United Airlines Policy Change Could Cost Pet Owners Thousands
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(Image credit: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)
On March 3, United Airlines and its subsidiaries will change the way they transport pets. And although the airline’s fees for transporting animals are in line with what other carriers charge, the change could end up costing pet owners thousands of dollars.
The change in policy means pets will now be transported as cargo rather than checked luggage. In certain countries, like Japan, it is required by law to pay a third party to ship cargo. And that’s where the real cost lies: While the one-way fee for transporting your pet on United from Japan to the United States is about $300 for a 10- to 50-pound pet, per United’s website, the additional fee means the consumer will pay an additional $1,440 to $3,869, according to Stars and Stripes, the newspaper of the U.S. military.
The additional shipping cost has the greatest impact on military pet owners who live overseas. United is a federal contract carrier.
United fees are based on the size of the pet and the destination, as are the third-party costs. United told ABCNews.com it does not collect any additional money from the third party.
Shipping pets as cargo rather than checked luggage will lead to a better experience for pets, company spokeswoman Mary Ryan said, adding that pets will now have a dedicated staff and temperature-controlled vans instead of the inhospitable baggage compartment. The change is an adoption of an existing Continental Airlines program called PetSafe. United and Continental merged into one airline, called United, in October 2010.
If United’s Facebook page is any indication of consumer reaction to the new policy, people are outraged:
“As a military member with upcomming [sic] orders to Europe, and with 2 Golden Reyrievers [sic] my wife and I will be taking with us, I will do everything in my power not to use your airline. It is outrageous to charge so much.”
“They [military] fight so you can stay in business and ya still put the screws to them. No more United for this family!”
“These new fees are supposedly the result of Japan charging a freight fee for cargo. Oh wait…this only happened after United reclassified pets as cargo instead of excess baggage. Seriously United? You get a huge government contract only to screw over US service members? Someone tell Jeff Smisek to shove it where sun don’t shine!”
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This is absolutely unconscionable. A 1000% price increase for transporting pets? Other than generating extra revenue that third parties will (and United theoretically will not) receive, why are pets suddenly “cargo”?
Posted by: MyTake | February 17, 2012, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm
United has to be the all-time worst airline in the history of aviation. Surly employees, rotten on-time percentage, all of it. They totally suck. You’re better off swimming the Pacific than flying United.
Posted by: Mike in Newbury Park | February 17, 2012, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
I will NEVER fly United!
Posted by: Kathy M. | February 17, 2012, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm
I’ve avoided United Airlines for years. Just another justification that I’ve made the right decision! I think it’s an atrocity that they be awarded any federal contracts.
Posted by: glofish54 | February 17, 2012, 2:03 pm 2:03 pm
I never agree with animals flying with humans as passengers unless it is a special need animal. Because of health reason and not knowing the reaction of an animal in close quarters. Animals should never be considered Cargo either. Airlines need to be fair about their charges and what they are charging. United been in service for years. They know better than to pull this bull crap. I hope they reconsidered what they are about to do.
Posted by: Pedro | February 17, 2012, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm
“PETS ARE NOT CARGO”SO THEREFORE SHOULD NOT BE PUT IN THE CARGO HOLD!!!!!!!! EVERYONE THAT IS A PET OWNER AND PET PARENT BOYCOT UNITED AIRLINES!!!!!!!!
Posted by: carla page | February 17, 2012, 2:54 pm 2:54 pm
You could always buy an extra seat for you pet kid, just like you would for a real kid. All they need to do is charge passengers by the pound, themselves and their stuff. We are treated like airfreight anyway.
Posted by: snewsom2997 | February 17, 2012, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
I had a great experience shipping a rescue dog through Delta. They walked the dog between the two flights. He arrived with filled food and water…and was in great spirits. He was brought to me within 10 minutes of the plane landing! I hope that United loses business for this horrible practice!
Posted by: shilo | February 17, 2012, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
I really think this is being taken out of context. If they are adopting the same plan that Continental was using then where was the outrage then? This is just an example of the media trying to stretch the truth to get a story. RELAX.
Posted by: Shilobuff | February 17, 2012, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
Continental charges between $200-$300 to use their Pet-Safe program within the continental US. I am hoping this is only for shipping overseas. I have used Continental in the past and have always been happy with them.
BTW–I would LOVE to just buy an extra seat and be able to bring my pet onboard. In many cases, it’s cheaper to do that than pay to shove them under the seat in front of me or pay cargo prices. Many airlines (including Continental and United) charge $150 each way for the privilege of carrying your own pet onboard and shoving it in a tiny carrier under the seat in front of you. I can’t tell you how many times it would have been cheaper to simply purchase a seat for my pet.
