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If as a pet owner you find travelling with pets and the costs associated with it confusing, then here's our guide on what's it going to cost and what do you need to do to arrange it.

There is a lot of paperwork and planning involved in travelling with your four legged friend. So make sure you leave enough time to complete it all.

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Paperwork- and what you need to do.

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• The first port of call should be the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). They run the UK鈥檚 Pet Travel Scheme (PETS).
• The Pet Travel Scheme is the system that allows pet dogs, cats and ferrets to enter the UK without quarantine as long as they meet the rules.
  It also means that people in the UK can take their dogs, cats and ferrets to other countries and territories, and return with them to the UK without the need for quarantine.
• The rules are to keep the UK free from rabies and certain other exotic diseases. The UK has been free from rabies for many years, but because of the existence of the disease in other countries there is a continued need for an effective system to be in place to manage the risk of rabies being introduced by imported animal. So it is essential you follow the guidance.听
• You can either visit the or call the Pets Travel Scheme helpline on + 44 (0) 870241 1710 (open Monday to Friday between the hours of 8am and 6pm, UK time).

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So, which airlines can you take pets on?

The good news is, is that most airlines WILL carry your pet, but costs vary.

• British Airways carries pets not in the cabin but on British Airways World Cargo (via a Pet Travel Agent).
• Virgin Atlantic allows cats and dogs to travel in the cargo hold to and from Barbados, Boston, Dubai, Hong Kong, New York JFK and Newark, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, San Francisco, Sydney, Washington (there are seasonal services to Chicago, Vancouver and Cape Town). The minimum cost from the UK is 拢335 and seasonal surcharges may apply. They also operate a Flying Paws frequent-flyer programme.
• KLM - small cats and dogs weighing up to 6kg (13lbs) (including a kennel or travel bag) may be taken into the cabin. Reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance of travel. Household pets (cats and dogs) may travel as check-in baggage too.
• Alternatively, pets can be transported as freight with Air France-KLM Cargo. This is the option for heavier animals (and their kennels) that weigh more than 75kg (165lbs) for flights to Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Kenya, South Africa or the United Arab Emirates.
• Lufthansa carries pets in the cabin (up to 8kg) or as cargo (in a container that is IATA approved).

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Low-cost airlines

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• EasyJet and Ryanair don't carry pets at all.
• Flybe transports pets in the hold on domestic routes. However, it will not transport animals on international routes.
• Monarch will carry pets (up to six animals are allowed on each flight) from all of the airline's departure airports around the UK but, at present, they can only be returned via London Gatwick and Manchester airports. Pets are transported in the hold (not in the cabin or as excess luggage) Monday to Friday only.
• Thomson will carry pets in the cargo hold (contact Cargo department 0203 4327828). If travelling around Europe, Germanwings transports cats or dogs up in the cabin if they weigh no more than 8kg (17lbs). However, they won't carry pets on flights to the UK and Ireland.
• Remember- whichever airline you choose to fly with, you will always need to call the airline first and reserve your pet's travel.

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What if my I don鈥檛 want my pet to fly?

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• The cross-Channel ferry option is your best option. On Spanish routes, fares for Brittany Ferries (0871 244 0744; brittany-ferries.co.uk) charge a听 supplement for taking a pet, which must travel in a car- this is 拢69 return. Ships are equipped with kennels and open deck dog walking areas.
• If you don't want to take a car, P & O (08716 642121; poferries.com) allows foot passengers to carry pets in containers kept in the lower deck for the duration of the journey. Pet fares are an additional 拢15 each way on the Dover-Calais route.
• By rail: From Calais, French SNCF train services accept dogs (small animals must be carried in a pet carrier, larger ones must be kept on a lead and muzzled for the duration of the journey). There are various routes from Paris to Alicante, but according to Rail Europe, one of the best-value options is to travel via Figueras (costing from around 拢97 one-way, plus dog fare). It says that rail bookings that include dogs need to be made via their call centre (0844 848 4070; raileurope.co.uk).