The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : American Airlines The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : American Airlines
Showing posts with label American Airlines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label American Airlines. Show all posts

Saturday, March 7, 2020

West Michigan Woman Approved To Fly With Service Horse


She's done 4 flights so far with Fred.

NEWAYGO COUNTY, Mich. — Ronica Froese's has had a love for animals her whole life. That love also includes miniature horses.

"I've loved horses my entire life, they are my spirit animal. 6 years ago I wanted a horse at home and the only property size I have is for a miniature horse," says Froese.

That's when she found a mini, affectionately known as Fred, from an online post in Kansas.

To read more on this story, click here: West Michigan Woman Approved To Fly With Service Horse 

You might be interested in reading the initial story here: Fred, A Mini Service Horse Flew First Class To Show What’s Possible For Service Animals

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Friday, February 21, 2020

Fred, A Mini Service Horse Flew First Class To Show What’s Possible For Service Animals


Croton, Michigan - Fred, a mini service horse flew first class to show what’s possible for service animals.

It’s not every day you see a horse on a plane, let alone in first class but Fred the Mini Service Horse went wheels up with a purpose.

“This was our first trip via an airplane, Fred has traveled several thousands of miles in my vehicle but this was the first time in the air,” Fred’s Handler Ronica Froese said.

Froese has trained Fred to be a therapy and a service horse.

He lives in her Newaygo County home, is house broken and is frankly more well-trained than most dogs.

“I spent a year of my life training this horse extensively for what he has and I was totally prepared for everything,’ Froese added.

Froese put months of work preparing for Fred’s trip, which included two flights each way.

“We left in the afternoon, we flew from Grand Rapids, we connected in Dallas and we went to Ontario, California,” Froese, explained.

“I purchased two first class seats in bulkhead seating, I paid an arm and a leg for tickets but I did so because it was Fred’s first time and I wanted him to be comfortable, I wanted him to have the most room,” she said.

Other than the expected gawking, the trip went without a hitch.

“Everyone was sweet as pie, TSA was amazing. The experience was way better than I actually anticipated,” Froese said.

With talks of potentially stricter regulations from the Department of Transportation on which species of animals can fly, Froese hopes Fred's trip shows the model for air travel with a service mini-horse.

She added that rules are often abused, but for people like herself, a service animal like Fred is a necessary companion.

“It is out of control, it’s a very abused process, there are a lot of untrained service animals on the plane that are not trained," Froese said.

“It’s definitely an abused system, but the sad part is what the DOT is looking at doing, they are looking at excluding me as a handler from taking my horse on the plane," she added.

She’s hoping they reverse course so Fred's first air travel experience won’t be his last.

If you want to follow along with Fred or Ronica’s other mini horses, Charlie and George, click HERE. 

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Thursday, January 7, 2016

American Airlines Introducing the First-Of-Its-Kind "Pet Cabin"


It looks like some dogs will be traveling with a little bit more style thanks to American Airlines introducing the first-of-its-kind "pet cabin".

The airline has just announced the offering of their "pet cabins", which has been nicknamed "Cuddle Class" and will allow pet owners to keep their pets in a larger, private space versus being kept in a carry-on under the seat.

The pet cabins have vented doors and will be able to fit a pet carrier to a maximum of 19 by 13 by nine inches if hard-sided, or a little larger if soft-sided. It will be available on select flights between New York and Los Angeles and JFK and San Francisco. The pets will be seated adjacent to their owner's seat and can sit with their owners during the flight or in the cabin.

AA's outside PR firm said, "Each of the two bulkhead First Class suites on the American Airlines A321T at the front of the cabin has an attached pet compartment with vented door where a passenger traveling with his/her pet can place the pet, in its carrying case, for taxi, take-off, and landing. During other phases of the flight, the pet, in its carrying case, can be kept on the floor space of the passenger’s First Class suite. The two berths at the front bulkhead each have a space with a vented door to hold a kennel or carrying case for takeoff and landing."

The same rules the airline has for carry-on pets will apply, along with their usual carry-on pet fee. There's no word on whether the dogs will be treated to free beverages and biscuits.





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Have You Heard of American Airlines “Cuddle Class” Cabins For Pets?



If your pup’s tired of getting stuffed under your seat during long flights, you may want to try out American Airlines’ new pet cabins, which they’re affectionately calling “Cuddle Class.” The snug cabins have vented doors and let pets sit adjacent to their owner’s seat, which lets them see their best buddies during flight and, hopefully, keeps them a bit more relaxed.

