Travel
Published
Feb. 13, 2024, 7:29 p.m. ET
Their journey plans have been placed on paws.
Perplexed canine homeowners are scratching their heads as to why and the way their cute, and infrequently well-behaved, companions obtained banned from air journey.
Such was the case of Megan Moskowitz and her English cocker spaniel Maci, who instantly turned a pup of curiosity at Newark Airport.
She told the Wall Street Journal this week that United Airlines brokers barred Maci from getting onboard their flight, took pictures of the little canine, after which advised Moskowitz that Maci was completely banned from flying United once more.
Moskowitz, who introduced Maci on a November business journey with no points, is now satisfied {that a} covert no-fly checklist exists for pets. She fears touring with Maci once more will probably be “a gamble.”
Airlines have maybe felt extra empowered to not throw pet homeowners a bone for the reason that US Department of Transportation gave them extra leeway to maintain animals, particularly ones listed for emotional help, out of the air in late 2020.
Early in 2021, Southwest banned emotional help animals altogether — the airline nonetheless permits small, vaccinated cats and dogs.
Meanwhile, United permits as much as two small cats or dogs “when there’s space available,” and Delta makes comparable lodging whereas additionally permitting birds.
Since airways have had extra liberty and discretion to reject a pet, New Jersey resident Gabriela Garcia-Orth has seen extra issues when flying together with her 8-year-old Pomeranian, Teddy.
When coincidentally additionally flying into Newark, from a marriage in Houston, a United worker barred the 10-pound pom from boarding — regardless of his homeowners paying a $125 pet journey payment final November.
“It was confusing,” Garcia-Orth advised WSJ. “But I didn’t want to get into it because I didn’t want to escalate the situation.”
Eventually, Teddy was allowed on after some begging, however the airline agent put a word concerning the canine into Garcia-Orth’s file.
Others, like Jimmy Chang of Denver — who had beforehand flown together with his canine earlier than — have been much less lucky.
His miniature Schnauzer, Milo, wasn’t allowed on a December Southwest flight to California — despite the fact that Milo was nonetheless carrying the tag from his final flight.
Chang says he was compelled to have his brother-in-law come to the airport to retrieve Milo, so the remainder of his household wouldn’t miss their flight to attend a member of the family’s funeral.
He’s now altering loyalties in airways after the irritating incident.
“Now if there’s another airline where the time may be a little bit more convenient or the price may be a little bit lower, then we’re flying with them,” Chang vowed.
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