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Why airlines are dying...

A

AndrewR

Lifer
I've been wondering how airlines could be doing so poorly, at least the "big names" like United and US Airways, etc. Well, I think I've found the reason -- they suck!

Seriously, we're moving back to the States after three long years in Japan, and we have to move our pup back with us (obviously -- we're not like the countless American bastards who abandon their pets here before they leave). Well, she can fly just fine on the military contract flight to Seattle (the Freedom Bird), but her crate is "too large" for a domestic flight to the East Coast. Now, keep in mind that her crate will fit just fine on the aircraft, but the airlines all consider her crate "too large" for baggage and require that it be sent as cargo, on the same flight!!!!. So, instead of $100 or so, it's going to cost in excess of $600 to ship her to Washington, D.C., which of course the military won't reimburse.

If you nickel and dime your customers, they won't be loyal. Gee, care to guess why these companies struggle to maintain a steady income? With their outdated business structure (the hub system is asinine) and their craptastic customer disservice, they deserve to fold.

Just ranting because I had a bottle of wine tonight. 😀
 
How big is the dog? Can it fit as carryon?

I have been on flights where dogs, cats, and birds have shared a row with me. 😛
 
lol, I just flew through 3 continents and 25000miles in the past week using United.

How big is the crate and how big is the dog?
 
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
How big is the dog? Can it fit as carryon?

I have been on flights where dogs, cats, and birds have shared a row with me. 😛
Click to expand...

Ha, no -- she's 85 lbs or so. I suppose I could carry her on, but she'd need a seat!

The issue is that her crate, which is the "Giant" size, fits on the very same aircraft as the "Very Large" size. Regardless of weight, the airlines state that her crate MUST be shipped cargo, not checked baggage. So, if you had a fat, short dog that could fit in the Very Large crate, a slimmer, taller dog (they have rules on the amount of headroom that's needed) in a Giant crate can't be sent as checked baggage.
 
Originally posted by: AndrewR
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
How big is the dog? Can it fit as carryon?

I have been on flights where dogs, cats, and birds have shared a row with me. 😛
Click to expand...

Ha, no -- she's 85 lbs or so. I suppose I could carry her on, but she'd need a seat!

The issue is that her crate, which is the "Giant" size, fits on the very same aircraft as the "Very Large" size. Regardless of weight, the airlines state that her crate MUST be shipped cargo, not checked baggage. So, if you had a fat, short dog that could fit in the Very Large crate, a slimmer, taller dog (they have rules on the amount of headroom that's needed) in a Giant crate can't be sent as checked baggage.
Click to expand...

that's a big pup :shocked:
 
Originally posted by: Modeps
I highly doubt that the reason airlines are failing is because they charge too much to ship animals.
Click to expand...

In microcosm, no. In the sense that they don't take care of their customers, then yes they will. Loyalty is not won through restrictive frequent flyer programs (if you've flown with us every week for the past ten years, you MIGHT be able to get a free ticket to Boise during the winter months on a Tuesday, returning Thursday!). Their unions are too strong, and their structure is ridiculously inefficient.
 
Originally posted by: dug777
Originally posted by: AndrewR
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
How big is the dog? Can it fit as carryon?

I have been on flights where dogs, cats, and birds have shared a row with me. 😛
Click to expand...

Ha, no -- she's 85 lbs or so. I suppose I could carry her on, but she'd need a seat!

The issue is that her crate, which is the "Giant" size, fits on the very same aircraft as the "Very Large" size. Regardless of weight, the airlines state that her crate MUST be shipped cargo, not checked baggage. So, if you had a fat, short dog that could fit in the Very Large crate, a slimmer, taller dog (they have rules on the amount of headroom that's needed) in a Giant crate can't be sent as checked baggage.
Click to expand...

that's a big pup :shocked:
Click to expand...

And when we adopted her at 6 months or so, I assured my wife that she would only grow to be about 40-50 lbs. Oops! 😉
 
Originally posted by: AndrewR
Originally posted by: dug777
Originally posted by: AndrewR
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
How big is the dog? Can it fit as carryon?

I have been on flights where dogs, cats, and birds have shared a row with me. 😛
Click to expand...

Ha, no -- she's 85 lbs or so. I suppose I could carry her on, but she'd need a seat!

The issue is that her crate, which is the "Giant" size, fits on the very same aircraft as the "Very Large" size. Regardless of weight, the airlines state that her crate MUST be shipped cargo, not checked baggage. So, if you had a fat, short dog that could fit in the Very Large crate, a slimmer, taller dog (they have rules on the amount of headroom that's needed) in a Giant crate can't be sent as checked baggage.
Click to expand...

that's a big pup :shocked:
Click to expand...

