E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSWhen she heard the cost of shipping a pet via United Airlines from the Pacific region to the United States would shoot sky high, Mary Seward-Yamada knew the calls would start pouring in — and they did. Seward-Yamada, a kennel owner and pet-shipping expert in Okinawa, Japan, said the military families she serves were panicked that fees of up to nearly $4,000 would be needed to send their pets home when they were reassigned to the states.
So news that United on Friday decided to backtrack on their fee policy for servicemen and women comes as a great relief. “People were already trying to find homes for their pets because they didn’t have the money to ship them home,” Seward-Yamada told msnbc.com. “There’s been a lot of panic in a brief amount of time.”
Mary Ryan, a spokeswoman with United, said that they were happy to change the rule for those in the military.
“After all the feedback we were getting, we realized the impact of the change in policy,” Ryan said, “specifically in Japan with the third-party freight forwarding fees. We’ve developed a special process for these families by which they can technically check pets as luggage.”
The rule change is an exemption only for those in the service, she emphasized. “Obviously, it’s a very special exemption for families traveling on orders or what they call a permanent change of station,” she said. “That means it doesn’t apply to leisure travel. I think the (military) families are happy with it, pleased that we thought about it and what we could do to alleviate their burden. We value our relationship with the military very much.”
The rule change United had proposed to take effect next month would have reclassified pets as cargo, rather than as excess checked baggage. Many military personnel are placed on commercial flights with United because of government contracts with the carrier, but personnel must pay any fee required to ship a pet.
That change in how pets were classified would have triggered Japanese fees on third-party cargo shipping that greatly increased the total cost from several hundred dollars up to as much as $3,900, depending on the size of the animal. The news about the pending fee increase sparked scores of comments, many angry or outraged, on social media sites this week, including on the airline’s Facebook page, and accompanied online media accounts.
Seward-Yamada said it means a great deal for military families to be able to take the four-legged members of their family home with them when they are transferred.
“When you drag a military family complete with children halfway around the world they have to give up so much,” she said. “Then sometimes you’ve ended up in a foreign country and your husband has to leave for six months to a year on deployment and your pet is like your mainstay, a little bit of home.”
More from Overhead Bin:
Leave a Comment:
It's time to break it off in the greedy airlines. The are screwing their customers in favor of the stockholders. I say F'm both Deep. Cavalier disregard for the comfort and well being of paying customers is gone on too long. They'll be a backlash coming that will last in spite of any sugar coated words. People don't forget how they are treated and will not let it go without payback. Woe to the airline exec's that think things will be business as usual.
The airlines aren't greedy so much as strapped. Competition from comparison websites means they're shut out if their fares are only $10 more so they've come up with all these fees that don't show on the websites in an attempt to make at least some money.
That said, I despise airlines as much as the next person, but they're not like the oil companies making money hand over fist. Seems like one of them is always going bankrupt.
They may be cash-strapped, but you can bet they're not greed-strapped. ;)
The great invention to be discovered in the airline industry is the "ticket." A magical document you pay money for which entitles you to services such as transport, baggage, food, and friendly service, all for a fixed set price.
Surely the stuff of fantasy and science fiction. I wonder if they have "tickets" in the Star Trek universe.
I am not sure what prompted the reclassification of pets from excess baggage to freight, but people are losing sight of the fact that it is not the airline that is getting these outrageous fees. It is the Japanese freight forwarders who will make a fortune on this change since Japan requires people to use third party freight forwarders for shipments. The change obviously was not driven by the law or they would not be able to make exceptions for the military. It would be interesting to hear some explanation from United for the change.
chester12: Not if you were the only one selling what I want. I'd have to take whatever you dish out. What alternative do we have to airlines? (Assuming one doesn't have the time to drive or take a boat.)
