Friday, July 6, 2012

Delta Air Lines adds new restrictions on pet travel

Many people take their pets with them on summer vacation, but now traveling with your pet is getting more complicated. As of last month, Delta Air Lines is no longer carrying pets as cargo or checked baggage on any Boeing 767 flights, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The carrier said it has contacted customers to offer alternatives such as transferring them to airline partners that can accommodate their pets. Delta has about 95 Boeing 767s in its fleet, the paper reported.

Delta has made other changes to its pet policies in recent months, according to the paper. Among them:
  • As of February, Delta is banning pets in the cabin in international business class in order to make room for new lie-flat seats. 
  • Delta banned snub-nosed dogs and cats as checked baggage after the deaths of a few bulldogs and similar breeds late last year. 
  • Delta will generally not carry pets as checked baggage from May 15 through Sept. 15, or anytime when the outside temperature is above 85 degrees or below 10 degrees on the ground. 

More than half of reported pet deaths on U.S. airlines last year were on Delta, according to federal data. But Delta said the number of pets that are injured or die on the airline is less than 0.2 percent of pets carried.

Those traveling with pets should check with their airline well in advance for current regulations, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, adding that airlines sometimes update their restrictions on pet travel.

"If the airlines are making these decisions based in whole or in part on the health and welfare of the animal, then it's a good thing," said AVMA spokesman David Kirkpatrick. Before flying with pets, "owners need to do a good amount of research."

Sources: www.wltx.com and The Seattle Times

13 comments:

  1. OMC! Who would check a pet as baggage anyway?? I realize big dogs can't fit under the seat but the cargo area gets really hot. Almost as bad as putting them on top of your car.

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    1. NOT true at all- it is treated the same as the cabin .
      I have flown many pets in 26 years and never had a problem.

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  2. Thats why Furlocity.com will be the place to find your next pet accommodation easily and with no hassle!

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  3. It's about time they tightened up the rules., I would never check an animal anyway - that's just asking for trouble. I'd have to think twice before I'd ever fly my pet. The only possibility would be to buy a seat for him in the cabin right with me. But I'd have to be desperate to even do that.

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  4. I could never check my dogs as baggage. Period. I would prefer to drive, leave them in the care of a professional pet sitter, or just not go. I think Delta is making the right decision.

    I wonder how many of the internet puppy mills ship their dogs via the airlines?

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    1. Mel - I agree with you. I would never check any animal as baggage. Remember Jack the Cat who escaped from his carrier at JFK? It's just not worth the risk.

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  5. Mom won't even consider flying with me. That's why we drove to BlogPaws. And we went on a long long test drive first to see if I'd tolerate the car.

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  6. Have never flown any of our dogs (and they've always been big dogs, so not an option for them to ride in the cabin) and don't plan to ever do so. We drive or stay home.

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  7. There is NO WAY POSSIBLE that we'd ever fly, sez our Mom & Dad (and they are both pilots). Still, we have to grudgingly admit it's good Delta is at least making steps in the right direction....

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  8. I'm sure that some people who show dogs around the country won't be happy to hear this news, however.

    I agree that it's a good idea to not ship animals like luggage.

    BTW, love the new look. It's gorgeous.

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  9. I would never fly our dogs, and it is good to see Delta making changes to keep pets safer.

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  10. So glad to see dey r takin animal welfare into considerashuns and makin changes.

    No more Jack the cats please.

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  11. People fly their pets for different reasons, if you are relocating what are you going to do???? You must fly your pet. So please don't say I will never fly my pet...
    If you are going to be away for a long time what will you do with your pet? Of course you will fly your pet no matter what. There are companies that has a special service for that. Continental Airlines for instance. Delta should hire qualified people to do the service.

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