And when we adopted her at 6 months or so, I assured my wife that she would only grow to be about 40-50 lbs. Oops! 😉
Click to expand...

:laugh:
 
I'd drive rather than ship a pet. Too many horror stories about pets being dead when you arrive and being treated like sh!t in the flight. I woudln't ship my dog unless there was literally no other option.
 
Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
I'd drive rather than ship a pet. Too many horror stories about pets being dead when you arrive and being treated like sh!t in the flight. I woudln't ship my dog unless there was literally no other option.
Click to expand...
Agreed. You can always rent a car one way for a few hundred bucks cross-country.
 
Not to be rude, but United takes care of their customers just fine. Have you looked into other airlines? I would guess that all of them will react the same, and charge quite a bit of money.
All of the airlines are in financial trouble. Some more than others. This is a good revenue stream for them. I'm on a UA flight every other week, and to date have not had problems with them. They give me my upgrades, and treat me just fine.
 
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
I'd drive rather than ship a pet. Too many horror stories about pets being dead when you arrive and being treated like sh!t in the flight. I woudln't ship my dog unless there was literally no other option.
Click to expand...
Agreed. You can always rent a car one way for a few hundred bucks cross-country.
Click to expand...


Yes, the Japan-U.S. Cross-Atlantic Highway is wonderful for sightseeing!
 
Originally posted by: AndrewR
Originally posted by: Modeps
I highly doubt that the reason airlines are failing is because they charge too much to ship animals.
Click to expand...

In microcosm, no. In the sense that they don't take care of their customers, then yes they will. Loyalty is not won through restrictive frequent flyer programs (if you've flown with us every week for the past ten years, you MIGHT be able to get a free ticket to Boise during the winter months on a Tuesday, returning Thursday!). Their unions are too strong, and their structure is ridiculously inefficient.
Click to expand...

Hah! i just had the chance to find out about airline's frequent flyer miles. I have a AMEX card and you can transfer member point to any specific airline's frequent flyer miles. AMEX claims 1:1 ratio between member point to frequent flyer miles. I knew 1 freq flyer mile isnt 1 actual mile, but thought itd be something like 2 or 3 freq flyer miles = 1 mile.

i called up continental to find out how many freq flyer miles id need in my onepass account to get a free flight to cancun....and they told me 58000!!!!! :shocked:
 
Originally posted by: Aharami
Originally posted by: AndrewR
Originally posted by: Modeps
I highly doubt that the reason airlines are failing is because they charge too much to ship animals.
Click to expand...

In microcosm, no. In the sense that they don't take care of their customers, then yes they will. Loyalty is not won through restrictive frequent flyer programs (if you've flown with us every week for the past ten years, you MIGHT be able to get a free ticket to Boise during the winter months on a Tuesday, returning Thursday!). Their unions are too strong, and their structure is ridiculously inefficient.
Click to expand...

Hah! i just had the chance to find out about airline's frequent flyer miles. I have a AMEX card and you can transfer member point to any specific airline's frequent flyer miles. AMEX claims 1:1 ratio between member point to frequent flyer miles. I knew 1 freq flyer mile isnt 1 actual mile, but thought itd be something like 2 or 3 freq flyer miles = 1 mile.

i called up continental to find out how many freq flyer miles id need in my onepass account to get a free flight to cancun....and they told me 58000!!!!! :shocked:
Click to expand...

That's pretty bad. On United I can fly from the US to Europe for 50000 if I use the saver awards (has limited seats and blackout dates) or 80000 if I use the standard awards (no seat limits and no blackout dates). I pay to fly when the flights are cheap (Jan-Mar and Oct-Dec) and use my miles when it's expensive (Aug and Dec)
 
Originally posted by: Landroval
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
I'd drive rather than ship a pet. Too many horror stories about pets being dead when you arrive and being treated like sh!t in the flight. I woudln't ship my dog unless there was literally no other option.
Click to expand...
Agreed. You can always rent a car one way for a few hundred bucks cross-country.
Click to expand...


Yes, the Japan-U.S. Cross-Atlantic Highway is wonderful for sightseeing!
Click to expand...
It would be a better ride though if they hadn't built it the long way around the world!
 
I have a tiny cat, which I use a soft leather carrying case and she travels with me under the seat in front of me.

My fat cat I had to ship as cargo with American Airlines, cost me about $200 from DC to Reno. that's not counting the 'health certificate' i needed to get from my vet.
 
Be aware that the dedicated cargo compartments are not climate controlled; baggage is. The life of your dog depends on how sadistic the ground crew is feeling.
 
Seattle to DC is only a long 4 day haul.

Dayton is 1 day less.

Give the "pu" a chance to see the country.

However, with your better half, the baby and the "pup" a compact might be crowded.😛
 
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