself I just need the cargo part.

My options are British Airways, Thai Airways or Eva Air - anyone any experience of this? Do all airlines offer cargo or excess baggage? I am confused!

[didster]

AlsoI have read somewhere that 32kg is the maximum weight for excess baggage - anyone know if this is true? If so, then I can rule this out.

[sappersrest]

We shipped with pets away because Thai airways and their freight forwarders would not deal with us direct.

When you get the export paper wok from defra , you get it 5 days before the export date and is only valid for a week

[sappersrest]

How did you get on no problems I hope.