I would like to return the favor by sharing my recent (Nov 2021) experiences in making arrangements.

My understanding is that it is not allowed to bring a cat on a 12-hour journey across the Atlantic. I thus broke up travel plans, as follows:

Domestic: United Airlines charged $125 pet fee to book flight, nonstop, from SMF>EWR. Motel 6 offers pet-friendly lodging near EWR.

International: Delta booked my cat, in-cabin, and provided dimensions for pet carrier as required for the air CRAFT type. I returned to my reservations and found NOTHING about my cat, etc. When I called Delta, a note had been added to my reservation that NO IN-CABIN travel allowed for my cat. Cancelled entire reservation, with promise to write to CEO if full refund not awarded. Full refund awarded. My daughter suggested trying Air Canada. Now booked EWR>YYZ (Toronto)>DUB, with in-cabin travel for cat stated on reservation. Air Canada was terrific! NB: The service partner for United to Dublin is Aer Lingus. No in-cabin pets, per Aer Lingus website. I also checked KLM. No go.

ADVANCE NOTICE: You will need to fill out a form that includes #cats/dogs/ferrets, arrival date/time, airline information, and submit to the Irish Dept of Agriculture to arrange appointment for Dept of Agriculture officer to check your pet(s) in the baggage area before you leave the airport. The IE Department of Agriculture responded promptly after I submitted my form via email. 50 euro fee payable by credit card.

Travel documents for your pet: I made an appointment with a veterinarian for both domestic and international certifications. I had complete PDF record of immunizations, etc, from my prior vet.

Microchip ID number: To meet EU/ISO standards, the microchip ID number should be 15 digits. I found a typo in my cat's records--only 14 digits--and found the original microchip ID number on adoption papers from Humane Society. Typo Alert: One digit missing; I have printout from adoption papers to indicate 15 digits. You do NOT want to find yourself figuring out a typo discrepancy during this process.

Helpful website: PetTravelStore.com. This is NOT necessarily the least expensive resource, but they have 1) information packets with various forms for many countries, 2) flexible SleepyPod AIR carrier that contracts/expands according to various aircraft size restrictions ($179), 3) comments section with information from other travelers who wanted to bring their pets in-cabin with them.

Emotional Support Animals: My understanding is that ESAs are no longer treated like service animals. Service animals need to have certifications about the type of service training that they have received. 

Tips from my daughter, who brought her 16-year-old crabby cat in-cabin SFO>London, 2016. 1) Bring ample supply of piddle pads so that you can change them as needed and avoid showing up with stinky pet at Dept of Agriculture inspection appointment. 2) Bring small jars of beef, turkey, chicken baby food to give your pet during transit and avoid howling, grumpy, crabby, hungry pet. Enough moisture in baby food to keep them hydrated. 3) TSA no-metal harness and woven fabric leash so that your pet won't make a dash for it when removed to allow the carrier to go through security screening. No-metal harness won't trigger alarms when you carry your pet through the screening portal. Available at PetTravelStore.com.

At PetTravel.com, I found articles about:
* Tips for Flying a Pet Internationally
* Pet Animal Inoculation Record
* Non-Commercial Regulations for the Import of Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets to Ireland from the United States
* Pet Travel Blog--Resources for Traveling Pets
** Pet Travel: How to Clear Airport Security with a Pet
** Pet Travel: Keeping your pet calm during airline in-cabin travel

Also see:
USDA APHIS: Pet travel from the U.S. to Finland, Malta, Ireland, and Northern Ireland www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/by-country/eu/ - NB There are other APHIS forms for USDA endorsement and payment of related fees by credit card.

I also found an article, Everything You Need to Fly With a Cat, According to Feline Experts, by Karen Iorio Adelson, 17 Aug 2020. The hyperlink did not print, but you can probably find this with title, author, publication date.

Hope that this helps others trying to fly with cat in-cabin.

Pat

Thank you, Chris. I will definitely check into KLM. I appreciate your insights on the QE2, also. While I am certain that it would be lovely to take the Queen Mary 2, it would also be expensive. I just do not want to put my cats into cargo.

Thank you

Kind regards

Pat

A couple of responses to your questions came to me via email instead of onto the forum. Pasting 1 of 2 here. This one from @gwalt 

"The only airlines I’ve found that will allow in-cabin pets into Dublin is KLM. That does not include their partner Delta so make sure there isn’t a Delta connection, even if it has a KLM flight number. They will allow in cabin for flights in the US. No more emotional support animals. QE2 was booked for over a year last I checked.  

This is an important thread. I cringe at the challenges of bringing beloved pets into Dublin. What I am reading online is NOT encouraging.

I have two 15-year-old cats, 100% indoors, good health, friendly, homebody cats. Melvin & Priscilla.

I am thinking of flying them in cabin from CA > NY, then spend a couple of days in a pet-friendly hotel. I believe that United, Delta, and some other airlines will accommodate that as long as the cats fit under the seat, etc., and don't cause any fuss.

Next challenge is to get them across the Atlantic to Dublin. I have figured out a couple of options, and I would appreciate any comments or suggestions.

1) Call the airlines and see what their policies are. Aer Lingus, Delta seem to be options, but it seems that TSA recently (July 2021) eliminated emotional support status and is only assuring that seeing eye dogs and other pets trained for disabled owners will be allowed in the cabin.

2) Go to a travel agent and make all arrangements through the agent.

3) Maybe try NY > Amsterdam or other city that is close to Dublin for in-cabin, then short (hour) flight for cats in cargo. Give kitties calmatives so that they don't die of fright in the cargo.

4) Take the Queen Mary II . . . cats won't stay in rooms but they won't have the risks associated with air pressure, pitch dark/scary, etc. associated with cargo for five hours. Passengers may visit with their pets during certain hours of the day so that pets know that their humans haven't abandoned them to cargo. Queen Mary II will arrive in England, then maybe take cats on ferry to Dublin or else very short trip in cargo. Queen Mary II is not budget-friendly travel.

Their cat sitter will fly with us. She will take one cat; I will take the other.

I will have their vet complete paperwork about immunizations, etc., 10 days prior to arrival and take paperwork to USDA for certification. As soon as we arrive, I will take cats to IE vet for EU paperwork. Cats will have their EU Pet Passports ASAP.

Am I missing anything????? THANK YOU for suggestions.

Pat

thanks

This website walks you through everything you need to do, but basically your pet needs to be microchipped, receive a rabies vaccination post-microchipped and at least three months prior to arrival, needs a signed and certified EU health certificate no more than 10 days prior to arrival, and finally a tapeworm vaccination no more than five days prior to arrival.

Upon arrival, you will meet with an official at a time previously set up by the Dept. of Agriculture who will deem whether your papers meet compliance paperwork. 

Of course, make sure you notify the airline as well.

If you have further questions, I'm sure I can answer them. I navigated this whole process without much guidance and I would have loved to have been able to speak with someone who had been through the process recently.