Travelling with Dog - Dublin Airport

PHG

Hi,

Hoping to get help here. We are flying home to Dublin from Stockholm with our Labrador for a month just after Xmas. The cost of the journey from Stockholm to Dublin is approx. €170. We did this journey last year and it was approx. €165 e/w.

I have been reading about reports of a new baggage carousel that has been installed that cannot take pets for health and safety (seems idiotic)!! I have just been quoted €1,500 to bring our dog from Dublin to Stockholm AND they cannot get her on the same flight as us, which is ridiculous as the airline told us there were pet spaces available on the same flight yesterday. Our dog is 14 so don't want to leave her alone for an extended period also. The quote is basically pricing us out of flying!

Any help on cheaper options?

beachhead

I've read the same reports.You could be stuck with only of coughing up e1,500.Is the timing of your flight affecting the price for your dog? Unless a dog charity here has any ideas.ISPCA or Dogs Trust or PAWS for example.What about driving or flight to Denmark(a long drive trip from Stockholm,though) and trying a different airline.Your labrador is too big to travel in the cabin-some airlines allow small dogs to occupy a seat.

PHG

Thanks for the reply.

We had considered renting a car and driving as we have done similar before, but we are losing too much time to get to Ireland as we can only leave on the 29th of December.

Its is not the airline, it is Dublin Airports new departures carousel that’s the issue. The arrival is fine and we pick her up at where you pick up bigger luggage. We did similar last year and was €165 ew.

What I am struggling with is that we rang SAS and they said there is space on our flight but the cargo company are saying SAS don’t know if they have space on their flight. I have rang SAS twice to confirm the space. If we book now, she has to go through Germany because they said they cannot get her on the flight. We are waiting on replies from other companies atm as we feel like we are being taken for a ride.

mvl

ohh, hopefully it works for you. would returning via Belfast be an option at all (e.g. if Dublin departures is the issue) ?

BabysCoffee

Transporting dogs in and out of Ireland is massively expensive. We travelled Aer Lingus who will only let pets travel through a handling/transport agent which adds to the cost. The handling company is based in the cargo section of the airport so we left the dog there and then collected him from there - he certainly didn't come in on a baggage carousel so I am not sure about that.

lintdrummer

I would second the idea of returning via Belfast. It seems that Dublin have decided they cannot handle dogs on the conveyor system anymore, which is a huge inconvenience.

Other option is to have the dog certified as an emotional support dog. You can then travel with the dog in the cabin and it never has to leave your side so circumvents the conveyor belt issue. I've no idea how you go about getting that certification though.

lintdrummer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118103429#Comment_118103429

It's not an Aer Lingus issue, it's a Dublin Airport issue. The reason the dog went through the cargo section is because Dublin won't allow pets in carriers to go on the conveyor system that carries the baggage anymore. The only option in Dublin now is to treat the animal as freight.

the beer revolu

Is not airline travel extremely stressful for a dog? Perhaps more stressful than being parted from their family for a while?

lintdrummer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118106271#Comment_118106271

That depends on the dog really. I've seen dogs in the cabin of an airplane a couple of times and they were absolutely fine. I've spoken to someone who did 2 transatlantic flights with his dog in the baggage hold. Once the dog was sedated. The other time it wasn't. He said the dog was more put out after the flight with sedation than the one without. But in both instances the dog was perfectly fine shortly after the event.

PHG

An update on this, we found another firm that are willing to put her on the same flight as us for just under €1,000 so going in the right direction.

@the beer revolu: Here in Sweden and the Scandics it is quite common to see dogs at the airport around peak travel season and/or dogs in the plane. Our dog is very chill, she doesn't mind flying though we have seen not so happy dogs getting on a plane. We have had the cargo staff mention to us each time that she just lays there having a nose or sleeps. She is a Labrador so pretty chill anyway. We usually hand her over after check in, then see her about 3.5/4 hours later which is short. That said she is too old for non direct flights so last year we drove to the South of France for 6 weeks and made a journey of it along the way, stopping in different cities overnight.

Also, we will be back home for nearly a month and at her age we don't want her in a random home or dog hotel. Plus she is a big part of our life and adventures, thankfully here she can go on all public transport and taxi's (there is Uber Pet!!). She comes to cafes for coffee or lunch and most of the time to out to dinner or the pub with us. If we cannot wfh then she goes to work with my partner. They have 4 dogs in the office (well behaved obviously).

mary 2021

I would employ a pet sitter for the month to live in and care for your dog and not stress a 14 year old dog in the hold of a plane its cold and a negative environment.

mary 2021

Also ireland is not as pet friendly as your country they are not allowed in to a lot of premises.

PHG

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118182665#Comment_118182665

For the sake of 3/4 hours she would rather be with us and us her, as she probably won't live past June. The area the pets are kept in is bright, spacious and the same temperature as the main cabin. Vet said she is ok to travel. She is super chill, she was in the pub for the rugby from 3pm until 1.30am on Saturday and happy out to get the attention and pictures from people or just sleep.

Thanks but I am Irish, so no worries and know the score at home :). It's quite stupid really thinking of it how strict home is. Even if used Irish Rail, she would have to be in a special carriage. Dogs here are generally quite well trained and socialised as it is not uncommon to see them in cafes, pubs and even the offices. There is a law here that you cannot leave a pet alone for more than 6 hours and quite common to drive to the mainland for Summer/Winter and bring the pets.

We are staying in the Hilton near Portobello (cheaper than airbnb!!) for the first few nights as it is pet friendly then back West to the parents.

mary 2021

Further to my comments, good for you my dog is a very bad traveler so i am a bit tough on traveling unnecessarily.I live in the west & the salthouse & taylors pub allows dogs in Galway city as does the Twelve in Barna so that's three outings !! Ashford castle if your into spending a few extra dollars !! thats all i know for now. Have a great trip, Glenina vets in Renmore are the biz if you run into any issues of health.