A cheaper way to bringing your pets to Turkey

[Marirabbit]

Hi, I'd like to get peoples views on bringing pets into Turkey using Turkish Airlines. We are moving permanently to Bodrum in October so over the last couple of months have been searching for a way to transport over our two cocker spaniels. I've spoken to several airlines who told me that they do accept animals but that I couldn't book through them, I needed to book through one of the UK companies that specialise in pet transportation - I received three quotes which vary between £780 and £1200 PER DOG! However, thinking this was a bit steep I called the Turkish Airlines customer service desk (who I must say we're extremely helpful) They told me to chose a flight then call them back to make sure there was room for the dogs (they only allow 2 per flight) I did exactly that - both dogs are now booked onto our flight from Manchester to Bodrum at a total cost of £200 each which is the price of excess baggage!! The only compromise is that we have buy the dog kennels (£79 each, which we still had to do if we'd taken the cheapest quote of £780) and we also have to fly via Istanbul as Bodrum airport only accept animals from internal flights. Even taking the cheapest quote into consideration this means a saving of over £1,100. Has anyone else used THY to transport pets! I'd like to hear your experiences! :Flower:

 

[ade-n-dot]

We booked our dog on a flight with turkish airlines the first time he came to turkey in 2012,they told us to book our flights and we would receive confirmation for the dog,after two weeks we contacted turkish airlines to cofirm to be then told we cannot transport pets from the uk?I believe this is still the case as the dog has to go through a cargo handler who confirms all the correct documentation is in place ie passport,rabies and follow up blood test,export health cert from defra and fit to fly examination from your uk vet 96 before you fly.we were informed our flights were non refundable so lost £400. We used a company called jet set pets in the uk who were brilliant.on arrival into turkey the customs also charge you a handling fee of a around £50 per pet.sorry to sound negative but can only relay personal experience,hope all goes well for you.

 

[Jaycey]

It depends whether you want to take a pet in cabin or as cargo. Turkish Airlines allow in cabin transport if the pet plus box is not more than 5 kg and our Mitzi (@ 1.5 kgs) has flown all over the world with us –She came to Singapore with us last year at a cost of $110 each way. She’s got more bonus miles than I have!

And no need to book through a specialist pet transport company if you’re flying into Turkey. We usually go to Antalya or Dalaman via Istanbul. The last two times transiting Istanbul they didn’t even check her passport.

We’ve never been charged customs or handling fees.

 

[Marirabbit]

Hmmm Looks like we might be encountering the same problem! I also hadn't received confirmation so called them last night to be told conflicting information by two different members of staff:
a) the dogs are too big, they have to be less than 12KG for the hold and 5KG to travel in the cabin (the vari kennel they will travel in weighs 7KG alone!!)
b) the size is not the problem but they will only allow 1 dog to travel in the hold.
All of this after I contacted the twice to confirm that both dogs could travel and provided weight and kennel sizes at the time! They did give me an email address to write to plead my case as we too have purchased non-refundable tickets on the strength of the dogs being able to travel with us! Will let you know the outcome!

 

[ade-n-dot]

Sorry to say but we went through the same senario,they would not respond to emails or online complaint form.Wasted a hour of my life speaking to their customer service dept,to add insult to injury they said we could make our tickets into open tickets at a cost of €50 per person valid for one year..result..no..tried to use them,sorry you can only book the original trip and no name changes.

 

[Laydilejur]

We had a similar experience trying to book our 12kg pet cocker spaniel on a THY flight from Istanbul to London. On enquiry by phone we were told she would go into the hold as excess baggage charge and to just turn up at the airport!

But on double-checking (as you do in Turkey) that wasn't the case at all. We were then advised to book her onto the flight, which the customer services tried to do but the system wouldn't allow her to select Heathrow as the destination. I later found out from customs at Heathrow that pets can only be imported into the UK by cargo and go through the Animal Reception Centre with a hefty charge. And to get pets onto cargo with THY it can only be done by a cargo handling agent and their charges make your eyes water!

