Here’s the research I’ve already done:
He’s a snub nosed dog so he’s not allowed underneath the planes in cargo due to risk of death. But he’s freaking dense so he’s not allowed in most cabins because they have a 15 lb weight limit.
United Airlines seems to have a size limit for dogs in the cabin, but no weight limit. However, both on the website and the app, when I search for transatlantic flights, I get error messages.
I also researched some cargo pet transport companies but I’d be looking at $3k each direction.
Our starting city is San Diego and our destination is Formentera, Spain. But if we could find a way to transport him from San Diego to anywhere in Spain or France, we could go the rest of the way by train so that would work just fine.
Go down to the docks and charter a boat captained by some salty dog. Better if they have an eye patch and/or wooden peg leg. I foresee nothing going wrong with this option.
But on a serious note, do look into bringing animals into other countries, oftentimes it’s difficult and requires paperwork and such.
I immigrated to the UK from Canada with my cat. He was able to go below in the cargo area. I had to get him a few rounds of rabies vaccines, microchipped and a pet passport. Then the cost of his flight with mandatory insurance was about $300 more than my flight. He had an extra 4 hours before the plane departed, and 6 after. Some animals wouldn’t have had toooo hard a time with it, but he was traumatised. It took him more than a week to come out from behind the couch for longer than to use his litter box and eat.
I’ll never be taking him out of the country again.