Animals in the aircraft hold.

[AGP PERSON]

I am soon to be travelling AGP to DSA or Man, with my two dogs travelling in the aircraft hold. Can any Captains or FOs explain what provisions are made from the flight deck to ensure that the animals travel in as much comfort as humanely possible. hopeful for a prompt reply. thanks

[Rainboe]

Preflight the Captain will have to sign for and accept the livestock affidavit so the pilots are aware that animals are being carried, and in which hold they are located. Should hold heating be required, they will be aware its needed, though I think this is only a longhaul need. You can relax that the loaders care for the boxes well, and it is well known amongst them the requirements for positioning the livestock boxes. I have carried many, many dogs and cats, and it always seems to be very unstressful for them- they come out quite cheerful, and on my walkaround check, if I can, I give them a little gentle talk. Just don't worry about them and they'll be fine. I remember once being taken to a hold after landing and shown a gigantic dog next to its totally demolished box lying on top of the bags in a hold, panting and looking very proud of itself. We even had in my previous airline a wide body once divert because the hold heating failed and the crew weren't sure a Westie would be unharmed. It was put to the passengers with an apology, and the whole planeload agreed with the decision to make a tech stop and put it in the cabin! Airline staff are dog lovers too!

[lexxity]

Most of the carriers out of AGP won't carry animals to either MAN or DSA as they are lo-co or charter. You are going to have to research it well. I know for sure that bmibaby won't take animals in the hold.

As Rainboe says though airlines will look after your animals to the ebst of their abilities. So much so that up at MAN we have a stray cat we all look after.:p

[AGP PERSON]

Many thanks to Rainboe and Lexxity for your prompt and excellent replys.

This is what makes this Forum great. :D

[J-Man]

As Rainboe says though airlines will look after your animals to the ebst of their abilities. So much so that up at MAN we have a stray cat we all look after.:p



I think i know which one you are on about, it follows me everywhere! Except inside the terminal. :}

[TightSlot]

I believe that Thomsonfly accept animals to both MAN & DSA





I have to declare an interest!

[towser]

The last dog I transported was kept in its box on the flight deck and the first officer fed it chocolate chip muffin for most of the flight!

[Dan Winterland]

There are companies who specialise in transporting animals. There's one based out of Amsterdam which uses our company for transport. While on the freighter I flew everything betwwen Hamsters and Llamas - with a tiger being a passenger once!

Quite a lot of pets were carried. They went on the freight deck near the ladder. We used to check on them regularly making sure they were OK and had water and food.

[lexxity]

I think i know which one you are on about,

The ginger stray outside Olympic? Bless it it's so sweet with it's silly ears.

[perkin]

Slight thread drift, but My Travel also take animals, possibly only those which generate positive PR however - when I was waiting to depart on a flight back to AMS last week, there were a couple of sea turtles on their way back to the Canary Islands surrounded by tv crew & photographer, waiting to board the MYT flight at the adjacent gate. They had somehow got a little off-course and had been found on a beach in Scotland...

[Snappybits]

the first officer fed it chocolate chip muffin for most of the flight!



The FO may be thinking he is being kind but actually chocolate is a big no no for dogs. Poisoning of dogs by chocolate is not as uncommon as you might think.

Chocolate contains theobromine. A naturally occurring stimulant found in the cocoa bean, theobromine increases urination and affects the central nervous system as well as heart muscle. While amounts vary by type of chocolate, it's the theobromine that is poisonous to dogs.

Better be safe than sorry and leave off feeding dogs chocolate:=

[mangrnd1]

Monarch will carry animals as cargo on all their ZB flights into/out of MAN... Its normal to expect at least 4 in one afternoon on the ZB flights.