United Airlines Temporarily Suspending Cargo Transportation of Animals on Flights
United Airlines has announced they are suspending their PetSafe program until May 1, 2018, meaning that pets will not be able to travel via cargo on any flights between now and the anticipated end date. However, the company stated they will “honor any existing PetSafe reservations confirmed as of March 20, 2018, although we will assist any customer that wishes to cancel their reservation.”
“We are conducting a thorough and systematic review of our program for pets that travel in the cargo compartment to make improvements that will ensure the best possible experience for our customers and their pets,” the airline said in a blog post.
United has recently found itself in hot water with pet owners and animal lovers alike over the past few weeks. First came the heartbreaking death of a 10-month-old French Bulldog puppy, who suffocated when the dog’s owners were allegedly told by a flight attendant that their pet had to be put in the overhead bin.
Then, just days later, two different incidents of dogs being sent to the wrong destinations, including a Kansas-bound German Shepherd that was mistakenly shipped to Japan, occured aboard United flights.
Travelers with pets will still be able to bring their pets on board with them for flights during this review period, and the airline announced that beginning in April “we will issue bright colored bag tags to help better identify pets who are traveling in-cabin.”
Image via Shutterstock
Read more: Puppy Dies on United Flight After Attendant Allegedly Asked Family to Put Dog in Overhead Bin
“We are conducting a thorough and systematic review of our program for pets that travel in the cargo compartment to make improvements that will ensure the best possible experience for our customers and their pets,” the airline said in a blog post.
United has recently found itself in hot water with pet owners and animal lovers alike over the past few weeks. First came the heartbreaking death of a 10-month-old French Bulldog puppy, who suffocated when the dog’s owners were allegedly told by a flight attendant that their pet had to be put in the overhead bin.
Then, just days later, two different incidents of dogs being sent to the wrong destinations, including a Kansas-bound German Shepherd that was mistakenly shipped to Japan, occured aboard United flights.
Travelers with pets will still be able to bring their pets on board with them for flights during this review period, and the airline announced that beginning in April “we will issue bright colored bag tags to help better identify pets who are traveling in-cabin.”
Image via Shutterstock
Read more: Puppy Dies on United Flight After Attendant Allegedly Asked Family to Put Dog in Overhead Bin