Travel advice on . . . pets

Many people worry about their dogs and cats when on holiday, and miss them when they are away, so it won't come as a surprise to hear that more and more people are taking their pets abroad. Brittany Ferries has seen a big increase in pets being taken on holiday with more than 1,100 leaving Ireland for France last year, up from 700 five years ago.

The ferry is the easiest way to let your pet put up its paws in the UK or on the continent, and the least expensive. Taking a dog or cat to England or France will cost from €10 to €44 each way depending on the route and ferry company.

Regulations for transporting animals on planes are more complex. Not all airlines will carry pets. Ryanair, which has the most extensive network flying out of Ireland, has a strict no-pet policy.

Aer Lingus will carry cats and dogs, but some breeds of dog, such as pit bulls, mastiffs and Rottweilers, are not allowed. Nor are bulldogs or Persian cats carried because both classes are predisposed to respiratory conditions.

Bookings have to be made at least three working days in advance by telephone to Aer Lingus Cargo. Pets must comply with EU and other countries’ regulations by having having a Pet Passport and being microchipped. Dogs must have tapeworm treatment before returning to Ireland.

Other carriers that will take pets include Iberia Express from Dublin and Cork, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France and SAS. Airsea.ie will also transport pets abroad.

The least expensive way is if the pet is small and travels in a container in the cabin. Not all airlines allow that: generally pets travel in the hold as cargo.

As a guide, travelling in the cabin one-way to one destination will cost around €120, while in the hold it could be as much as €500 each way.

[ jscales@irishtimes.com ]