I always just put a diaper on my 95lb golden retriever and buy him a seat
...he thinks he's people
Taking pets to Japan is usually a military personnel issue. Being assigned to Japan and it territories is not a choice, and there is a definite hardship involved when family members have to decide to give up a pet due to government orders to move. I doubt there are many civilians facing this problem, as relocation expenses are usually paid by the transferring company. As far as leisure travel goes, if you don't need to take your pet (i.e., assistance animal) then you have a choice - don't go or pay the fees. Japan instituted the cargo fee - not United. And I think United should be commended for handling the feedback appropriately. For all you folks out there that do not own a business, it is important to understand the point of having a business is to make money. For all you socialists out there, enjoy your mediocrity; if there is no motivation to excel, then stagnation into insignificance will result.
Oh jesus h nipple.
Next, the typical Whack-a-doo pet owner will want special seating in First Class for their animals.
It's a goddam dog! Get over it already...
Hey DMorgan, They are NOT just animals or pets but we consider them our family members whether you like it or not. They are a living being and not some inate object like a suitcase. I'd buy a ticket for a seat for my pet before putting them in the cargo hold where so many others have wound up dead. I'd rather have them next to me than some drunk or stinky or fat or belligerant human or someone like you sit next to me.
The GREED FACTOR is on the rise again!!
Dunno about the pets being classified as "luggage" on the United flights. That's how I felt when I had my (very) last United experience 5 years ago. Sounds like the pets haven't missed much.
These g'damn airlines will try to get away with as much as they can. I wish the traveling public had a powerful, singular voice that would be able to discourage them from even attempting these greedy additional fee ideas.
It's called don't fly !! Eventually, they'll get the message. Drive or take the train! The Govt. doesn't subsidize trains as done with the airlines. Maybe the financial aid to the airlines needs to stop. All good things come to an end during a Recession (even though it's claimed to be over).
Oh yeah... Taking the train makes all kind of sense. Multiple days across country vs... Multiple hours.
I think it stinks that the military get a break in shipping their pets. They are not drafted. They choose this job, and other people also have jobs which send them to live overseas for a few years. Why should the airlines discriminate based on people's employer?
They chose a job that involves protecting your rights to say stupid things like you just did.
The difference in price for transporting pets between flying United and flying let's say American Airlines is around $3600 for United and around $200 for American Airlines ($3400). Civilians get to choose which airlines they use, the government has a contract with United which forces military members to fly that carrier and pay their prices. I moved a total of 8 times in 20 years of military service - and sometimes the military sends you to do some training between moves, so that would double the airline flying. Had this policy been in effect while I served and had I owned a pet during that time, I would have spent nearly $30,000 on shipping the pet and that's without considering extra flights between duty stations for training. All United did was change the name of what they call their service to ship the pet, nothing else. They changed the name from baggage to cargo and the price to customers went from $200 to $3600. Obviously this wasn't any regulation or else they wouldn't be able to switch back. This was just an effort to gouge more money from their customers and most of the customers who this would effect would be military members.
hey little bill check yourself. they are not protecting our rights, they are protecting government property.
homesick you have no place commenting on the US military as you have chosen to live outside the USA if I remember correctly. Save your comments for the anti gun threads. Had those of us who chose to serve our country not done so there would be a draft.
Check that. Our military is affecting more people outside the US than inside it.
Cheers!
To bigbill (post # 3.1):
Touché ---Great response to homesick yank in post #3 !!! I couldn't have said it better.
I recently drove for two days. Not because it was THAT much cheaper than an airline, it was the "flying experience" that has turned me off. I USED to take flights, all the time. No more. Oh, and my dog went with me, for my two week vacation. I USED to have a "dog sitter" for him, when I traveled by airline.
These days I think of the airline as a bus. You pay to sit down for a few hours to get where you're going quickly, nothing more, nothing less. You wouldn't expect to have a good time on a bus, would you? (Although you'd probably be more comfortable!)
I love flying. I'm a 1K on United. Been flying UAL exclusively since 1993. They treat me very well and i bring them my business. One thing I cannot stand is the goddam flyers who bring their yapping, smelly pets on the plane. Criminy -- leave the goddam animals home. Your yipping, flea-bitten terrier doesn't give a crap about the Grand Canyon!
