Traveling with your pet? These owners say it's become much more difficult

trip

by alex mitchell

Their travel plans fell through.

Baffled dog owners are left wondering how and why their cute, well-behaved pets were banned from air travel.

Such is the case with Megan Moskowitz and her English Cocker Spaniel, Machi, who suddenly became the featured pup at Newark Airport.

She told the Wall Street Journal this week that United Airlines agents banned Machi from flying, took photos of the small dog, and told Moskowitz that Machi would never fly United again. He said he was permanently banned from flying.

Moskowitz, who took Machi on a business trip in November without incident, is convinced there is a secret no-fly list for pets. She worries that traveling with Machi again will be a “gamble”.

Since the U.S. Department of Transportation in late 2020 gave more leeway to removing animals, especially those designated as emotional support, from the cabin, airlines have had even more power to keep pet owners from throwing bones at them. Maybe you feel that way.

In early 2021, Southwest Airlines completely banned emotional support animals, but the airline still allows vaccinated small cats and dogs.

Meanwhile, United Airlines is allowing up to two small cats or dogs on its flights “subject to availability,” and Delta Airlines is doing the same while allowing birds.

As airlines have more freedom and discretion to refuse to accept pets, New Jersey resident Gabriela Garcia Orth has noticed more problems when flying with her 8-year-old Pomeranian, Teddy. .

Last November, a United employee accidentally boarded 10-pound Pom as he flew into Newark from a wedding in Houston, even though his owner had paid a $125 pet travel fee. was prohibited.

“It was confusing,” Garcia-Orth told the Journal. “But I didn't want to get involved because I didn't want to escalate the situation.”

Eventually, Teddy was allowed to board after pleading, but airline officials left a note about the dog in Garcia Orth's file.

People who have flown with their dogs before, like Denver resident Jimmy Chan, weren't so lucky.

Milo, a miniature schnauzer, missed a Southwest flight to California in December, even though he still had tags from his previous flight.

Chan said she was forced to have her brother-in-law take Milo to the airport so that the rest of the family wouldn't miss their flight to attend a family member's funeral.

After this frustrating incident, he is now changing his allegiance to the airline.

“If there's another airline with more convenient times or a lower price, I'll take that airline,” Chan vowed.