Thanks for all the info! Hm I'm hoping there may be a bus or something that will get me to the place where I pick up my dog, but we'll see. When was it that you brought your cat and had to pay 300 quid? I haven't been told anything about fees once I get there, and the booking with BA world cargo is quite expensive in itself, so I was hoping there wouldn't be any additional fees. I'll keep in mind about the microchips too, I think mine is ok but I'll doublecheck. Hopefully the cabs won't object as much if she's in her carrier, at least then she can't fuss about and cause a mess. thanks for all the info!!
Yes there are airport fees to be paid, possibly also a vet fee (although that might have been a kennel requirement).
How big is your dog? I guess I'm thinking of one the size of ours in this icon (90lb), you wouldn't be carrying him around and putting him into cabs or on trains...
The Heathrow animal reception centre is on the south side of the airport, accessible from the perimeter road. I doubt if you can get there from T5
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Hm do you know if there's a bus to get there? Haha ah, yes I didn't want my dog to go through quarantine so we did the full microchip/vaccination/etcetc. Good to know it can take a while, so I won't have to worry much about trying to rush to get my bags and all that. I'm heading to a hotel near King's Cross. I don't think I'll be able to hire a car - combination of just it being an added thing to deal with, plus I'm not even sure if i can hire a car (I'm 21 - think you have to be 25?). I thought it may be best to do the heathrow express to paddington and get a cab from there or just get a cab from the airport. Hopefully if I'm standing in the taxi queue, it'll be easier to get a cab as if any have an issue with the dog in the carrier there'll be another cab right behind who might be ok. Hm good to know about UPS, it'd be a pain to ahve to organise the customs forms and things too. Thanks for the heads up on that. Thanks for all the info!
You'll be able to get a car but you'll pay through the nose for it. I wouldn't bother. Plus, a combination of jet lag, driving on the left and London traffic will not be a pleasant one.
Also, don't get the Heathrow Express, get the Heathrow Connect - only slightly slower and a third of the price of the Express.
hey sorry, I am re-reading this post as I'm trying to get my cat over here next month. He'll be dropped off in SF by my uncles then picked up by me. I'm just wondering how I'm going to get him from the airport. My boyfriend drives but doesn't have a car -- we could hire or borrow one, but I hate to pay even more when I am paying so much in the first place! Also I'm not convinced driving will be faster than the tube since it will be a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and my priority will be to get him to my house in north London asap.
So any idea if it's possible to get to the animal reception via public transport links? Also did you go with BA? I've just spoken with someone and he said all the fees were included with the price he gave me (just over $1000) so I wouldn't have to pay anything when I got to heathrow. Just wondering what your experience is. Thanks
I really, really wouldn't advise attempting to get on a train or tube with that amount of luggage and an animal if you are going to be on your own. You might be just about okay getting on at Heathrow but you will struggle to, for example, get it up an escalator at the other end. On the other hand, I'd be a bit nervous about saying that it's going to be easy to get a taxi, either. Taxi drivers are obliged to allow guide dogs (or equivalents) to travel, but not pets.
If there's any way of getting someone to come and meet you at the airport, I think that would be by far the best solution.
hm I didn't even think about escalators and things. I definitely won't do the tube, but I was hoping the train into Paddington from heathrow might be ok. I'd imagine the taxi drivers wouldn't be as upset with the dog if she's in the crate - it's not like she can jump about and make a mess or anything. I suppose we'll see - at least at Heathrow there's a queue, so if one doesn't take it another one might. hhm i'll see if i can find someone to come meet me, definitely would make things easier.
The Heathrow Express leaves from the same level as the Tube and it's just as painful to get to, unfortunately. I'd arrange transport before hand if you can - you might sneak a kitten into a taxi but a big dog is going to be more troublesome.
im bringing my cats over in june so i cant help you there - but please to post about your experience to fill in the gaps for the rest of us :)
as far as shipping - dont bring pot or pans - you can get them here its not cost effective to bring them with you. esp with the pound weaker against the dollar. for stuff you really wnat to bring over if i could do it again - i would just pay the 150$ or whatever it is for an extra bag.
check out prices with ups etc but the 150 (even tho its only 50 lbs) is actually not a horrible deal - and you then have everything with you no hassle down the road.
in hindsight i wish i had done that. i will be doing that when i go home this summer with some last things i want to bring back with me.
will try to! i think when i get there shouldn't be too bad (apart from struggling with various items haha), all the PETS scheme stuff was a bit frustrating though. fortunately my vet's office was really really helpful with getting everything in order. hm good idea about hte pots and pans. probably a fair time to get an upgrade on pots and pans anyway haha, the ones i have now aren't exactly 5 star. good to know another thing can be knocked off the list of things to pack haha.
Also, many times US pots will be just too big for UK ovens. :( You don't really want to waste money shipping them over to realize they won't fit!
I second the poster above as well, it probably isn't worth it to ship anything. Check websites here to see how much replacements would cost. You may be surprised at how inexpensive things can be.
For really, really cheap stuff just to last for a short while, the big supermarkets have perfectly decent stuff. It would probably work out cheaper to buy it and leave it behind rather than ship things in either direction.
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Hopefully the cabs won't object as much if she's in her carrier, at least then she can't fuss about and cause a mess.
thanks for all the info!!
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How big is your dog? I guess I'm thinking of one the size of ours in this icon (90lb), you wouldn't be carrying him around and putting him into cabs or on trains...
D
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Haha ah, yes I didn't want my dog to go through quarantine so we did the full microchip/vaccination/etcetc.
Good to know it can take a while, so I won't have to worry much about trying to rush to get my bags and all that.
I'm heading to a hotel near King's Cross. I don't think I'll be able to hire a car - combination of just it being an added thing to deal with, plus I'm not even sure if i can hire a car (I'm 21 - think you have to be 25?). I thought it may be best to do the heathrow express to paddington and get a cab from there or just get a cab from the airport. Hopefully if I'm standing in the taxi queue, it'll be easier to get a cab as if any have an issue with the dog in the carrier there'll be another cab right behind who might be ok.
Hm good to know about UPS, it'd be a pain to ahve to organise the customs forms and things too. Thanks for the heads up on that.
Thanks for all the info!
Reply
Also, don't get the Heathrow Express, get the Heathrow Connect - only slightly slower and a third of the price of the Express.
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So any idea if it's possible to get to the animal reception via public transport links? Also did you go with BA? I've just spoken with someone and he said all the fees were included with the price he gave me (just over $1000) so I wouldn't have to pay anything when I got to heathrow. Just wondering what your experience is.
Thanks
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If there's any way of getting someone to come and meet you at the airport, I think that would be by far the best solution.
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hhm i'll see if i can find someone to come meet me, definitely would make things easier.
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as far as shipping - dont bring pot or pans - you can get them here its not cost effective to bring them with you. esp with the pound weaker against the dollar. for stuff you really wnat to bring over if i could do it again - i would just pay the 150$ or whatever it is for an extra bag.
check out prices with ups etc but the 150 (even tho its only 50 lbs) is actually not a horrible deal - and you then have everything with you no hassle down the road.
in hindsight i wish i had done that. i will be doing that when i go home this summer with some last things i want to bring back with me.
good luck!
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hm good idea about hte pots and pans. probably a fair time to get an upgrade on pots and pans anyway haha, the ones i have now aren't exactly 5 star. good to know another thing can be knocked off the list of things to pack haha.
thanks for the advice!
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I second the poster above as well, it probably isn't worth it to ship anything. Check websites here to see how much replacements would cost. You may be surprised at how inexpensive things can be.
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