QF pax pets. what's your recent experience?

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Just to clarify this, puppies under 12 weeks of age require the veterinary certificate, as do older pets (over 10years I believe).
Older puppies and adult dogs do not require the certificate.
I would ask the breeder to get the vet to write the certificate when they vaccinate the puppy.

Ok, our pups are 9 months and 4.5 years and haven't had that requirement. They also travel together in the same crate (they're 6 and 8 Kgs respectively and travel in a single PP50 crate. We get some protestation from SYD about the two in the one crate (who seem to want to justify their own existence) but the BNE staff are generally fantastic.

When we adopted our little one, he was sent from BNE by JetPets. They have a good service but for a regular traveller, QF pax pets is cheaper and more convenient.

Here's our two frequent flyers:

 

[Lemon_Party]

When we moved BNE-PER our cat flew in the hold. As noted above if you have a flight ticket your pet can travel on the same flight for around $100 depending on size.

Generally 2 places per flight available depending on aircraft. You need a flight approved crate (designated PPxx higher numbers = bigger crate) and your final price is based on size/weight. We bought ours from the qantas freight terminal in BNE a few days before.

You can check availability for flights on qantas pets website or through the pets call centre. Do this before you book your flight to make sure there is room!

Simply drop off your pet at qantas freight terminal 2 hours before flight, once you get off at the other end they'll be ready for collection at qantas freight terminal.

It was far more straightforward and routine than I'd initially expected. I wouldn't pay for a 3rd party like jet pets or dog trainers domestically, unless the pets are flying alone.

Virgin offer an almost identical system too.

As with usual transport having the cage in the house for a few days so your pet becomes familiar with it, one of their blankets added, favourite toy etc all help with stress on the day.

 

[aussiel]

The biggest problem I had with transporting a cat via air freight (same flight as me), was finding a taxi from the airport that didn't mind me taking the cat, even though it was in a cage?!

 

[clazman]

As mentioned previously, had my first interaction with Jetpets for the transportation of a puppy from a breeder in Newcastle to Perth, in speaking to them was impressed with the service and communication received.

Unfortunately the process went south, I had intentionally had them book the flight into Perth for 6:30pm so i could get there and collect after work.

Jetpets at the 11th hour had contacted the breeder and said the outbound flight from Newcastle had been brought forward which in turn changed the inbound flight into Perth to about 1pm.

Luckily for me I had texted the breeder mid-morning to confirm the puppy had got away okay and he advised me of the change.

I immediately rang Jetpets, who told me I could pick up any time between 1:30 and 3pm when their office closed.

When I explained that I couldn't and that was why we had booked the 6:30 flight, I was put on hold.

About 5 minutes later, I was told that the state manager was going to take the puppy home with him and I could pickup from his house and there was going to be a investigation on how this had happened.

Successfully picked up the pup and the state manager was so generally apologetic.

Well done to Jetpets for handling the situation professionally and taking responsibility for the mistake

 

[jb747]

There are almost always a few dogs and/or cats on the long haul 380 flights. Their presence is notified to the flight crew via the load sheet. We then run the cargo holds at a higher temperature.

 

[Quickstatus]

There are almost always a few dogs and/or cats on the long haul 380 flights. Their presence is notified to the flight crew via the load sheet. We then run the cargo holds at a higher temperature.

Have you done equine?. Whats the policy if the 1000 kg beast goes beserk?

 

[clazman]

There are almost always a few dogs and/or cats on the long haul 380 flights. Their presence is notified to the flight crew via the load sheet. We then run the cargo holds at a higher temperature.

Do the crew interact with the animals on long haul flights?

 

[Nug300]

Do the crew interact with the animals on long haul flights?

Keen to find this out as well!

 

[scubabe]

Do the crew interact with the animals on long haul flights?

I flew business class on SQ from LHR-SYD in 2011 when I emigrated here.
I wrote a cute little note to the captain with a pic of the dogs (2 x labradors) and said "please before you push back pretty please can you confirm you have these two most important pieces of cargo aboard?".
I got a delightful letter back from the captain saying they were absolutely onboard and he would have staff check on them mid-flight. True to his word, half-way to SIN the CSM came to see me and confirmed the dogs had been checked on and all was well.

Now I don't know if "checked on" means they were actually looked at or if "checked on" means the captain checked the thermometer for the cargo hold and there's some kind of video feed down to there or something... but I was SO reassured! I also don't know if the captain just said that to shut up the pretentious chick in J... hahaha

As for "interacting" on long-haul flights they're sealed in their crates and they cannot be opened by anyone other than a Govt vet at the other end, so yeah no the crew can't pat them or anything. I did however attach a small bag of kibble to the top of the boy's crates when we moved to Oz, because we had a 3 hour layover in Singapore and I hoped that the SIN ground crew may take pity on the boys and chuck some food in the holes for them. Absolutely no idea if that happened or not but the option was there just in case...

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Not sure about QF but I have watched the VA ground crew chat and pat my dogs when they are travelling.. I assume QF would be the same.
I've also flown a puppy to Japan with Dogtainers.. They organised everything including pick up from our place, crate, vet checks and paperwork. Very well organised

 

[Deena]

Not recent but 3 and a bit years ago my beautiful Lab pup flew with Dogtainers, who the breeder dealt through. Poor boy was on two flights from country NSW to Perth with a two hour stopover in Sydney. Arrived on QF flight absolutely fine and dandy. Apparently they fly better on an empty stomach so they don't have to go to the toilet too.