What Australians need to know

Leaving Australia

Preparing for Departure: The Ultimate Challenge

Planning our journey out of Australia was, hands down, one of the toughest and most time-consuming parts of the entire process. Australia’s strict pet travel policies are among the most restrictive globally—whether you're bringing a pet into the country or taking one out. To make things trickier, Australia lags decades behind much of the world in accommodating pets in public spaces, adding an extra layer of complexity.

Choosing the Best Flight Route
The key priority? Yoki’s comfort. We wanted a route with as few layovers as possible to minimize stress but also needed to keep the total travel time manageable. Unfortunately, no airline offers direct flights for pets from Australia to the UK due to the grueling 20-hour journey—a challenge for even the bravest of pups, let alone a little Boston Terrier.

Calling in the Experts
To ensure Yoki had the safest and most humane travel experience, we turned to the professionals. International pet transport companies are recommended for this kind of journey, so we researched extensively, scheduling Zoom meetings, comparing quotes, and asking all the questions. Ultimately, we chose Petraveller, whose expertise, excellent communication and care stood out.

Here’s how they helped us create the smoothest, kindest route for Yoki, while providing loads of reassurance with their plan, proving that even the most daunting logistics can be tackled, and anxious nerves can be assuaged.

Airline bookings and handling on:
Flight Darwin to Sydney, QANTAS
Flight Sydney to Singapore, QANTAS
Flight Singapore to London, QANTAS
Plus, comfort stops, IATA approved Sky Crate (to keep), UK Customs clearance, veterinary regulations, Australian Export Permit, EU Health Certificate, UK Arrival Guide, UK veterinary examination, Australian Health Certificate, IATA approved Sky Bed and UK cargo clearance.

Petraveller expertly managed every step of Yoki's travel and updated us throughout the journey with videos, photos and emails of Yoki's journey. Their communication from the very beginning was excellent, and we felt very confident with their company. Yoki was excercised, fed, watered and checked at each possible stage. While the total cost from Darwin to London was the price of a first-class seat, it was worth every cent for the 3 of us to be as stress free as possible.

EU Pet Passport
To obtain Yoki's EU pet passport, we needed to have an address in an EU country and allow 3-4 weeks for document preparation. From London we travel to Sicily where we have a month-long rental in Siracuse and pre- booked into a local vet to organise the pet passport (hopefully). Updates to come!

No dogs were harmed during this flight scene.

What Extra Costs Should You Plan For?

Traveling with your furry companion comes with a few extra expenses you’ll want to budget for:

• Getting There: Pet flights can be shockingly expensive!

• Vet Bills: Health checks, vaccines, and any special tests or certifications required for international travel.

• Accommodation Fees: Some pet-friendly hotels and apartments will charge extra for pets.

• Transport Charges: Trains, ferries, and buses often come with additional costs, whether it’s for a pet cabin, kennel, or simply allowing your pet onboard.
  

Being aware and prepared for these costs can help you stay on track with budgets and lessen the surprise when they do arise.

Travel Logistics:
Darwin to Sydney; QANTAS 4.5 hours flight time.
2 night layover in pet hotel.
Sydney to Singapore; QANTAS 8 hours, 2 hour stop over - remained on board, watered, checked.
Singapore to London; QANTAS 14 hours. Straight to pet hotel, watered, fed, exercised and checked. Quarantine papers & health check 6 hours.

Crate Training
Having your pet crate trained is extremely important in adding to their travel comfort.
Yoki was crate trained from 12 weeks and still finds her crate a positive experience even though she has not used one in 6 years.
Allow your pet access to the crate months before you leave with lots of positive reinforcement. By making it a positive experience, you will lessen their travel anxiety immensely.