The pet cabins don’t come cheap, as they’re only available in First Class suites. For the initial roll-out of the pet cabins, they will only appear on flights from New York to Los Angeles and from JFK to San Francisco.

While Cuddle Class will only be for a limited few passengers and their lucky dogs and cats, at least it’s a step in the right direction to make flying more comfortable for our furry friends. Anything that lets us stay close to them and keep them from being stressed is fine with us. And at least they can beg us for some of our airline peanuts.





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Thursday, December 3, 2015

Delta Passengers Will No Longer Be Able to Transport Pets as Checked Baggage in a New Policy Effective March 1, 2016


Delta passengers will no longer be able to transport pets as checked baggage in a new policy effective March 1, 2016, the airline announced in a statement on its website. Customers may also ship pets for travel within the United States as freight through Delta Cargo.

According to a New York Post analysis of U.S. Department of Transportation data, Delta recorded the highest number of pet deaths between May 2005 and September 2015. 74 pets died on Delta flights during that period, accounting for approximately 25 percent of airline pet deaths in the U.S. Additionally, 14 pets have gone missing. In 2011, Delta banned snub-nosed dogs and cats from traveling in the cargo compartment after incidents involving breeds with respiratory problems. After March 1, American Airlines will be the only U.S.-based airline to allow pets to travel in the checked baggage compartment.

Delta's new policy will have one exception: Members of the military with active transfer orders will be allowed to transport a pet as checked baggage. 

Additionally, Delta will continue to accept service and emotional support animals that comply with federal regulations, including proper documentation.

Delta has said it will contact customers with bookings after March 1 that are known to include pets as checked bags. Delta is also advising customers that choose to ship pets via Delta Cargo that:

  • A separate booking from their flight itinerary is required.  Additional fees and charges may apply.

  • A pet shipped domestically via Delta Cargo cannot be booked until 14 days prior to departure.

  • Pets are not guaranteed to be shipped on a customer’s same flight or flight schedule.

  • Shipping a pet requires dropping it off at a Delta Cargo location at least three hours before departure time at a location separate from passenger check-in.
  • Picking up a pet will also occur at a Delta Cargo location.

  • Delta Cargo will only accept international pet shipments from International Pet and Animal Transportation Association members. International customers should visit ipata.org to find an approved member to assist with their transportation requirements.

Delta has said that pets transported via Delta Cargo are monitored closely by customer service teams during their travel. While at airports, pets are handled in temperature-controlled holding areas and vans. Also, Delta Cargo enlists professional kenneling services if overnight stays are required.

Members of the military with active transfer orders will still be allowed to transport a pet as checked baggage.

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Friday, October 30, 2015

Meet Hank the Obese Pooch Who Travels First Class


An obese dog was wheeled on to an American Airlines flight and treated like a king first-class style this week, as onlookers stood by, amazed at the pampered pooch's size.

The dog, named Hank, then sat in the front row of first class on the LAX flight on Saturday, with his owner, Kari Whitman, an interior designer who founded Ace of Hearts Dog Rescue in Beverly Hills, California.

Due to an illness, Hank, who is Whitman's support animal, has gained weight and can only move with the aid of his luxurious, pillow-topped cart.

A fellow passenger of the flight out of Los Angeles took a photo of the dog and uploaded it to Twitter under the username @madeleinedoux.

The photo has been retweeted more than 4,200 times.

Hank seems indifferent in the photo, as several American Airlines employees gathered around to admire the dog and take photos.

It appears that this isn't Hank's first flight, however, as there is an Instagram for the dog, @hankthetank, that shows him traveling with his owner.

On the feed he is seen at Denver International Airport, lying next to his padded cart, and in another photo Whitman took a selfie with the pooch while in the air, captioned, 'Hank flying first class from Denver to LA'.

In an interview with Mashable, @madeleinedoux said it appeared that Whitman had bought two first class tickets on the LA flight - one for her and one for Hank.

“Everyone, both while boarding the plane and on the plane before takeoff, was speculating as to how the dog got so fat,” she said. “You could legitimately hear hushed whispers of "He's riding first class.”

The traveler added, however, that Hank stayed quiet for the entire flight and spent most of his time on the floor in front of his seat.

A very large dog named Hank was wheeled on to a an American Airlines flight on Saturday as onlookers admired his size


Hank, who is a support dog for interior designer Kari Whitman (right), rode in the front row of first class alongside his owner


Hank has an illness that limits him to his wheeling bed. He appears to travel regularly with Whitman, who bought two tickets for the LAX flight on Saturday



In the Denver International Airport earlier this year, several fellow travelers gathered around Hank to take photographs



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