bodies. Animals should not be sedated for air travel since altitude can affect medications. Most airlines will not accept tranquilised animals. Instead, they are kept in a dark, heated, pressurized hold, which encourages them to sleep for the duration of travel. Larger animals may be restricted to airline routes which can accommodate their crates. Not all airlines will carry animals, and charges vary widely. Some routes will not fly animals if the temperature is adverse Many airlines are unable to provide details of formal procedures, you may need to check with a vet or the consulate of the relevant countries to confirm details. Since airline staff are often (at present) poorly trained or uncertain, and conflicting information may be provided, at present it is sensible to double check and document all information supplied. On some airlines, animals may travel as excess baggage or cargo. "Excess baggage" (in effect treating the crate and animal as another suitcase) ensures they travel on the same flight and is often much cheaper. The UK restricts incoming flights to ship animals as cargo. A cheaper alternative around this aberration in the rules is to fly to some other European city, such as Paris or Amsterdam, and then travel to the UK by rail or ferry instead, which do not have this restriction. Passengers travelling with animals by rail or ferry to or from the UK must in many cases need to have access to a vehicle, as you cannot currently take animals directly on foot by Eurostar, and neither on most ferry routes. After arriving in Europe from a non-EU participating country, the certificate received from customs/quarantine is valid for Europe wide travel for up to 4 months, though it is best to contact DEFRA directly prior to travel. See also Pet travel References Bibliography External links EU website: Movement of Pets Rules for importing pets to the United Kingdom EU regulations on pet movement Q&A RTÉ News report on Pet Passports (RealPlayer video stream) EuroNews report on Pet Passports (RealPlayer video stream) Ship-a-Pet-to-the-UK - A detailed article on shipping a pet to the UK from overseas (particularly from US). Passports Law of the United Kingdom Dog law Pets