Roadkill---I totally agree with you!! I'd rather drive and take my dog even though it is a longer trip than to give money to the bloodsucker airlines! There is no pleasure in flying anymore.
Of course, that $4000 fee does NOT insure that your pet will arrive alive! It simply insures the airline against possible damage done BY the pet. Airlines, oil companies, auto manufacturers, unions and politicians all "get it their way" regardless of what is right or good for America or the economy.
Four thousand dollars to ship a pet ovreseas?? Sheesh, airline policies are getting worse with each passing year. If it keeps up, nobody will ever be flying again and the airlines will disappear because of it. :(
That would serve them right to go out of business for their greedy fees. Travel another way! Who needs the greed and inconvenience they have to offer.
Imagine if men and women weren't willing to sign up to be in the military...they would bring the draft back and some of you all complaining would be serving against your will. Think about that next time you think the military men and women get a break.
Oh, give it a rest. They get paid for what they do, and the majority (note: i did not say ALL) of them couldn't go to college because they didn't give high school any time. So, they weighed Burger King and the Military. They made their choices because a lot of the choices they made before that were poor choices.
Military officers have at least a bachelor's degree (required to earn a commission) and many go on to earn master's degrees and beyond. On the enlisted side, many personnel have bachelor's and master's degrees as well. Instead of bashing those who choose to serve and risk all to defend your right to say what you like, maybe you should focus on educating yourself before making such broad and baseless statements.
dmorgan
Actually a fair percentage of enlisted have HS diplomas before enlistment, and in particular the navy who are the ones primarily stationed in Japan. Also many enlist so they can pay for college. Not everyone has what it takes to be in the services and take responsibility for defending their and your Rights.
As to pay... OK you got us there. $400 a week for starting pay with the potential to get shot at and work 23 hours a day. Yep BK would be a poor choice compared to that. I'll give you that BK MIGHT get robbed.
Actually most new enlisted have a HS diploma. If you have a GED, unless you have some other credetials, you're not getting in. On average the military is more highly educated than their civilian counter part.
I'm in Japan now. The fare hike is from the Japanese in changing the regulations. United is doing what any other business does, pass on the cost to the consumer. As for those complaining of the Government subsidies. Know why they exist first and what will happen if they end. It's a competition measure so US airlines are viable for international routes. Otherwise what the Government gives them would be added to the ticket price or no US carrier would be international.
I think that the airlines might want a refundable damage 'retainer' if the dog gets loose and tries to eat luggage, but otherwise, I think it's terrible to charge more than it would cost to fly a person to fly a pet. And, what if the airline loses your pet? Or your pet dies en route? What do they do? Close to nothing is what most articles say regarding this issue.
I fly as little as possible, but living in Alaska makes it hard to get anywhere. I plan on moving to the lower '48 in a couple years, and then the airlines can kiss it unless I can't drive cheaper. Driving for 12 hours isn't that big of a deal for us, who are used to driving for six hours to get to the next nearest big city. Highway robbery.
So what, Big Bill? They understood what they were getting when they took the job. Why give them extra benefits besides? Lots if people do laudable things, but do not get any of the breaks that military personnel receive. They are not somehow uniquely deserving of preferential treatment. It may even be that the preferential treatment causes resentment toward them, even if they never sought that preferential treatment in the first place.
"They are not somehow uniquely deserving of preferential treatment."
Yes, they are.
And anyone who resents it should be hung by their toes. If you don't like it, go join up
Baloney. I know a lot of cops, firefighters, nurses, aid car drivers... christ on a biscuit, I can give you a LONG list of people who lay it on the line, and do heroic things.
get real. a lot of people in the military are there becuase they don't want to flip burgers at Burger king.
dmorgan
a LOT of those cops, firefighters, nurses and aid drivers are prior service, where do you think they got training? Did you not qualify for the service or something?
