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Pets Can Fly on Air Canada Again

By Submitted Article

Sunday, April 06, 2008 07:12 AM

by Kathi Travers

Prince George, B.C. - The Canadian Air Transportation Agency (CATA) ruled on Friday April 4, 2008, that Air Canada passengers must rescind their previous decision that was made on June 1, 2007 to no longer transport cats, dogs and other small animals on planes as checked baggage. The carrier has 30 days to comply with the ruling and allow animals and their crates, with a combined weight of less than 31 kilograms, to be transported on all passenger flights.

Peter Griffiths, a consumer, fought the policy on several grounds: the fact that his pet would not likely travel on the same plane and would likely arrive at a different time; the fact that he was the contact person and was not reachable while travelling; the costs for transporting his six-kilogram dog would increase from $105 to $220.

Air Canada cited stricter security measures and extra baggage caused them to institute the policy.

In their ruling, CATA made several observations about the unreasonableness of the carrier’s requirements. For instance they required that, as a condition of acceptance of pets as checked baggage, advance arrangements be made. CATA found that the advance notice required gives the carrier the opportunity to manage the carriage of pets as checked baggage, and that it is unreasonable to refuse to carry pets under 70 lbs as checked baggage when the carrier is prepared to carry other items of the same weight as checked baggage, some of which is oversized, and does not require prior notice before being accepted.

Kudos go out to Peter Griffiths and to the understanding of CATA’s panel that hear the appeal!

As far as I and many others who travel by air with their small pets are concerned, Air Canada is still not out of the dog house as they will still not allow pets in the cabin as many other carriers do. WestJet passengers, for instance, may travel with cats, dogs, birds and rabbits in crates that fit under the seat.

    
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Posted on Sunday, April 06, 2008 07:12 AM in Pets by Submitted Article

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Comments

Comment Posted by: sum42guy2k on April 6 2008 11:35 AM
Wow....Can you say earning a bad rep? Come on air canada, get up to the standards of other air carriers...
Comment Posted by: redneck on April 6 2008 12:22 PM
Air Canada is in need of some lessons in customer service.I flew with them about a year ago and sat on the runway for 8 hours and two planes while they figured out what their problems were.I think they are trying to hard to cut costs and there service is going out the window.
Comment Posted by: Andyfreeze on April 6 2008 12:56 PM
I could not agree more redneck!
I don't fly as much as I used to,but when I do,I avoid Air Canada whenever possible.They are rude,arrogant,and just plain expensive,and they don't have a clue about customer service!
Comment Posted by: singlemom on April 7 2008 1:41 PM
I had to go for a surgery in Vancouver to have my jaw rebuilt and had to come home via Air Canada. Two of the flights were cancelled due to weather - ok, out of their control, almost made it home on the 3rd flight, but they couldn't land and had to go all the way back to Vancouver. I had spent 26 hours at the airport trying to go home, was somewhat groggy due to pain meds and it was obvious I was incredibly uncomfortable - swelling and bandages were obvious and I think the tears of frustration were pretty evident as well. Despite all of this, I remained calm and polite. Not once was I offered any assistance whatsoever and one attendant actually rolled her eyes at me and I overheard her say to another attendant something about "drama". Not once did anyone with Air Canada assist me in re-booking. It was an absolute nightmare trip and I avoid Air Canada at all costs.

I heard someone relay a motto...

"Air Canada - we're not happy til your not happy."