United is temporarily suspending their pet cargo program through at least April 30:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/united-suspends-cargo-program-for-pets-1521550841
Under fire for its handling of pets,
United Continental Holdings Inc .
UAL +0.54% will stop taking reservations for its live-animal shipping program at least until May 1 while it reviews the program.
In 2017, United had 18 pets die while being shipped in the cargo compartment under its “PetSafe’’ program, according to Transportation Department data. That was double the number of deaths in 2016 for United, and three times as many deaths as American,
Delta and Alaska airlines recorded collectively last year. United says almost all the deaths were attributed by medical experts to factors outside the airline’s control.
United will continue to transport animals with existing reservations during the program’s suspension. A spokesman said the review would be conducted with independent animal-safety experts.
The review doesn’t affect the transport of animals in airplane cabins. That program was already placed under review after
the death last week of a dog placed in an overhead bin at the order of a flight attendant on a Houston-to-New York flight. United said its rules don’t allow animals to be placed in overhead bins, which have little air circulation, and apologized for the incident.
That same week, a dog shipped under “PetSafe’’ was mistakenly routed to Japan instead of Kansas. United apologized for that incident as well.
Chicago-based United said it would assist any customer wishing to cancel a PetSafe reservation during the review period. United expects to complete the review by May 1, but hasn’t determined when it will start taking new reservations.
“We are deeply committed to the safety and comfort of the animals and pets in our care,’’ United said in a statement. The review will lead to “improvements that will ensure the best possible experience for our customers and their pets.’’
United is the largest carrier of animals among U.S. airlines, accounting for almost a quarter of the animals transported in cargo holds and in cabins last year that accumulated passenger fees, according to the Transportation Department.
Write to Scott McCartney at
middleseat@wsj.com