Posted by: Jennifer | February 17, 2012, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm
I would like to thank everyone for their comments & for SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS!!!
This issue is not being taken out of context, far from it. We are a military family serving our country in Korea, because that’s where the military told us to go. We chose this life and we are proud to serve as a military family each & every day. We make tons of sacrifices and we don’t complain.
With this issue, what used to cost $200 for ONE pet of under 10 pounds to fly in the cabin will now cost over $500. There’s a facebook page for this issue: United Airlines Pet Policy Debacle
An enlisted member E-1 makes all of about $1500 a MONTH in pay and to ship one pet through United’s, soon to be new cargo shipping plan, that enlisted member will have to go WITHOUT everything for their family for just ONE pet to be shipped at Cargo rates. What happens if this enlisted member has TWO pets? Most military members are only “ALLOWED” to have two pets (per military regs) in military housing. United is attacking our troops and their family members serving overseas, this is just POOR CHARACTER! Is this truly the “AMERICAN WAY”? Is this what America has become? We have to leave our homeland to protect and serve, to provide a way for companies, such as United to gouge people… we are providing them the FREEDOM they have to do this. Shame on them, United, and on any other company that does this and all for what??? GREED?
Military member MUST fly on whatever airline the military has a contract with, we are NOT ALLOWED to choose! If the contract is with United, the military makes the members & their family members fly with United. The military member has to pay out of their own pocket for any and all pet expenses, the military does NOT cover the cost for the pets. What E 1 military member receiving such a LOW monthly pay would you know of that could afford to pay up to the possible $4,000 to ship their furry family member? I don’t know of a single young enlisted military member that will be able to afford this and what a heart breaking situation they are now facing all due to GREED and POOR decision making!
This kind of reminds me of NETFLIX…. Poor Character and Poor decision making there as well; however completely different scales of effects. The community SCREAMED about what Netflix was going to do… now it’s time to use your voices again America and HELP your Military members who are serving and protecting to provide the freedom you have and to keep the fight outside of the USA. Won’t you HELP and SUPPORT YOUR TROOPS now when they really NEED your help and you could really make a HUGE difference to/for them & ALL of their family member. I personally, although not affected by this, would deeply APPRECIATE your support with this issue that will HURT thousands of our military families serving overseas.
Thank you for your time and sorry for the LONG read.
Thank you for SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS no matter where they are serving, at home or abroad!
Posted by: Becky | February 17, 2012, 8:18 pm 8:18 pm
There is no such law in Japan requiring 3rd party transporters. If so all the other airlines would have to do the same. They are not. Many people have called to verify this. United is making up lies. If this is a real law I would ask them to publish where they got the information from. AND if it is a Japanese law then why would it affect us here in Korea and all the other Pacific region countries? Seems as if United is telling lies all around.
Posted by: Cassie | February 18, 2012, 5:24 am 5:24 am
This is very sad not just for the pet parents but for those doggies that will be left behind because many will not be able to afford it. This will be a death sentence to many dogs and cats because here in Okinawa their animal shelters do not keep animals for long and will end up in a gas chamber. So the deaths of many animals will be in the hands of United. I will do my best to not have to use United ever again.
Posted by: Marcela Lawrence | February 19, 2012, 12:13 am 12:13 am
Since this was published, United has apparently given military members waivers, which I applaud. However, there are other government workers living overseas, with pets, and United does not deem them worthy of a waiver. We are already living in Europe with a dog. We must use United to get to our next post, but will have to pay the higher cargo rates because United does not deem us as worthy as military families.
Posted by: Karen Julian | March 18, 2012, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
The wavier is only lip service, they actually won’t give it. Military members are getting charged the same thing. This is all a PR gimmick to make United look good.
Posted by: USAF | March 28, 2012, 7:05 pm 7:05 pm
United Airlines claimed that they changed their new pet policy for military trying to move with pets but they have changed nothing. I just moved to Okinawa, Japan with my husband, who is a Marine, and we are trying to get our 2 dogs here but United reps will not honor the policy change that was promised for military. There are many others like me here that are having this problem. United claims to support military by not charging outrageous amounts to move our families but they are all talk
Posted by: Corey | April 5, 2012, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm
What a crappy thing to do. The government needs to step in and force United to abide by the rules or they lose the contract. Plus, dpoes this apply only to overseas flights or will domestic pets be forced to fly out of the supervison of their pet parents?
Posted by: EarlGrayHot | April 25, 2012, 10:17 am 10:17 am