United Airlines and its subsidiaries will change the way they transport pets next month. And while 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, reports AFP.
Pets will now be transported as cargo. And that’s where the difference comes in.
The one-way fee currently to take a pet from the US to Japan is about $300 for a 10-to-50 pound pet. But the change in policy means the same pet will pay up to $3,869, according to Stars and Stripes, the US’s military newspaper.
The additional shipping cost has the greatest impact on military pet owners who live overseas. United is a federal contract carrier.
Shipping pets as cargo rather than checked luggage will lead to a better experience for pets, company spokeswoman Mary Ryan told ABCNews.com. She added that pets will now have a dedicated staff and temperature-controlled vans instead of the inhospitable baggage compartment.
The reaction from United’s Facebook page was outrage. Wrote one blogger:
"As a military member with upcoming orders to Europe, and with 2 Golden Retrievers, 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."
By David Wilkening
