United Airlines is on a roll. A bad roll to be sure, but a
roll none-the-less. After literally dragging at least one person off a flight,
inexplicably booting others from their flights, and experiencing numerous
passenger-flight attendant run-ins, the company is once again beset by animal
related problems the likes of which started all its troubles in the first
place.
Recently,
a United Airlines attendant reportedly forced a woman to put her dog, enclosed
in a proper crate, in the overhead compartment, despite the fact she had paid
the $125 fee to have the pet on the plane with her. The dog died prior to
arrival at their destination.
Shortly
thereafter, a family moving from Oregon to Kansas via the Friendly Skies
discovered that their dog Irgo, who was being transported by kennel in the
cargo hold of a separate plane, never arrived at the Wichita airport. In his
place was a Great Dane. The two dogs had been mixed up, and ergo Irgo, a German
Shepherd, was shipped to the Great Dane’s destination…Japan. Maybe United
thought the Dane would be happier in flat, understated Kansas, while the German
canine could be re-United with a fellow Axis power.
By way
of explanation, the airline told the woman that the two kennels looked similar.
(But not the living beings inside them). That’s as may be, but most airplanes
look similar, too, yet they typically arrive at the correct destination. According
to the woman, prior to admitting the mistake, the airline showed her paperwork
stating that they delivered the correct dog.
To make
matters worse, according to KCTV, United told the woman that because Irgo was
sent on an international flight, he might have to be quarantined for up to two
weeks before he could be flown back.
United spokesman Jonathan Guerin
said, “We
apologize for this mistake and are following up with the vendor kennel where
they were kept overnight to understand what happened.”
United reported a total of 18
animal deaths in 2017, three times higher than the total number of deaths
reported by the other three airlines that documented incidents involving
animals. That fauna fatality figure included 12 dogs, three cats, two geckos,
and a bird. Various causes of death were reported, including heat stroke and
anxiety. One dog escaped from its confinement and was subsequently hit by a
vehicle.
They say every dog has its day.
But, just to be safe, don’t put yours on a United Airlines flight.
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