Job Discussion Forums

[Ixnae]

Hi All,

2 questions.

1) Does anyone have any experience with or would recommend a mail/post office box forwarding service?

2) Does anyone have any experience with or would recommend a pet relocation service (3 cats - 12, 11, and 9 lbs)?

Moving to RAK in less than a month.

The sites I've found on my own either look shady or super-expensive. I'm looking just to forward the monthly bills, and the occasional letter or two.

I've found one pet relocation service that comes highly recommended, but is expensive as well. Just was wondering if there were any options on that front.

Coming from California, so I would need US based services in both cases.

Thanks for any help,

Ix

[veiledsentiments]

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

The only airline that I would trust with my pet is KLM. They are, hands down, the most animal-friendly carrier in the world. All of their long-haul cargo holds are pressurized and climate-controlled.

If your layover in A'dam is more that two hours long (and it will be), the animal is fed and walked as per company policy.

NCTBA

[helenl]

Also vote for KLM - not only are they walked/watered/access to litter - they also have a vet inspection. KLM ground and air crew are great for reassuring (a) pet is OK in pet hotel and (b) pet has been loaded on board.

There are several businesses offering assistance on UAE end to clear them - however, it isn't difficult but you do need an import certificate from the UAE Dept of Agriculture - your mandoop/PRO from your employer can assist in that regard. Once they arrive, you go to the cargo area, get the UAE vet to inspect them show your papers, you're on your way.

Dubai Kennels, Animal Care Centre in Sharjah and the Abu Dhabi (British) Vet all offer assistance with paperwork and clearance (at a price).

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

Make sure yer pets are chipped...

It a deal-breaker in the U.A.E. if they're not!

NCTBA

[Ixnae]

Thanks all!

I appreciate the advice. I will look into KLM.


Ix

[homeless vet]

Unless something has changed in the past year since we shipped our dog, the airlines will not deal directly with you. You have to use a pet shipping cargo agent. We used Pet Air Carrier, http://www.petaircarrier.com/ who booked the dog on Lufthansa. She went from ATL to FRA, spent the night, then FRA to AUH. Be warned - the cargo people in the UAE couldn't give a flip about animals they receive. Somehow, the paperwork for our dog got ripped off her crate when they were transporting her from the plane to the customs area in the UAE, so they had her sitting in her crate, in over 100 degrees (and this was at 10 pm) on the other side of a fence from my husband for an hour while things got sorted out. My husband could hear her crying, but they would not let him go to her. He had to beg them to give her some water. They wouldn't let her out of the crate, either, until the UAE vet cleared her, which he wouldn't do until he had the paperwork. Luckily, I was still in the US. My husband called me, I called Pet Air Carrier, they called the customs area in the UAE and faxed copies of the paperwork to them, and had Lufthansa do the same. Pet Air Carrier was very professional while my husband and I were freaking out that out dog was going to die because of the stupid people in the UAE. Be sure that you've got someone stateside who can handle contingencies like this when you ship your pet.

[helenl]

Which is why I always carry duplicates of all paperwork with me. I've never used a pet relocator on my 6 moves between North America and a few GCC countries - always dealt with the airline direct but admittedly, the last move was 3 years ago.

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

Yes, things DO change or possibly since you were transporting such a 'filthy' animal ( ) the rules were different. All we had to do for our cat is make sure that his rabies was up-to-date. I called KLM, had him booked on the flght and we transported him to the airport with our luggage as we made our escape.

Really, if the routing works out for you, KLM is the only way to go. I DO remember tho, a few years ago, even KLM had some twists and turns in exportation which led to us having the building watchman feed him and do the dirty work over the summer breaks at the "college" that I laboured at...

NCTBA

[MrScaramanga]

As far as getting a mailbox you can do that at the post office. It is a lot more private than having your mail on display for all of your coworkers to see. This is especially true during the summer holidays when, typically, there is noone around to go through the mail and put it in the appropriate pigeon holes...
MrS

[veiledsentiments]

[MrScaramanga]

I had a mailbox in Al Ain until 2 years ago and the "astronomical" cost was 150 dirhams/year. I would also add that it was well worth the cost AND the trip: the PO box was literally 50 yards from my apartment and it afforded me the comfort of knowing that my bills, bank statements, birthday cards and care packages were not "lost" on campus or scrutinized by nosey coworkers.
MrS

[veiledsentiments]

Yes, that is terribly "expensive." And nice that it was handy to your flat. When I was in AD, it would have been a longish drive to a PO box and then parking was a nightmare. Working at a large spread out employer like yours is probably a bit different from working at a place that has one building and PO box address.

I don't receive any bills by mail anymore even here in the US. The promise in the 1980's of the computer cutting paper usage has finally started to come true.

I think we've covered the options for our OP.

VS

[Ixnae]

Thank you everyone for all of the answers and great content.

Actually, the type of P.O. Box / Mail forwarder I was asking about, is the one in the U.S. who would forward my mail to me in the UAE.

But thanks for the info on the UAE P.O. boxes. We will definitely be getting one of those when we arrive!

Ix

[mousette]

Hi There:
I can offer my 2 cents about which airline to NEVER use for this purpose. Etihad Airlines is by far the WORST.

I have used KLM and can vouch for them.

Mousette