This is going too far : Dog dies in overhead locker~

[drron]

United certainly have a problem with dogs.

In 2017, United transported 138,178 animals and reported 18 deaths, 13 injuries, and 31 total incidents.

All other airlines combined transported 368,816 animals, and reported six deaths, two injuries, and nine total incidents.

Three Times As Many Animals Die On United As All Other US Airlines Combined - One Mile at a Time

 

[drron]

United accept responsibility but insist the FA didn't know there was a dog in the bag.
Update: United Accepts Responsibility For Tragic Dog Death While Backing Flight Attendant - One Mile at a Time

And they also did this.
"
In this latest incident, a family was moving from Oregon to Wichita, and they checked their 10 year old german shepherd, Irgo, in the cargo hold.

Irgo was supposed to fly in the cargo hold of a different United flight that was to arrive at 4:30PM. However, when they arrived at Kansas City Airport on a United flight on Tuesday, they were given a great dane that wasn’t their dog.

Due to a mix-up, United sent the great dane to Kansas, and the german shepherd to Japan. Officials in Japan were able to locate Irgo, and after seeing a veterinarian he will be flown back to the US, though we don’t yet know when. Because the dog was on an international flight, it may be quarantined in Japan for up to two weeks."

Oy: United Just Sent A Dog To Japan By Accident - One Mile at a Time

 

[rock86]

United accept responsibility but insist the FA didn't know there was a dog in the bag.
Update: United Accepts Responsibility For Tragic Dog Death While Backing Flight Attendant - One Mile at a Time

United press release

We have spoken to the family, our crew and a number of passengers who were seated nearby. We have learned that the customer did tell the flight attendant that there was a dog in the carrier. However, our flight attendant did not hear or understand her, and did not knowingly place the dog in the overhead bin. As we stated, we take full responsibility and are deeply sorry for this tragic accident. We remain in contact with the family to express our condolences and offer support.

To prevent this from happening again, by April we will issue bright colored bag tags to customers traveling with in-cabin pets. This visual tag will further help our flight attendants identify pets in-cabin.

Riiiiiight, so all the passengers around this incident clearly heard the passenger, but the flight attendant didn't - sounds legit (as in the FA union has UA by the cojones)

 

[Hvr]

Riiiiiight, so all the passengers around this incident clearly heard the passenger, but the flight attendant didn't - sounds legit

And if the FA was momentarily overwhelmed by the situation or someone else called for them at the same time it is quite possible that they didn't hear the pax. Surely it is incumbent on the pax to repeat her query until the FA acknowledges they've heard it?

This is beginning to sound like a perfect storm where everything that could go wrong, did.

Maybe it's time to stop animals in the cabin, full stop. Certified support animals excepted.

 

[DC3]

..... Maybe it's time to stop animals in the cabin, full stop. Certified support animals excepted.

Yes, remember this one?

 

[rock86]

And if the FA was momentarily overwhelmed by the situation or someone else called for them at the same time it is quite possible that they didn't hear the pax. Surely it is incumbent on the pax to repeat her query until the FA acknowledges they've heard it?

From all reports the surrounding pax heard the owner mention this numerous times. The dog was also 'checked-in' upon issuing the ticket, so correct me if I'm wrong hear, the leading FA should have had access to the flight list and noted to her other FA's there would be animal on board. Sounds again like (and confirmed actually in lucky's prior article) that UA have a terrible process and aren't up to standard, so absolutely no surprise as UA are a comparatively woeful airline IMO.

Maybe it's time to stop animals in the cabin, full stop. Certified support animals excepted.

No arguments with you on that.

 

[moa999]

But again no explanation as to why pax didnt check on the dog during flight, particularly when it was barking.

I can't imagine any owners of a puppy letting it sit in a small carrier without so much of a pat for 3 hours

 

[rock86]

But again no explanation as to why pax didnt check on the dog during flight, particularly when it was barking.

I can't imagine any owners of a puppy letting it sit in a small carrier without so much of a pat for 3 hours

That is completely irrelevant, as the FA should have never had made her put it up there in the first place.

Easy to say 'they should have checked it' from an armchair without knowing exact instructions she was given (she may have [or not] been told to put it up there and leave it for the flight). But again, the passenger should have never been put in that situation by the FA in the first place.

 

[Daver6]

United press release


Riiiiiight, so all the passengers around this incident clearly heard the passenger, but the flight attendant didn't - sounds legit (as in the FA union has UA by the cojones)

Wouldn't the FA be concerned about a barking noise coming from the bin then if she wasn't expecting a dog to be in there?

 

[jb747]

This whole thing is somewhat curious. I've never heard of anyone putting any animals in the overhead, unless they're trying to smuggle them. What was the dog actually in? The carrier must fit totally under the seat in front. Did it actually do that, or did it stick out?