In the end we used PAWS (see Phil Johns on here) who transported her by road at a very reasonable cost, including almost 3 weeks of boarding because of our date restrictions, and an EU pet passport, and our dog arrived happy and well looked after. So we'd definitely use PAWS again to take her back to Turkey. The actual road journey for our dog was 36 hours, including stops, but she was amongst other furry friends and even had a view out of the rear window!

Oh and the customer service department of THY? Don't waste your time...they are not helpful, they are rude (2 people put the phone down on me), they give you incorrect information, and if they get fed up with you they just ignore you.

 

[Yalides]

We used Phil Johns from Turkey to UK, door to door. Well impressed and very satisfied.

 

[gally]

We fly Transavia from Schiphol Amsterdam with our dog. She goes in the cabin with us and we pay €40.
Done this the last two years and just booked the third. Never had any problems at either end. Her passport etc is always all up to date.
We get a Stena Line Rail & Sail ferry from Harwich to Holland but that's all part of the holiday :roundgrin

 

[Phil Johns]

If you are not sorted we ( Paws Bulgaria) are happy to help you would not need to purchase travel crates as our new vehicle is also fully fitted and we have monthly trips to and from TR. I don't know where you are in the UK but we offer a door to door service and the cost would be comparable this is fully inclusive of all border fees and we take care of all the documentation to enter TR providing you have UK pet passport.

What ever you decide we do advise you get pet passports if you keep these in date with rabies vacs annually in TR, if you have to leave you do not have to wait the 3 months and the extra costs involved to export your pets out of Turkey :blah:

 

[Valerie47]

We fly Transavia from Schiphol Amsterdam with our dog. She goes in the cabin with us and we pay €40.
Done this the last two years and just booked the third. Never had any problems at either end. Her passport etc is always all up to date.
We get a Stena Line Rail & Sail ferry from Harwich to Holland but that's all part of the holiday :roundgrin

Hi Gally
I am thrilled to see your post about taking your dog to Turkey via Stena and Transavia.

We are hoping to take the same route next summer from London with our dog, can you recommend the best sailing time and onward travel to Amsterdam, do you stay in a hotel overnight before your flight. What airport do you use in Turkey I want to fly to Bodrum but have heard they only accept dogs from internal flights. What type of dog carrier do you have.
Sorry for all the questions I really would appreciate your help
Thank You very much
Valerie

 

[pmassam]

We fly Transavia from Schiphol Amsterdam with our dog. She goes in the cabin with us and we pay €40.
Done this the last two years and just booked the third. Never had any problems at either end. Her passport etc is always all up to date.
We get a Stena Line Rail & Sail ferry from Harwich to Holland but that's all part of the holiday :roundgrin

Hiya I hope your well, I’ve just read your post ref taking dogs we have 2 and if you could tell me how we can travel with them as you’ve stated we intend to stay4/5 month at a time then travel back the same way we are travelling from Manchester ,it’s a mine field and I’m banging my head against a wall here
Many Thanks

 

[pmassam]

We used Phil Johns from Turkey to UK, door to door. Well impressed and very satisfied.

How much from Manchester to Izmir

 

[pmassam]

Hi Gally
I am thrilled to see your post about taking your dog to Turkey via Stena and Transavia.

We are hoping to take the same route next summer from London with our dog, can you recommend the best sailing time and onward travel to Amsterdam, do you stay in a hotel overnight before your flight. What airport do you use in Turkey I want to fly to Bodrum but have heard they only accept dogs from internal flights. What type of dog carrier do you have.
Sorry for all the questions I really would appreciate your help
Thank You very much
Valerie

Any info would be great please

 

[esb1841]

How much from Manchester to Izmir

The name of the Pet transporter is in the thread suggest you contact them for up to date information and pricing as the majority of posts on this thread are over 7 years old

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