Never Travel on American Airlines with Dogs!

I'm guessing that it was entirely one of those things were it comes
down to the crew's foibles and mood that day, not overall policy of
the airline. But it doesn't make it any easier to live through.

Thank god, I have never been in a position where I had to transport an
animal via airline; I would never, ever trust an airline to transport
an animal. I have heard too many horror stories.

You're lucky those dogs are alive. Disgusting.

Alright, I couldn't keep it in! I tried but here goes, everybody was
once an "unruly child" so to say that you would rather have dogs than
unruly children in the aircraft is just stupid. As a parent, I try
very hard to keep my children behaving as well as possible. We work
on our inside voices and our outside voices but you know what, they
got spunk and they sometimes just want to have fun. Are they unruly?
Nope! Loud? Oh, heck yes they are! But they have personality and
that is what matters. And as far as baking in the sun, mid 70's is
freaking hot to me. And my dog! I am used to the warmest temps being
60-65 and that is a day that everyone calls in sick to work and spends
the day at the beach so just because it's not hot to one person
doesn't mean it isn't possible. That's pretty warm and without water,
and on the airport tarmac, hmm. I don't think I want to sit there
without being offered water so I wouldn't expect my dog to either.

When I moved from Chicago to Florida, I didn't trust AA enough to ship
my dogs. But I did have them ship my two cats and I was impressed with
their care. From the time I dropped them off at ORD and picked them
up at FLL, AA did a very professional job.

That said, a friend of mine once called AA to inquire about shipping
his cat to Florida. The phone rep read right from her manual, where
it says, "The animal must first be packed in "dry ice!" My friend
said, "But lady, the cat is still alive!" It was quite obvious the rep
was reading about shipping a deceased animal. But she stuck to her
guns and insisted the cat MUST be shipped frozen! Needless to say, my
friend didn't use AA.

All I have to say is that you are very nice, and AA is lucky you
didn't sue them. I would be so upset and angry if anyone mistreated
my dogs, because to be frank, I care for them them more than I care
for most people.

Actually, you should never travel on American Airlines with me. Or
any other airline for that matter. I complain a lot and I'm quite
often drunk.

This OP, Katie, has to be one of the best on this site. She's taken
criticism from quite a few people and has handled it all with aplomb,
patients, and class.

If I'm not mistaken, the flight attendant was telling the the window
cover needed to be open during take-off and landing only. Last time I
was told to make sure mine was open (we were waiting to take-off) I
asked for an explanation. I was told that it needed to be open during
take-off and landing only so that if there was an accident and the
plane flipped the passengers could tell if they were right side up or
not.

Not a particularly re-assuring explanation, but there it is. It is
for safety reasons. I am certain that you could have put it down once
in the air.

Having never traveled with a dog, I have no comment on the airlines
rules about such matters, however, I find fault with some of your
statements. You were not "allowed" to close your window covers?
Please, I have flown a lot of times and never asked if I could close
the window covering, and have NEVER been told to open it back up. Two
- you found the plane "hot and still" when you got on. Oh, yes - they
should run the AC FULL BLAST for hours, so the plane would be cool for
you. Third - did you try to give your dog water? Seems to me that even
if you were giving the dog water, the worse they could do would be to
tell you to stop - in which case, the dog would already have had a
drink. WHY would you ask permission like a child? Lastly - if the
plane was unbearable hot, why would you need a blanket?

I don't really know what to say. I've never flown with my dog and I
don't think I would. She's probably small enough to go in the cabin,
she's a Schipperke.

I've only flown with an animal once. My sister passed away and she
lived in Minnesota. We had to take her cat back with us to NY. The
vet came to the hotel and gave her a traquilizer. Unfortunately, our
flight out of Cleveland was delayed and the medication wore off about
45 minutes out of NY. You've never heard such howling in your life.
It was the one time I was glad the airline could not seat us together
and the cat was under my sister's seat. The cat is fine now, fat and
sassy!

I am glad you and your animals got there and back safe and sound. I
live near the airport that lost the Whippet, Vivi. They are still
searching for her.

I would much rather have dogs in the passenger's compartment than
unruly children.

It is rather interesting that you would wait several months before
writing this letter.

Poor puppies! Yes, I prefer animals to people, go figure. :)

Next time, though, drive. It will be less stressful on you, as well as
the pooches. Since you were going to a competition, I would think
having the dogs in top shape and relaxed would be a huge plus, instead
of stressed and dehydrated.

You mean an airline didn't treat a dog "well?" That's not too
surprising considering how they treat actual human beings.

Here's the jist. There's a handful of people in the world who think
your dog is as important as you do and the folks at AA aren't among
them and neither am I.

Your dog is NOT a person. It isn't as important as a person. It
isn't entitled to special treatment. That doesn't mean that it should
be subjected to inhumane treatment, but that isn't what happened here,
per your letter.

Seriously, have we become such a nation of self-important twits who
think that pets should be treated better than alot of the PEOPLE on
this planet? It is embarrassing.

Off topic but.. What kind of dogs?

Wait, she wouldn't let you close the window cover? Why on earth not?
Did she give you a reason? (I know you can't really argue with them.)
I close mine nearly every time I fly. I've had fight attendants ask
passengers to close the window covers so people can sleep.

Call me cold but the only pet that belongs in the passenger
compartment is a Helper Dog.
Ennuf said.
BillR

This is exactly why people who get animals should really think things
out well before taking on the responsibility of owning and caring for
one. I'd rather drive that distance and incovenience myself, than let
my dog be treated as "cargo".
How was it American Airline's fault the flight was delayed? They did
exactly what they were supposed to, get the cargo on another plane as
well as the passengers. I doubt Delta or anyone else would do anything
differently.

It took you 3 months for you to decide to write this letter?

baking in the hot sun in March??