We are all well aware of the fact now that Americans are fatter than the average human. Apparently this now extends to our pets as well. Because a small pet by American standards is simply too big for European airlines.
This little saga began when a client decided to have her daughter bring her much-loved pug dog, Bogart, with them to their vacation home in France for two weeks.
Now, Bogart, while not thin, is actually, according to his vet, a fine weight for a pug at about 23 pounds. (The breed is not exactly known for its svelte specimens.) He apparently travels quite happily in his underseat container, starting from when he was a puppy while the daughter was in college across the country.
Moreover, pugs are a very rare breed in France. On a couple previous visits Bogart had been a major hit and much fussed-over by the locals. So booking this pet started out to be a comparatively simple exercise.
Then the daughter’s boyfriend bought his ticket on Air France. (Air France allows only animals up to 6 kilograms- about 13 pounds – counting the container.) Suffice it to say, Bogart wasn’t even close. To be fair, not even an anorexic pug would qualify.
It wasn’t only Air France that had pet size limitations. Bogart was out of luck on all European airlines checked for this flight.
Lufthansa, does allow for slightly bigger animals, with a maximum of 8 kilograms, a little over 17.5 pounds. Closer, but still no chance. Even if Bogart didn’t eat for a month.
North American carriers, perhaps used to American sizes, are a little more accommodating. Air Canada, which had the best pet fares, was a little more generous at 10 kilograms – 22 pounds. (But apparently they can and do weigh the container, so they were out.)
Fortunately, Bogart’s regular transcontinental airline, United, has either decided to cut Americans some slack, or perhaps they have simply decided the considerable extra revenue for in-cabin pets is worth it. In any case the airline only limits the container by size (17 x 12 x 8 hardsided, or 17 x 10 x 10 softsided) with no limitation on weight.
American Airlines and Delta Airlines, curiously enough, limit the pet and container to 20 pounds, although they allow larger, 19 x 13 x 9 hard carriers, and even say they can be slightly larger if soft-sided.
The United schedule was more expensive and it wasn’t ideal with a connection at Dulles Airport, but it was workable. So Bogart escaped two weeks in a kennel in favor of running around in the countryside. Plus, the French people will get a rare American visitor they find charming.
Janice Hough is a California-based travel agent a travel blogger and a part-time comedy writer. A frequent flier herself, she’s been doing battle with airlines, hotels, and other travel companies for over three decades. Besides writing for Travelers United, Janice has a humor blog at Leftcoastsportsbabe.com (Warning, the political and sports humor therein does not represent the views of anyone but herself.)
