Getting pets out of HK - Cheapest Options

[Javatar]

Hi All - planning on leaving HK next year to the UK and lining up a number of things including options for transporting pets out with us.

We are not looking to use agents as we know how the forms work. My query is on the most cost-effective route:

1. Cargo option direct to UK: We have inquired Cathay Cargo and it comes out to about HKD42k for putting our pets in a cage direct to UK. We'd then need to do the usual, rent a car from Heathrow and drive to destination in UK.

2. Check-in (cabin or hold) pets to Amsterdam + pet taxi into UK: This is relatively cheap, coming in at about HKD1k to HKD2k per pet just for the flight from HK to Amsterdam (or France if you please), BUT the pet taxi quote into the UK is approximately HKD20k (!!). If anyone's wondering, apparently the UK does not allow check-in pets on flights directly into UK.

We're interested in the latter option, but wonder if anyone else has gone through the process of moving pets and which route they took? There are all sorts of funny and strange routes one can take from somewhere in Europe into the UK (e.g. ferry from Amsterdam to Newcastle), but a pet taxi seems to be the most sensible, even if eye-wateringly expensive just to be driven around for a few hours.

[mrgoodkat]

When we left, we just took them on Cathay as cargo. Was around 7k per pet. Don't think you can do any cheaper, since the cost is calculated based on their excess luggage fees and crate dimensions. If the UK doesn't allow direct flights, can't you just fly to Amsterdam or Paris and rent a car?

Edit: Seems you can bring pets directly on approved routes. Cathay to London is on the list.

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...for-pet-travel

[Richino]

https://pettransportservices.co.uk/

Amazing service, incredibly helpful. Charged me £1485 to take me, my chihuahua and our stuff from Charles de Gaulle to the West Midlands in March this year.

[dbeers]

CX we’re a nightmare, only
pets on some flights on certain days, but they wouldn't confirm which ones, and then waiting lists for those anyway. Therefore took Option 2 via Paris in November last year, Brexit may have complicated things from start this year but transport companies can advise.

DM me if you want numbers for good guys each end.

[Javatar]

Thanks everyone. I guess we'll do the check in baggage pet route. I'll DM you @dbeers.

[Trance Omega]

Pets as excess to UK is not allowed due to UK law. Its not a question of direct flights as both BA and Cathay are taking pets as cargo but the 42K from Cathay does NOT include all the fuel surcharges, terminal fees, security fees etc and also doesnt include the HARC fees which are another 5-6k again. Note the 42k is the minimum charge. If you have a large dog it will go to as much as 90k if you are using the largest of the plastic crates (labradors, dobermans etc). Also Cathay have a ban on flat nose animals. BA are cheaper if you are taking a small cat or dog but they work on a volume weight charge which is higher then CX and CX would be cheaper if you have a medium size dog or larger. BA accept most flat nose pets but not bulldogs or pugs.
You can take them as excess to an EU port and then take them yourself to the UK overland, you dont have to use a pet taxi. This is by far the cheapest route but you cant take large dogs as excess and currently Cathay are not accepting excess to any ports. You have to use Lufthansa, Turkish or KLm amongst a few others but those spots are very hard to get hold of due to people leaving HK and the BNO exodus.

Remember for excess via EU you need to have the ISO microchip and also health certs for both EU and UK and for dogs a dewormer must be given within 5 days of arrival to UK and needs to be given by a vet that does the health certificate.

I have already made my plans and have my dog chipped with both AVID and ISO chip and will fly to either Amsterdam where I can get a pet friendly ferry to northern England or go via Dublin and get the ferry across to Wales.

[bsh]

Good luck. Its a nightmare getting pets out of HK but easier and much cheaper to bring them in.

I just brought my cat over again, 2K GBP using Pet import/exporters both ends.

[MABinPengChau]

Well, you have until next year- fingers crossed that when British Airways starts up again in December the cargo prices will come down? Anyway, best of luck to you, I had enough drama with hauling my two cats to TW (they need a rabies titer and then wait SIX MONTHS until you can import them, followed by a one-week quarantine).

[Trance Omega]

fingers crossed that when British Airways starts up again in December the cargo prices will come down?

British Airways have been flying to HK everyday with pets for several months now. Prices from London to HK are reasonable, HK to London is another story however and is exceptionally high, dont count on them going down for a few months and its not just BA, ALL the airlines flying out of HK are charging 500-1500% over pre-covid rates.

[MABinPengChau]

British Airways have been flying to HK everyday with pets for several months now. Prices from London to HK are reasonable, HK to London is another story however and is exceptionally high, dont count on them going down for a few months and its not just BA, ALL the airlines flying out of HK are charging 500-1500% over pre-covid rates.

So, wait, your PET can fly, but YOU cannot? I mean, until December...

Sigh, you can't make this stuff up...