United realized they were making a major Netflix error! Do you really thing the CEO who came up with this idea deserves a millions of dollar bonus this year? Seriously!!!
Must be nice to walk in your shoes. I guess you've never made an error in business! Wow, YOU deserve the Big Award of the Year!!!
dmorgan
would YOUR business be BK? Most of your other posts refer to it, why not this one?
United = Untied Realistically they are no worse than any of the others, they all suck.
The airlines have a total monoply on the market but haven't a clue anymore about how to treat customers. Customers would flock to an airline that at least pretended to care about them, instead of their wallet.
You don't screw the people that pay your paycheck and really expect them to come back.
We have airline employee's that don't give a hoot along with ficked up TSA people that makes traveling a thing that folks really don't want to do.
Guess the public needs to speak up more. BOA, United and Netflix have learned about poking the bear. We need to speak up more. Next up.... gas stations.
yes i agree that price is to high, but i hate seeing people bring there animals on the plane, we get rid of peanuts cause to many people are allergic to them, there is no smoking on planes cause not all people smoke, but who care if some one is allergic to the animals brought on board i say no animals in the main cabin of a plane...... yes people i love cats and dogs my parents had two cats two dogs all lived over 20 years so no one can say im an animal hater.....
I would rather have the pets than a bunch of screaming obnoxous brats on board.
Mathew,
The pets are not with the passengers but rather are CHECKED baggage.
incorrect.
many passengers are allowed to bring pets on board in the cabin. and it sucks. the pets are often as bad as the screeching, diaper-filled-with-crap infants.
dmorgan
Those who bring their pets IN the cabin pay for the seats. The particular classification of the pets in this thread are classified as (excess) BAGGAGE and were going to be classified as CARGO. Those two generally are transported in the HOLD, not the cabin. We are sorry you aren't happy with United allowing families to bring their children on YOUR flight. Might I suggest Net Jets?
Over the last 40 years, the cost of air travel has plummeted when corrected for inflation. Commercial air travel, which used to be only for the well-to-do, is now how affordable to virtually everyone. The wealthy now travel with either fractional ownership or on private aircraft in order to avoid the huddled masses. Over the same 40 year period, airlines have been the absolute worst investment of any major industry because the cut-throat price competition and rising energy costs have combined to make it almost impossible for an airline to turn a profit. Name one other industry that charges the same price for its product that was charged when Reagan was in office? Only the airlines. Meanwhile, airline passengers complain about cramped cabins, fewer direct flights, rising fees, no legroom, terrible service, and ask how commercial air travel got so awful. There is only one answer. If you want better service, pay more money. The hell that is modern air travel has been specifically chosen by the 92% of the passengers who select their air carrier by price alone.
Continental Airlines had the best animal transport program, until United sucked them up last year. I guess United was thinking they could now raise the rates without a wimper from the public. I am just heart sick that Continental is no longer a separate airline; they were the best.
Sugar,
United adopted Continentals policies when they chose to reclassify the pets as cargo and began the new fees... or that was their story last week
that is actually true. and who said it? Jeff Smisek, the current CEO of United, previously the CEO of Continental.
And hon...United didn't suck them up. The Boards of BOTH companies mutually agreed upon a merger.
The airlines have yet to figure it out........... From years of "losing money" they have adopted a policy of extracting money from us poor "suckers" who are trapped into paying exorbitant fees for luggage, pets, food, et al. Simplify your fees so that what you collect in fares PAYS for all your services.
Those who can afford it will pay, those who can't, won't. To travel means to pay what it costs. GET OVER IT.
ENOUGH!!!
United still is not making sense. The increased cost is supposedly due to Japanese fees, not United profit. Why do they have to classify anyone's pet as "cargo"? The pets were not considered cargo in the past, and it is not mandatory that they are cargo today since the military people get an exception. Someone is just lying. Can United really hate their customers so much that they they make them pay huge fees to the Japanese with no benefit to United?
Not a single airline in the industry wants to carry pets. So, high fees are meant to discourage that.
