Hi folks,
So I need to get my cat from the East Coast (DC preferably) to London. I know the deal about shots/paperwork etc, what I am trying to work out is costs. Does anyone have experience of shipping a cat to the UK (on the flight you are on)? How much did you pay? Did you do it yourself or go through a 3rd party?
Thanks so much!
TOPIC
Moving Cat from USA-UK. Advice Needed
Discussion started on 23 Jan 2026
ID: #28
B
britishbillinusa
COMMUNITY MEMBER
britishbillinusa
Posted on 23 Jan 2026, 23:14
E
Editha
COMMUNITY MEMBER
Editha
Posted on 25 Jan 2026, 17:08
I'm doing it from Alberta in June, and the cost for our cats is more than the cost for myself and my husband. Expect to pay your own air fare plus a bit. We are going through a third party (Petsaway) because the airline we are flying with refuses to deal direct.
M
MoshiMoshi
COMMUNITY MEMBER
MoshiMoshi
Posted on 29 Jan 2026, 11:01
I think it cost us about $750 per cat to go from LAX to Heathrow.
Flew with BA (cats and humans on same flight). No complaints. I've heard Virgin are also good.
We did it ourselves. You have to make sure you're thorough with the requirements, and have a vet who knows what s/he's doing on the paperwork, but it's definitely doable.
It's best to call airlines directly and see what price they quote you. Prices usually won't be final until you actually check your pets onto the flight (it depends on crate dimensions and weight) but the estimates are usually correct, especially for smallish animals like cats! Some airlines only deal with pet transit agents, but plenty do deal with customers directly.
Make sure you're speaking to someone who has direct experience of pet bookings; usually someone connected to the cargo division. Regular ticket sales staff oftengive out incorrect info about flying pets into the UK, because the price is different (and a lot more expensive) than flying pets into Europe.
Things to check about the price:
- is it for transporting the pets as manifest cargo? All pets arriving in the UK must be shipped under this classification. They go in the same place (pressurized section of the cargo hold) as when pets fly to other countries, but it's more expensive.
- does it include pet arrival/processing fees in the UK? I forget the exact amount, but I think it's 300 or so at Heathrow. Some airlines include it in their price (BA), some don't (Virgin).
- when can you actually make the pet reservations? Some airlines only let you book pets a few weeks before the flight, others will let you do it further in advance. You usually can't book both human and pet tickets at the same time, as pet tickets are dealt with by a separate division. So you have to make sure you all end up on the same flight!
I'd also double-check any seasonal restrictions on shipping pets from your US airport, as some airlines won't fly them in certain months due to heat/cold.
Flew with BA (cats and humans on same flight). No complaints. I've heard Virgin are also good.
We did it ourselves. You have to make sure you're thorough with the requirements, and have a vet who knows what s/he's doing on the paperwork, but it's definitely doable.
It's best to call airlines directly and see what price they quote you. Prices usually won't be final until you actually check your pets onto the flight (it depends on crate dimensions and weight) but the estimates are usually correct, especially for smallish animals like cats! Some airlines only deal with pet transit agents, but plenty do deal with customers directly.
Make sure you're speaking to someone who has direct experience of pet bookings; usually someone connected to the cargo division. Regular ticket sales staff oftengive out incorrect info about flying pets into the UK, because the price is different (and a lot more expensive) than flying pets into Europe.
Things to check about the price:
- is it for transporting the pets as manifest cargo? All pets arriving in the UK must be shipped under this classification. They go in the same place (pressurized section of the cargo hold) as when pets fly to other countries, but it's more expensive.
- does it include pet arrival/processing fees in the UK? I forget the exact amount, but I think it's 300 or so at Heathrow. Some airlines include it in their price (BA), some don't (Virgin).
- when can you actually make the pet reservations? Some airlines only let you book pets a few weeks before the flight, others will let you do it further in advance. You usually can't book both human and pet tickets at the same time, as pet tickets are dealt with by a separate division. So you have to make sure you all end up on the same flight!
I'd also double-check any seasonal restrictions on shipping pets from your US airport, as some airlines won't fly them in certain months due to heat/cold.
