FAQs

Part of the Extrordinair's commitment is to move your pet with the minimum amount of anxiety. We will always look to find the quickest and best way to relocate your pet with the minimal amount of stress.

As an owner you can also consult reduce anxiety by acclimatising your pet to the sky kennel as early as possible and you can consult your vet about Adaptil (for dogs) and Feliway (for cats) which are a natural and convenient way to help comfort your pets during travel.

Animals are placed in a special hold in the aircraft. The hold is heated, pressurised and dark. This is the safest way of moving your pet, with the environment designed to keep our pet calm and relaxed. Your pet will most likely settle down and sleep once the aircraft is in the air, plus pets travel as manifested on the flight so even the Captain will know how many animals are on board.

It is usually helpful to have your pet up to date with all vaccinations irrespective of whether the country of destination requires them. In a number of cases a rabies vaccination is required and this must be done at least 30 days prior to departure.

If you have any doubts please take a look at our destinations page or contact a member of our friendly team. Alternatively you can contact your local DEFRA office who will be able to provide more information, or the Embassy or Consulate of the country you’re travelling to.

This is dependant on the country you are moving to but generally they will need to be an LVI (DEFRA approved Local Veterinary Inspector). DEFRA hold a list of approved vets and will be glad to advise you of your local inspector.

An EU Pet Passport (sometime referred to as the Pet Travel Scheme or ‘PETS’) is a small blue booklet containing various sections for your vet to complete about your pet, such as, microchip number, rabies vaccination details, rabies antibody titer blood test and result, tick and tapeworm treatments (administered between 24 and 48 hours – where required) and general vaccinations. Domestic cats, dogs and ferrets can travel around Europe and/or back into the UK, with an ‘EU Pet Passport’. Passports are available from any vet.

Your Pet will require an IATA approved kennel made to IATA specifications. Your Pet must have enough room to lie down, stand up and turn around. Kennels are either plastic or wood and must have a water bowl and appropriate method of filling this (ideally a plastic funnel). You may have your own kennel already, please check very carefully that this conforms to the correct regulations. Extrordinair holds a stock of kennels for purchase please contact us for costs and further information.

Once you’ve given us the measurements of your pet, we can then fit your pet to the perfectly sized travel kennel, ensuring your pet has enough room to travel happily. Your pet will be able to lie down, turn around and sit up comfortably.

Pets aren’t fed during the flight and it is advised that they are only given a very light meal on the morning of travel, or the night before (if travelling early). Feeding your pet will often disrupt them mid-flight, so it's best they’re left to relax and reach their destination in peace. It is also advised that they are exercised as near to the flight time as possible.

The travel kennels do contain water bowls which we will topped up before departure.

It is unlikely that pets will be permitted to travel in the same kennel (there are certain scenarios when they may be allowed). This is due to the restrictions on space and also to allow all animals equal access to water.

Neither passengers nor crew have access to the cargo hold during the flight and passengers will not have access to their pets during any refuelling stops.

Unfortunately the airlines will not allow toys in kennels during travel as they feel there may be a possibility that the toys may be swallowed or disrupt your pet. Collars must also be removed before your pet is placed into the kennel. A familiar item of clothing or a blanket is allowed as this will help your pet feel at home.

On long haul flights it’s advised that no extra items that the your pet may chew or cause risk to your pet be packed in the kennel, however blankets can be put in the kennel to provide extra bedding at the owner’s discretion. Over domestic and short haul flights it’s more common for items such as blankets to be added to the kennel.

If you can inform us which airline you are using and on what date; as long as there is space available and the airline have a license to carry animals we will endeavour to book your pet onto your desired flight.

The plastic travel kennels do not always conform to the necessary IATA requirements. They also have a tendency to deform and spring open when placed under pressure. Most airlines are wary in the use of them and will not allow larger animals to be transported in them. We would always advise transporting your pet in one of our IAA approved Sky Kennels, for more information please see our sky kennel page.

Prices are dependant on the size of your pet, any additional services you may require; such as UK transportation, kennelling services and Veterinary certification, as well as the destination you’re travelling to. It’s always best to speak to one of our trained team to give you an accurate a quote as possible on…

Depending on the destination you must obtain an Export Health Certificate these can be requested from your local DEFRA office. Alternatively you will require a Fitness to Fly certificate, these need to be completed prior to your departure and need to be certified within a given period of time, this varies from country to country. You must adhere to any regulations regarding inoculations, tests and treatments. The precise requirements can be obtained from DEFRA. Please contact us for your local DEFRA office phone number or alternately use our link to the DEFRA website.

Should you wish to utilise our services we would need to have written confirmation with payment as soon as possible. On some routes such as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa a larger period of time is desirable as these are very popular routes, and need lots of planning.

Animals are not delivered to door as standard, instead they are delivered to the airport and moved to a the Animal Receiving Centre (ARC) where they can be custom cleared and then collected. Here at Extrordinair we act as the ARC for Edinburgh airport and have our very own Pet Taxi service, so we can easily arrange collection from your home or delivery to your final destination once your pet arrives into Edinburgh, just speak to our team today to find our more.

There is no need for any owner to travel on the same flight as their pet, it’s often the case that owners will travel on different flights, some even days before or after the pet has been checked in and cleared to fly (as long as its within 5 days). When you are not travelling within 5 days of your pet, or its travel is not in relation to your own relocation it may only arrive in to the EU via a Border Inspection Post, luckily enough for you, Extrordinair are the only Border Inspection Post in Scotland and one of only three in the whole of the UK.

It is recommended that you don’t feed your pet prior to the flight. If you feel you have to please only give them minimal food. All Pets will be offered water prior to embarkation.

Absolutely not! Sedation is not permitted and can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety for your pet. Our team work really hard to ensure your pets are relaxed and as comfortable as possible, so you'll never need to entertain sedation.