flying pups

[Michael Romanos]

Debbie - I don't consider Air New Zealand to be a "mum and pop" operation. Air NZ is an international carrier and recognised internationally as an airline with an almost impeccable safety record and one of the world's best airlines for service and efficiency.
I still say that military flights would not be "first class" whether they are a necessity or not - unless President George W Bush was onboard. And what a shame he wasn't on that occasion and that the dogs among the luggage were Corgis.

[PocketsMom]

I never said it was first class. Nor did I have a choice of first class for my dogs. The fact that you act like I had some choice is the issue. You make it seem like I have done something wrong with that choice. Almost like I neglected my dog for not having first class arrangements for them.

[Michael Romanos]

Pocketsmom - I think this thread started with Jane discussing costs of air travel and it went on from there to include the pros and cons of Corgis travelling by air as opposed to vehicular transport on the road over long distances. and some of the worse features of air travel for dogs.
You brought up an example of a kind of "worse feature" and I said that wasn't first class - and this was said in the sense that it wasn't a kind of trip you would wish upon any dog. Actually I didn't realise that you people in the USA have First Class and I suppose budget or normal class for dogs travelling by air. The airlines in NZ only have a single class aspect - there are no choices and I am trying to point out that we in NZ (and I dare say Australia) find the system and the service adequate the way it is.
I applaud you taking your 'family' to Italy with you. I met a young woman recently and she is going to the United Kingdom for two years and she is taking her two little dogs with her and it is costing her NZ$10,000 for a one way trip for the dogs to the UK - that's travel from the bottom of the world to almost the top and all the other expenses associated with taking dogs out of the country. Fortunately there will be no need for any quarantine for her dogs when they get to the UK.

[PocketsMom]

Thank you Michael.

I am actually not sure there is an option for first class for the dogs other than if they are on the plane with you. From what I was told when I was calling they are always handled as cargo. I to misunderstood the difference in airline. The only thing I was ever told was that there were certain times of year they would not fly the animals do to the extreme heat or cold. Luckily the situation is over and one I will NOT be repeating. As I said earlier I was pretty sure it was more of a miscommunication rather than you trying to be offensive.

Luckily my girls were spared quarantine as well. I had actually told my husband I wouldn't go if it meant we had to quarantine them. I would not put them through that.

Again thank you for the applause and also for reexplaining whatyou meant so it didn't beat me up so badly! Although with the care they have I almost wish I were in NZ! Especially no mosquitoes!

[Michael Romanos]

Ther are mossies in NZ but thankfully not an over abundance of them and not the variety which infect dogs with heartworm. Having said that, NZ has to be very villigant against foreign mossies finding their way here and breeding like crazy in our temperate climate which is getting considerably warmer due to the effects of global warming - which has hit NZ harder than most countries.