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HELP NEEDED! PLEASE READ!
14 years ago
General
I would like to start by saying, I am NOT asking for donations, all I'm asking for is a little bit of your time, and if possible, a little effort as well. Please take the time to read the following: my sotry, a few articles, and if you feel up to it, sign the petition. I don't know whether or not anything can be changed, but at least I'll know I put the effort into trying to get it fixed.
Thanks to a change in United airlines policies after merging with Continental airlines it could cost me up to $8,000 for <b>just</b> my dogs to fly back home next year!!! But this doesn't just effect military over seas, or those moving over seas, it can effect anyone who chooses to fly with a pet on this airline!
Of all the things I've made for myself in my adult life, all the things I own, anything that can be considered mine today, husband and child included, my dog out dates them all. He's been there for me when I've had nothing else, and seen me through some very difficult times in my life. And this airline is asking me to either take out a loan just to get him home, or leave the oldest part of my adult life in a foreign country. Not just Biskits either, but Clover as well. I may not have had her as long, but she is just as much a part of this family as my husband, child, other dogs. If I can't save the money or get a loan for the missing amount by next year, not only would I have to give up 2 family members, I would have to explain to my daughter why we can't take them with us and break her heart as well. Military members have no choice to but to fly with this airline and they are taking advantage of that. The cost of an over seas relocation is already a large one, this just makes it even worse.
So whats going on exactly? United airlines has merged with Continental, and with this merger, are changing their policy so that animals can no longer fly as excess baggage or in cabin. Instead, they have to fly as cargo on a separate plane. This means that instead of the $250 it took to fly my dog here, it could cost $1,440 to $3,869 to fly my animals home. Because not only do I have to pay for them to fly cargo, but also for them to be tendered at their origin airport by a "Regulated Agent" or "IATA-Approved." (3rd party) United has made claims that they can't do anything about it, that they still have "competitive rates" They tried to pass blame and say that it's the new TSAs fault and that US requires pets to enter country as cargo. However the new TSA clearly states that animals flying as excess baggage or in the passenger cabin can not only enter the US, but are are exempt from the 3rd party charges. All united would need to do is to continue to allow pets to fly as excess baggage. Military members have no choice but to fly united thanks to a contract with he military allowing the military to fly at discounted rates.
This doesn't just effect Military members, but their host countries as well. I know for a fact the island I live on already has a stray dog and cat problem. Until now, many military members have been try to help with this problem. Finding stray pets, who would otherwise be put down, new homes with military members who would fly them back to the states with them. They have even gone and found people in the US or the mainland to take these animals and had voulenteers fly the animals to either the main land or the states to get then new homes. With this change in policy and increased cost, they would no longer be able to do this. If this price to fly animals back to the US stays where it is, many lower ranking military members will be forced to abandon their animals, creating an even bigger stray problem we would no longer be able to help with. Not just in Okinawa, but in any host country!
So what can you do? Well there are a few things.
-Read these following articles about whats going on: http://www.stripes.com/news/shippin.....-rule-1.168509 http://www.wtsp.com/news/article/239156/81/United-says-pets-not-in-cabin-to-fly-as-cargo
-Read and understand the new TSA: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/de.....20from%20Japan
-Like the following face book pages to help keep up with what's going on: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Unit.....21467661237059 https://www.facebook.com/militarypetalliance
-Sign the petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/ad.....ts/?cid=FB_TAF
-Share this information. Get the word out to anyone and everyone you can. This effects everyone who wants to fly wit their pets, internationally and domestically. Let them know we are not going to let this new policy 'fly'.
Thanks to a change in United airlines policies after merging with Continental airlines it could cost me up to $8,000 for <b>just</b> my dogs to fly back home next year!!! But this doesn't just effect military over seas, or those moving over seas, it can effect anyone who chooses to fly with a pet on this airline!
Of all the things I've made for myself in my adult life, all the things I own, anything that can be considered mine today, husband and child included, my dog out dates them all. He's been there for me when I've had nothing else, and seen me through some very difficult times in my life. And this airline is asking me to either take out a loan just to get him home, or leave the oldest part of my adult life in a foreign country. Not just Biskits either, but Clover as well. I may not have had her as long, but she is just as much a part of this family as my husband, child, other dogs. If I can't save the money or get a loan for the missing amount by next year, not only would I have to give up 2 family members, I would have to explain to my daughter why we can't take them with us and break her heart as well. Military members have no choice to but to fly with this airline and they are taking advantage of that. The cost of an over seas relocation is already a large one, this just makes it even worse.
So whats going on exactly? United airlines has merged with Continental, and with this merger, are changing their policy so that animals can no longer fly as excess baggage or in cabin. Instead, they have to fly as cargo on a separate plane. This means that instead of the $250 it took to fly my dog here, it could cost $1,440 to $3,869 to fly my animals home. Because not only do I have to pay for them to fly cargo, but also for them to be tendered at their origin airport by a "Regulated Agent" or "IATA-Approved." (3rd party) United has made claims that they can't do anything about it, that they still have "competitive rates" They tried to pass blame and say that it's the new TSAs fault and that US requires pets to enter country as cargo. However the new TSA clearly states that animals flying as excess baggage or in the passenger cabin can not only enter the US, but are are exempt from the 3rd party charges. All united would need to do is to continue to allow pets to fly as excess baggage. Military members have no choice but to fly united thanks to a contract with he military allowing the military to fly at discounted rates.
This doesn't just effect Military members, but their host countries as well. I know for a fact the island I live on already has a stray dog and cat problem. Until now, many military members have been try to help with this problem. Finding stray pets, who would otherwise be put down, new homes with military members who would fly them back to the states with them. They have even gone and found people in the US or the mainland to take these animals and had voulenteers fly the animals to either the main land or the states to get then new homes. With this change in policy and increased cost, they would no longer be able to do this. If this price to fly animals back to the US stays where it is, many lower ranking military members will be forced to abandon their animals, creating an even bigger stray problem we would no longer be able to help with. Not just in Okinawa, but in any host country!
So what can you do? Well there are a few things.
-Read these following articles about whats going on: http://www.stripes.com/news/shippin.....-rule-1.168509 http://www.wtsp.com/news/article/239156/81/United-says-pets-not-in-cabin-to-fly-as-cargo
-Read and understand the new TSA: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/de.....20from%20Japan
-Like the following face book pages to help keep up with what's going on: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Unit.....21467661237059 https://www.facebook.com/militarypetalliance
-Sign the petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/ad.....ts/?cid=FB_TAF
-Share this information. Get the word out to anyone and everyone you can. This effects everyone who wants to fly wit their pets, internationally and domestically. Let them know we are not going to let this new policy 'fly'.