The people who typically whine most of all are the whackadoo BEST IN SHOW-types who can't live without their precious little doggy-doo right by their side every minute of every goddam day.
I wish the airlines charged 10 Grand for every pet. No exceptions. These pet-owner crazies are the worst.
Corporate greed it doesn't cost thousands to ship pets screw the airlines for forcing people to give up their pets this exemption should apply to all passengers. Bad enough there is less space and rude flight attendants and the fees for everything is ridiculous.
The airlines don't want to tranport your pets (or your other excess baggage). That's been pretty obvious for a long time and I sure as heck wouldn't want to put my pets into the hands of someone who didn't want them and couldn't give a crap about their welfare. I feel bad for the military families and understand they don't have many choices but as a pet lover, I would NEVER put any my pets on a commercial airline to be treated as baggage. The cargo hold is almost as bad as strapping them to the roof of the car Mr. Romney. They have to endure freezing cold at altitude and then possibly 100+ degree temps on the tarmac in the summer months! And, if they get out of their crate that will probably be the last time you ever see your pet. We love our pets so we either drive and take them with us most of the time or if necessary will find a reputable pet-sitter who does care about their welfare and will be happy to take good care of them while we are gone. Some even give report cards. :) Mostly we drive though - flying stinks anymore - not fun for pets or humans. The first airline that lets my bigger pets fly with me in the cabin gets my business and yes, I'll pay more but not $4,000!
Pets are family members for lots of people. Actually, better than many family members for some. High fees for pets are extortion. Discarding pets and randomly giving them away because of this is wrong, too. A lot of animal abusers love free pets. It's archaic to consider pets cargo or luggage and many do die traveling in cargo holds.
Whatever. They are a bunch of Best-In-Show crazies who can't live without their yapping, smelly pets. Let them take the bus!
I wish every pet was charged 10-Grand for a ride in a plane.
They don't need to be there. It's patently ridiculous!
These people are not drafted! I don't get the special treatment?
"these" people? your talking about the people of United Airlines? yes.
Okinawa!!!!
...sorry it's rare when they get a mention in the news that doesn't deal with Marines raping underage girls.
and as for homesick yank: yes it's called price discrimination, look i tup. it isn't necessarily a bad thing. Kubla Kahn also has a point. United does have a contract with the government regarding troop movement.
Ray
United does have a contract with the government regarding troop movement.
That is probably the biggest reason they reversed their stance for military pets. They were worried they might lose that contract in the long term.
wheres peta taking donations to save animals peta please go after airlines so people don't have to leave pets lets see a commercial of someone that needs there pet but can not afford 3 to 4 thousand dollars to the airline that does this where 1st class is 1000 dollars. i don't consider my jack russells but my as you say my kids which i love as much as my own children i say that because i am older and my kids have there own lives and my dogs look at me with love in there eyes GOD BLESS ALL SERVICE PEOPLE AS AN X MARINE SEMPER FI
Peta doesn't think you should own a pet. Wake up.
I love United Airlines! I'm a United 1K and they treat me like royalty. Of course I spend a lot of time flying but I never fly any other airline. They treat me wonderful.
Good for you Jimcolorado...not everyone can fly like you do. If you love them so much, why don't you buy their stock and stuff it in your sock!!! Nobody cares how they treat you.
Melissa is a liar. I too am a 1K. So, I also care about how they treat Jim because that's how they treat me, too. They are a terrific airline, I've been flying United/Star Alliance exclusively since 1993.
The rest of the malcontents, like Melissa... well, their opinions matter a lot less to the airlines. They are the low-fare buyers, and don't bring in the business.
PS: another reason why I'm happy -- I have United stock.
Cheers!
And DMorgan is a paid troll for united. He probably spits on returning vets at the airport.
I'd pay to see him try his burger king line on a group of returning marines... United would be shipping him home cargo class after that.
Turn in your citizenship DMorgan and find another country to live in you dont deserve to live here.
I`ve found Continental to be the best for shipping dogs internationally.