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Dog dies in United Airlines overhead bin

20 Comments
By KEVORK DJANSEZIAN

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As with British Airlines, this could be avoided if all airlines refused the presence of any non-human entity in the cabin. That being said, UA's failure to handle the situation properly is lamentably.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

As with British Airlines, this could be avoided if all airlines refused the presence of any non-human entity in the cabin.

Depends on the reason for the animal - there can be reasons where animals should be let in the cabin.

That being said, UA's failure to handle the situation properly is lamentably.

They've either thrown their employee under the bus, or their employee was not acting in line with policy. I'm suspecting it's the latter, due to how many airline employees talk without knowing the facts.

But they have taken responsibility (at least, in words), so that's a proper response.

I sure hope the owner gets back the costs for the dog's flight, and proper compensation.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

As with British Airlines, this could be avoided if all airlines refused the presence of any non-human entity in the cabin. 

With the way some humans behave, I take other animals over the animal known as human any day!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

How did the dog die? The overhead compartments aren't air tight are they?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Speed, I'm surprised they let the bulldog on. Pug-type dogs (those with no snouts) are particularly susceptible to breathing problems even at sea level; many airlines ban them completely.

Just. Don't. Don't bring your dog on a plane unless you absolutely have to. Have a friend look after it, kennel it, take an alternative form of transportation, whatever, but it's not fair to the dog or fellow passengers and it's downright dangerous.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

" the owner was told to put her dog in the compartment after boarding with two kids including an infant"

I'm surprised the flight attendant didn't tell her to put the infant in the overhead bin next to the dog.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

My friend in japan takes her dog on ANA flights within Japan. It has to fly as checked luggage. The pilot is informed so the proper pressure is applied. Her dog is perfectly fine with flying. But the first time it flyed, she told me for a week after her dog freaked out at the sound of suitcase wheels.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

jobsworth approach so common in service industries these days.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How can the flight attendant force a family to put a pet in an unventilated area and threaten to keep them from flying if they don't? It seems airlines use the threat of kicking someone off a flight at the drop of a hat. No concern for the dignity or well-being of humans, let alone of pets.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I mean, should any of us really be surprised if an airline that would have their paying ticket holders beaten and dragged off their flights would also be an airline unafraid to kill their pets?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Spoiled owner.

I've been seeing "emotional support animals" everywhere these days, because spoiled owners want to show them off everywhere. It is a racket, almost always, IMHO.

Still, if the airline policy is to allow the animal, in a crate, under the seat, that's fine (which IS the UA policy). Putting the animal in an overhead bin is against policy as is allowing the animal to be stored anywhere other than completely under the seat for the entire flight. I can't fit my feet anywhere except under the seat, so the idea of bringing anything that must go there on a flight just doesn't work.

The crew member who said to put the crate in the overhead bin was probably just in a hurry and not thinking. Sad that a doggie had to die so all airlines retrain their people.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Speed and Laguna above have probably grasped the nub here. The dog might have died anyway, nothing to do with the overhead bin.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I'm not exactly trying to blame the dog's owner but I can't imagine agreeing to put my dog in the overhead bin, particularly not if it were a dog with a short snout, like a Frenchie. I understand that flying is stressful and nobody wants to get thrown off but if you're a responsible dog owner and understand the breed, a breed that can cost thousands of dollars, why would you have accepted this? Additionally, to not have checked on your barking dog for the duration of the flight is nearly unconscionable, in my mind, turbulence or not. If you're going to fly with your dog, make sure you are in compliance with airline rules (and that your dog carrier fits where it's supposed to), come armed with any documents stating the airline's policy, stand up for yourself, calmly and reasonably discuss the situation, get the attendant's name and leave the plane if you can't get a them to see reason. Surely your pet deserves that much from you.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I understand that flying is stressful and nobody wants to get thrown off but if you're a responsible dog owner and understand the breed, a breed that can cost thousands of dollars, why would you have accepted this?

You answered that question right before you asked it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

'm not exactly trying to blame the dog's owner but I can't imagine agreeing to put my dog in the overhead bin, particularly not if it were a dog with a short snout, like a Frenchie.

I also can't imagine agreeing to such a ridiculous request to stick my dog in an overhead bin on a flight. But bulldogs are banned as a matter of policy by most airlines and an in-cabin pet must be booked in advance which is supposed to go through the website or a dedicated phone line with trained representative. Of course it is ultimately up to the family to provide accurate information and in this case no one did the right thing. If the dog was barking for two hours the flight attendant should be arrested for animal abuse, fired before they can resign and then charged.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If it isn't a person, it shouldn't be allowed in the main cabin. Period. Unless it's a guide dog.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Strangerland; You answered that question right before you asked it.

How, by suggesting that dog owners be responsible for their pets?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Lizz: If the dog was barking for two hours the flight attendant should be arrested for animal abuse, fired before they can resign and then charged.

She should certainly be fired if she knew there was a dog in the carrier and insisted it be put in an overhead bin. Again though, I can't imagine not having checked on my dog, had I even been willing to put it in an overhead bin to begin with. It barked for over 2 hours and the owner didn't check on it because of turbulence? I find that to be nearly as unbelievable and it is shockingly irresponsible. Once the plane took off, why didn't she, the owner, just take the dog out? They weren't going to throw her off the plane at that point and after they landed she certainly would have had a case to make. If the carrier had fit under the seat like it was supposed to she could easily enough have done that without the flight attendant even noticing. I've changed my mind about not wanting to blame the owner because ultimately, it was her dog and she should have done a better job of protecting it or she should have left it at home. It makes me sick thinking of how scared that poor, little creature must have been.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I agree. It bothers me so much to think about what that poor animal was going through. Its incomprehensible. Apparently she didn't want to cause a scene or but there really is no excuse. Even though it only barked a few times off and on for two hours apparently it is hard to imagine what the other nearby passengers were thinking… doing nothing, while this absurd instruction was given, and then, sitting by during the time that the dog whimpered and struggled?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Yes, Lizz. It's unbelievable. She didn't have to cause a scene. If she had the agreement and paid to have the dog in the cabin it would have said so on a ticket, either a paper ticket or an electronic one. She could have shown it and politely insisted or gotten another attendant to help her. The more I think about it the angrier I get at the owner.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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