Pet travel insurance for a single international journey

reheat

Does anybody know if it is possible to get single trip travel insurance cover for pets (3 cats) who will be relocating with their owner from Russia into the UK. 

Sandtree

If its for relocation rather than holiday what risks are you concerned about? Does the carrier provide insurance if its injury during transport?

reheat

The risks involved in transporting pets by air. No matter how well you follow the best advice, use the proper transport cages, use properly registered pet transport agents, etc, there is inevitably risk of harm or injury during airport handling, illness etc. If that occurred then veterinary costs might be very high, and in extreme cases maybe beyond reach.

sheramber

Negligence by airport staff would be a claim against them. 
I would expect the pet travel company to  have public liability insurance
Illness of the animal would be down to the individual pet's insurance and would need to be taken out in the country of origin. I can't see a UK company covering an animal  travelling from Russia to UK.
At present the EU travel requirements for entry are the same as the UK. You  need to check if the owner is travelling from one of the three listed areas of Russia . If they are not then the EU travel passport scheme will not apply.
 Entry into UK from Europe is only easier  because the initial formalities will be dealt with on entry to Europe. There are still requirements for travel from the Europe to  the UK.
Nobody knows what will happen after 31st December 2020, if a deal is not reached with the EU.
You would be  better   putting  your questions to one or more of the pet travel companies.

Sandtree

reheat said:

The risks involved in transporting pets by air. No matter how well you follow the best advice, use the proper transport cages, use properly registered pet transport agents, etc, there is inevitably risk of harm or injury during airport handling, illness etc. If that occurred then veterinary costs might be very high, and in extreme cases maybe beyond reach.

Absolutely, but just wanted to check I had understood the situation correctly.

As this is Russia to the UK you may be better off asking on a board that understands Russian contract law and consumer rights better than here. Generally speaking the carrier would be liable if it is their negligence that caused the problem however that isn't to say Russian law allows contracts to make consumers waive such rights in such circumstances. 

Given the direction of travel and the likely jurisdiction you'd be better looking at a local insurer that covers such risks than a UK provider that people here are likely to recommend. UK Pet insurance is normally written by UK based company business (rather than Lloyds) and so rarely focus on the international business opportunities.

davidmcn

sheramber said:

Negligence by airport staff would be a claim against them. 
I would expect the pet travel company to  have public liability insurance

Isn't liability severely restricted by the same international convention(s) that covers other air baggage etc though?

reheat

Thanks for the responses.
Our main concern is Aeroflot, which seems to have an abysmal record for pet care, especially their airport handling. This aspect is outside the control of the Russian pet travel company, whom we have been dealing with for a few months now and I believe is very good. Even when you travel with Lufthansa or KLM, most of their flights are operated by Aeroflot at least for the first leg of the journey (always at least two legs). However, we have now realised there are a few flights that Aeroflot play no part in, so maybe could ensure to use those.
And the main issue would be to have money to cover potentially very expensive vet bills in the event of harm coming to the cats. I think the chances of getting any financial compensation from the Russian side of things would be slim at best.