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 mandatory for this kind of journey, so we researched extensively, scheduling Zoom meetings, comparing quotes, and asking all the questions. Ultimately, we chose Pet Traveller, 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, British Airways
Flight Singapore to London, British Airways
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.

We were assured British Airways prioritise fur travellers and they are well taken care of at each stopover. This included a much faster offload on arrival to London rather than a 6 hour wait with an Australian carrier.

Pet Traveller expertly managed every step of Yoki's travel and updated us throughout the journey with photos and email. Their communication from the very beginning was excellent, and we felt very confident with their company. 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 completely stress free.

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.