Bringing a dog from Boston to South France

[ianmc]

Has anyone recently travelled from USA to the south (Toulouse) with a pet? Are there any advice on the best way to do this?

I found the legal stuff via: http://www.ambafrance-us.org/intheus/customs/7000.asp

However, if anyone here has recently done this, I would love to hear your story.

thanks for any advice...

[Tink]

Hi,

We have moved, not recently but 3 years ago, from California to Agde, a small town near Montpellier with our 2 dogs. We're moving back this October, to Oregon this time.

In those 3 years we moved up North to Bretagne.

Is there something specific you would like to know?

--

Tink

[letrangere]

Hi Ian,

1.  What size dog?  Small enough to travel in the cabin on European carriers such as Air France or Lufthansa?  This makes things much easier for both pet and owner but obviously there are size restrictions, check with airline.

2.  Try to ensure as few take offs and landings as possible as this is the most stressful period for the animal so plan your route carefully.  Also with transfer airports.  If dog is fine in car, perhaps consider a one leg Boston/Charles de Gaulle and then drive?  All the main hotel chains accept dogs in rooms in France.  But you have to weigh up the pros and cons of each option and there are many.

3.  The airline will tell you about the crate.  Couple of important tips:  Make sure you post "this way up" signs on the crate, sounds obvious but you'd be surprised at what luggage handlers do.  Also ensure there are several, impossible to remove, signs giving MCO number, your address in France, your phone number in France, etc. just in case.

4.  Try to travel on the same flight as animal if you can.  Once on board, ask purser to check that your dog has been loaded.  He/she can easily do this through the cargo manifest and they will.  If you transfer, ie at CDG, don't forget to ask same when you board connecting flight as this is the most likely point for potential problems.

5.  If doing Boston/Paris/Toulouse, make sure you have ample connection time, at least 2+ hours, ideally double that at Paris, ie don't necessarily book the first connecting flight.  It take longers for large loads in the hold to transfer between flights.

6.  Ask airline in advance for exact address of cargo hold deliveries at destination airport as this is where you will have to pick him up.  At Toulouse this will be easyish due to size of airport but at CDG it's a long way from the main terminal and far from easy to find unless you know the airport well.  

7.  Check with your vet as to feeding times in advance of flight, I can't remember exactly what they recommend.

8.  Book dog's flight way in advance as there are restrictions as to the number of animals allowed per flight, both in cabin and hold.

9.  Be prepared for fact that dog's ticket will probably be much more than your own.

10.  Finally, don't worry!  My vet reckons the animals travel in more comfort than many passengers back in steerage! 

bon courage!

M

 

 

 

[ianmc]

Thanks for the advice. I called Air France and it should only cost about an extra $110 each way as extra baggage but I will make sure to book in early and check the connection at CDG.