B
britishbillinusa
COMMUNITY MEMBER
britishbillinusa
Posted on 31 Jan 2026, 12:16
Thanks to both of you. Will call Virgin and BA tomorrow and see what they say.
E
ElizabethK
COMMUNITY MEMBER
ElizabethK
Posted on 03 Feb 2026, 15:29
I transported my 2 cats and 1 dog last July from Philadelphia to Heathrow using BA as my airline of choice. I did all the paperwork myself saving a huge amount of $$$$. Total I paid to BA in cash at the BA Cargo depot in Phila (they wont take credit card or cheque) was $1750 for all 3. They base the cost on the weight of the animals whilst they are in the crate just prior to flying. That did not include the cost of all the vaccines, microchips and crates though. Probably add an additional $500 on top (for the 3 of them)
I sorry I don't have the number on me now for you to phone them, but they will be able to advise about flights. You can't book your pet onto a flight with them until 2 weeks before you fly. Incidentally, mine travelled separately, I followed them a week later.
Also, contact James Cargo in Heathrow they too are very very helpful and will answer even the most daft of questions you may have.
I called DEFRA too, but honestly they were not as helpful as I'd hoped.
I researched everything I possibly could about it, and although it was a paperwork hell, I was glad I did all of it myself and would do it again.
Don't rely on your US vet knowing anything, I pretty much had to guide them through all the docs step by step.
If I was able to prepare & transport 3 pets safely from US to UK, while working 43 hours per week, selling two cars and a house all on my own (hubby moved back to UK 5 months before I did) trust me, you will find transporting just one puss-cat a doddle
Make time to read the thread on here, titled "new defra rules and regs" or something like that. . . you will learn a lot BUT you'll need a lot of time to wade through all the posts !
Good luck
I sorry I don't have the number on me now for you to phone them, but they will be able to advise about flights. You can't book your pet onto a flight with them until 2 weeks before you fly. Incidentally, mine travelled separately, I followed them a week later.
Also, contact James Cargo in Heathrow they too are very very helpful and will answer even the most daft of questions you may have.
I called DEFRA too, but honestly they were not as helpful as I'd hoped.
I researched everything I possibly could about it, and although it was a paperwork hell, I was glad I did all of it myself and would do it again.
Don't rely on your US vet knowing anything, I pretty much had to guide them through all the docs step by step.
If I was able to prepare & transport 3 pets safely from US to UK, while working 43 hours per week, selling two cars and a house all on my own (hubby moved back to UK 5 months before I did) trust me, you will find transporting just one puss-cat a doddle
Make time to read the thread on here, titled "new defra rules and regs" or something like that. . . you will learn a lot BUT you'll need a lot of time to wade through all the posts !
Good luck
L
lgabriel73
COMMUNITY MEMBER
lgabriel73
Posted on 08 Feb 2026, 20:27
Virgin you can book your pet as far in advance as you want. I booked my dog last week and I dont fly until may 16th. Virgin cost is based on the size of the crate. You dont pay until you drop them off at cargo on the day of the flight and they accept credit cards just not debit cards. They dont include the james cargo fee you have to pay that at Heathrow which is currently 340GBP. I would definitely do it yourself as it will save money. The paperwork is not that hard. Animal transport companies will charge you more and from what people have said they dont do much except check your paperwork and take the animal to the airport.
There is a really good blog that tells you everything you need to do and when to do it. It even includes examples of how to fill in the forms etc. I will try to post the link when I get home.
There is a really good blog that tells you everything you need to do and when to do it. It even includes examples of how to fill in the forms etc. I will try to post the link when I get home.
V
Vadio
COMMUNITY MEMBER
Vadio
Posted on 09 Feb 2026, 23:29
Do it yourself, and if possible scan/email your basic paperwork to the clearing agent on the UK side to make sure everything is in order.
Pet transport companies don't do anything you can't do yourself. lgabriel73 is spot on with comments.
Pet transport companies don't do anything you can't do yourself. lgabriel73 is spot on with comments.