Their travel plans were put on paws.
Perplexed dog owners are scratching their heads as to why and how their cute, and often well-behaved, companions got banned from air travel.
Such was the case of Megan Moskowitz and her English cocker spaniel Maci, who suddenly became a pup of interest at Newark Airport.
She told the Wall Street Journal this week that United Airlines agents barred Maci from getting onboard their flight, took photos of the little dog, and then told Moskowitz that Maci was permanently banned from flying United again.
Moskowitz, who brought Maci on a November business trip with no issues, is now convinced that a covert no-fly list exists for pets. She fears traveling with Maci again will be “a gamble.”
Airlines have perhaps felt more empowered not to throw pet owners a bone since the US Department of Transportation gave them more leeway to keep animals, especially ones listed for emotional support, out of the air in late 2020.
Early in 2021, Southwest banned emotional support animals altogether — the airline still allows small, vaccinated cats and dogs.
Meanwhile, United permits up to two small cats or dogs “when there’s space available,” and Delta makes similar accommodations while also allowing birds.
Since airlines have had more liberty and discretion to reject a pet, New Jersey resident Gabriela Garcia-Orth has noticed more problems when flying with her 8-year-old Pomeranian, Teddy.
When coincidentally also flying into Newark, from a wedding in Houston, a United employee barred the 10-pound pom from boarding — despite his owners paying a $125 pet travel fee last November.
“It was confusing,” Garcia-Orth told WSJ. “But I didn’t want to get into it because I didn’t want to escalate the situation.”
Eventually, Teddy was allowed on after some begging, but the airline agent put a note about the dog into Garcia-Orth’s file.
Others, like Jimmy Chang of Denver — who had previously flown with his dog before — were less fortunate.
His miniature Schnauzer, Milo, wasn’t allowed on a December Southwest flight to California — even though Milo was still wearing the tag from his last flight.
Chang says he was forced to have his brother-in-law come to the airport to retrieve Milo, so the rest of his family wouldn’t miss their flight to attend a family member’s funeral.
He’s now changing loyalties in airlines after the frustrating incident.
“Now if there’s another airline where the time may be a little bit more convenient or the price may be a little bit lower, then we’re flying with them,” Chang vowed.