I think that all animals should actually be in the hold. The US and their support animals has gone way past a joke. With the exception of the very few guide dogs, none of these animals are correctly trained for carriage in the cabin.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

According to U.S. Department of Transportation statistics, in 2017, a total of 24 pets died on U.S.-based airline flights. Of these 24 deaths, 18 - were on United Airlines flights, double the number reported by the airline in 2016. Not only that, but 13 of the 15 pets injured on U.S.-based airline flights in 2017 were on United Airlines. Out of a total of 40 incidents reported by U.S.-based airlines in 2017, 31 took place on United Airlines flights.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This whole thing is somewhat curious. I've never heard of anyone putting any animals in the overhead, unless they're trying to smuggle them. What was the dog actually in? The carrier must fit totally under the seat in front. Did it actually do that, or did it stick out?

I think that all animals should actually be in the hold. The US and their support animals has gone way past a joke. With the exception of the very few guide dogs, none of these animals are correctly trained for carriage in the cabin.

This was not a service animal. United, like several other airlines (including some in Europe) permit the carriage of regular pets in the cabin. Here are the rules (note a $125 charge applies, and it must be in a special container):

United allows domesticated cats, dogs, rabbits and household birds (excluding coughatoos) to travel accompanied in the aircraft cabin on most flights within the U.S. An in-cabin pet may be carried in addition to a carry-on bag and is subject to a $125 service charge each way. There is an additional $125 service charge for each stopover of more than four hours within the U.S. or more than 24 hours outside of the U.S.

In-cabin pet kennels
A pet traveling in cabin must be carried in an approved hard-sided or soft-sided kennel. The kennel must fit completely under the seat in front of the customer and remain there at all times. The maximum dimensions for hard-sided kennels are 17.5 inches long x 12 inches wide x 7.5 inches high (44 cm x 30 cm x 19 cm). The recommended maximum dimensions for soft-sided kennels are 18 inches long x 11 inches wide x 11 inches high (46 cm x 28 cm x 28 cm). Soft-sided pet carriers may exceed these dimensions slightly, as they are collapsible and able to conform to under-seat space without blocking the aisle. With the exception of birds, there may only be one pet per kennel, and the animal must be able to stand up and turn around comfortably. Two birds may travel in the same kennel.
​

The passenger claims she was unable to reach the pet while it was barking because there was some turbulence, the seat belt sign was on, and she was nursing an infant.

 

[blackcat20]

But again no explanation as to why pax didnt check on the dog during flight, particularly when it was barking.

I can't imagine any owners of a puppy letting it sit in a small carrier without so much of a pat for 3 hours

The article I read said they heard it barking but seat belt signs were on due to turbulence.

 

[Hvr]

The article I read said they heard it barking but seat belt signs were on due to turbulence.

Are these the first Americans who've not ignored a seat belt sign?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Are these the first Americans who've not ignored a seat belt sign?

In my experience US pax remaining seated is the norm. It's quite common for US FAs to inform passengers attempting to stand or move about the cabin - either via the tannoy or shouting out - that the seat belt sign is on. And requesting to go to the WC will be replied with 'the seat belt sign is on' (which they are required to say by law).

 

[rock86]

Are these the first Americans who've not ignored a seat belt sign?

So you'd expect a mother by herself to take her seatbelt off while holding her baby when there is turbulence? That seems fairly irresponsible.

Again, all of this should never had to be considered if UA had correct procedures and the FA didn't make the mother put her dog up there!!

 

[Hvr]

On my US flights I have seen pax walking about and going to the toilet at all times including when the seat belt sign was on. About the only time the FAs said anything was if people got too close to the coughpit door.

 

[juddles]

We will never know the truth here. But sometimes you have to give people (such as the FA here) the benefit of the doubt. I love dogs, I have taken dogs from one side of the planet to the other. I have done a million flights. But I did not recognize that bag as a "dog-carrier". I would not be surprised if the FA truly did not realize it was an animal carrier.

As for the pax - I blame them. I get the argument that IF you beleived the FA understood it was a dog then you could "beleive" that their advice to put it in the locker was safe. But in my dog-loving world, pooches are almost as precious as children. Would I put a child in the locker and not check on it till the end of the flight??? No!!!!!

As others have said, if someone told be to jam my puppy into an overhead locker I would refuse. And I do not know what actually caused the puppies death - that is not on record yet to my knowledge. But if this family allowed this, I suspect that another end would have occurred anyway....

 

[rock86]

The dog was checked when checking-in, it was paid for and the lead FA had access to the passenger list. If it wasn't that particular FA's fault (which I think it is), then it is certainly UA's fault for either not having policies up to standard or their staff are not trained up to standard.

Again whichever way you look at it, the pax and the owner should have never been put in this situation in the first place, for us all to say it would have been done differently if on the plane.

 

[Milboo]

I am sorry but it is easy to comment from the comfort of your own armchair.

Looking at the previous high profile incidents in the US and with UA, I am not surprised that the lady eventually complied, and that the passengers around didn’t stick up for her here.
As much as people would say that they’d deplane in theory, it’s quite possible in theory they’d just comply.

Simply put the passenger should never have been put in this position in the first place.

No it’s not easier to comment simply because I’m not the one in that situation.

I am a dog owner and there is absolutely no way I’d ever allow my dog to be placed in an overhead locker and jeopardise their welfare. 100% I would have left the flight and resolved it with the airline in the terminal.

Once you’ve paid many thousands for a Frenchie, the cost of a plane ticket is nominal.