[Blakie]

We arrived in Nelson in November but our JR terrier had to stay in the UK to complete his 6mths as a UK resident before he could join us. He came from France and got caught up on a MAF technicality although they gave a dispensation on the cat and she is here with us now.

I am wondering if anyone can tell me of their experiences with bringing their dog/s from the UK to Christchurch please. We are going to use Golden Arrow pet shippers and I have no doubts after the reviews I've read on this site that they will provide a good service. However, my concern is this - when we were in transit at Akld airport before flying onto ChCh we watched a dog crate being off loaded from an international flight and awaiting to go onto the domestic flight to ChCh. I am sorry to alarm anybody but we didn't like what we saw in terms of the handling.

I guess what we're asking is has anybody had a negative experience with pet freight as far as ChCh. We are toying with the idea of flying up to Akld to collect him and then driving down to Nelson but this would come at much extra cost. Collecting him from ChCh would be a much cheaper and easier option for us but it means that extra flight for the dog.

Any suggestions?

[veronica]

we didn't have any more problems because it was a chch destination. see http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=110&highlight=dogs+NZ

[Pip]

Just to confirm our cat is flying directly from the Uk to Christchurch (no internal flights) with Golden Arrow, so you shouldn't need an internal flight.

Hope that helps

Pip

[Nashlee]

Hi Blakie

Could you advise on the website for golden arrows as I have two dogs I would like to "ship" to NZ.

Much appreciated

Lee

[Blakie]

Hi Nashlee

The number for Golden Arrow Shippers is 01 588 680 240 or fax 01 588 680 414. They are based in Lydbury North, Shropshire.

Hard to believe in this day and age but they don't have a website or email.

We also got a quote from Airpets but they were a lot dearer than Golden Arrow. On this forum I have read very good reviews both about Golden Arrow & Airpets so it was just down to price at the end of the day.

good luck

Blakie

[bob_the_engineer]

Hi Blakie,

You may well have done this already, but you didn’t mention it so I thought I’d say, if you’ve seen some idiot throwing a live animal box around, then I’d ask that its reported it before the moron does it again.


Best wishes Bob

[Blakie]

Hi Bob

I seriously intended to report it but I am feeling guilty that I let it slip. It wasn't blatant cruelty, it just wasn't the compassionate handling we've seen on 'Airport' on the TV.

Thanks for your prompt anyway - I will get onto the relevant authorities at Auckland airport and see if they can lift their game in terms of animal friendliness.

By the way Pip I have just got off the phone from Golden Arrow and they confirmed what I thought, AirNZ do not fly direct into Christchurch any more. We couldn't get a direct flight ourselves last November and had to take a connecting domestic flight from Akld.

It has been some years since AirNZ ran a flight from LA to ChCh. It might be an idea to check with them again and I'd be interested to know if they say anything different. All the best with shipping your cat anyway- ours came out before us in October and she was just fine. Also good luck with your move out here.

We just love it here and its like living in a dream. Don't know why I ever left in the first place.

[Pip]

Eek - thanks for the update Blakie. It certainly wasn't clear on the paperwork that she wasn't flying direct. That said, its booked, paid for and in a few weeks now, so sadly she is just going to have to endure it. Just really really hope that she gets a 'considerate' handler in the transfer :uhoh , - she's quite nervy at the best of times.

On balance, I still think GA are probably one of the best, so short of not taking her, sadly she's going to have to endure it.

Am just consoling myself with the thought of the better life she'll have on the other side - hopefully she'll eventually forgive me!

[veronica]

air new zealand stopped the flights direct to chch sometime in the last 12 months, I know cos I booked with them because they flew into chch direct but now I have to go via Auckland.

[tick tock]

Hi there. we shipped 3 cats and a dog from Hk into Ch CH via AULK. We had no problems and the 1 month at Christchurch Quantine went very well.

The only way you can fly direct into ChCH is via Singapore. Not sure which way you are shipping but I would prefer my animals to go via Asia than America. I know this sounds strange but if you look at death and accident rates for animals in transit you may find it is quite high on the USA route and carriers. I would like to point out that everyone has good and bad experiances.

After travling around the world for over 20 years and taking pets with me , I have found KLM to be a good carrier. They have great animal facilties in Amsterdam where they transit the animals

Singapore airlines also have proved to be very good and they, in my view, transport animals well.


While expensive, I belive it is worth using an agent and paying for a decent airline

[sweetpea]

I think airport handling is going to depend very much on the person loading/offloading the pet. I flew my dog into Christchurch (from SFO) with no problem.

While getting on my AKL to CHC flight (my dog went a month before me, so I didn't see his transfer), I saw a goat being loaded on the plane quite carefully.

I don't think it's worth driving from Auckland to Christchurch just for your pet. It's a long trip, and they'll be locked in the car or in a kennel on the ferry anyway. Better to just get the trip over with, even if some idiot handles them a bit roughly in cargo.

YMMV

[veronica]

I agree with that Sweetpea.