“Support animals” will no longer be allowed on United Airlines flights longer than eight hours.
United officials say they are seeing more on-board animal-related incidents, adding many are not used to spending so much time on a plane.
In addition, United won’t allow kittens or puppies less than four months old as support animals, in-cabin pets, or service animals. The airline says animals that young typically haven’t had all necessary vaccinations.
United joins Delta Airlines in changing polices on emotional support animals.
When Shilhabel landed in Chicago’s O’Hare airport to make his quick connecting flight, he was not given an aisle chair, a type of wheelchair used by passengers getting in and off the plane. Instead, a United Airlines flight attendant physically carried him out to his wheelchair, which was waiting in the terminal.
“One of the flight attendants, who knew that I was in a rush and the aisle chair wasn’t there, he actually picked me up, lifted me and put me into my normal chair so that I could make my connecting flight,” Schilhabel said to WLS.
Though the airport allegedly had an aisle chair, airline staff reportedly decided carrying Shilhabel would be faster.
The traveler’s problems with proper equipment did not end there, however.
Once the couple landed in Punta Cana, Schilhabel allegedly had to scoot his way down the plane aisle on his bottom since the airport did not have an aisle chair. Once off the plane, Schilhabel had to slide down the stairs with the help of his wife as the airport’s accesible lift was broken, Schilhabel tweeted out.
“I had to scoot on my bottom all the way to the front of the plane, and when we realized there wasn’t a ramp or anything else, my wife and I just decided, no, it’s not safe. We don’t trust them to carry me down the flight of stairs, so we just hopped down. She grabbed my legs, and I hopped down step by step on my bottom,” he said to WLS.
On the way back, Schilhabel said he suffered more problems. This time when landing at O’Hare, an aisle chair was not available at all and the passenger claims he had to scoot out of the plane once again.
United Airlines said in a statement to Fox News that they have apologized to Schilhabel and are actively looking into this matter and working to ensure it does not happen again.
“We are proud to operate an airline that doesn’t just include people with disabilities but welcomes them as customers. In fact, thousands of people with disabilities fly United every day. That said, this incident falls far short of our own high standard of caring for our customers. We have been in touch with the customer to apologize and assure him that the errors that led to this situation are extremely rare.”
United Airlines confirmed to Fox News that the company has ordered a new lift for the airport at Punta Cana to avoid situations like this in the future.
A paraplegic passenger who relies on a wheelchair said he was forced, on multiple occasions, to scoot down his plane’s aisle while traveling on United Airlines with his wife for their honeymoon because of a lack of proper equipment.
High school football coach Tyler Schilhabel said the problems began when he landed at O’Hare for a layover between Los Angeles and the Dominican Republic. He said he almost missed his connection because he was late getting off the plane.
United Airlines, he said, did not immediately have available an aisle chair which helps passengers with disabilities navigate a plane’s narrow aisles.
“One of the flight attendants, who knew that I was in a rush and the aisle chair wasn’t there, he actually picked me up, lifted me and put me into my normal chair so that I could make my connecting flight,” Schilhabel said.
When Schilhabel and his wife landed in the Caribbean there were more problems deplaning.
“I had to scoot on my bottom all the way to the front of the plane, and when we realized there wasn’t a ramp or anything else, my wife and I just decided, no, it’s not safe. We don’t trust them to carry me down the flight of stairs, so we just hopped down. She grabbed my legs, and I hopped down step by step on my bottom,” he said.
Getting home from the honeymoon was also an ordeal. When the couple landed in O’Hare for their connection there was once again no aisle chair.
“We had a connecting flight, still had to get through customs, so I scooted on my bottom all 31 rows to the front of the plane, got on my chair, got through customs,” said Schilhabel.
United released a statement Monday, saying in part, “We are proud to operate an airline that doesn’t just include people with disabilities but welcomes them as customers … That said, this incident falls far short of our own high standard.”
United said it is in contact with Schilhabel to apologize, and called these types of incidents extremely rare.
Schilhabel said he went public with his experience in an effort to fix the problem. He said he notified the airline well in advance about the accommodations he needed.
United Airlines’ newest aircraft type – the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner – is now in service at the carrier.
United Flight 2418 marked United’s official debut of its “Dash 10,” departing from Los Angeles at 8:49 a.m. local time (11:49 a.m. ET) on Monday morning en route to Newark, New Jersey. Though United touted the flight as the 787-10’s “entry into scheduled service,” the airline has quietly subbed the 787-10 onto some flights in recent weeks ahead of the formal debut.
Now, United will roll the 787-10 onto more of its existing flights that already connect the carrier’s hubs at Newark Liberty and Los Angeles. In addition to the LAX-Newark flights that begin today, United’s 787-10s will begin to pick up some of its Newark-San Francisco flights starting in February.
The 787-10s expand to international service in March, when United adds the jet to routes from Newark to the European cities of Frankfurt, Germany; Paris Charles de Gaulle; Barcelona, Spain; Brussels and Dublin. United also will fly the jet between Newark and Tel Aviv, Israel.
PHOTOS: WestJet’s first Boeing 787 Dreamliner takes flight from Everett, Washington
TODAY IN THE SKY: First look: United shows off its first Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner
The 787-10 is the newest and biggest version yet of Boeing’s Dreamliner. Essentially a stretched version of the smaller 787-8 and 787-9 variants, the 787-10 is 18 feet longer than the 787-9.
United, which already had the other two variants in its fleet, is now the only carrier in the world to be flying all three versions of the Boeing Dreamliner.
United touted its new 787-10 in a statement, saying that its addition “continues United’s comprehensive fleet plan, while providing an improved experience for customers. The aircraft is United’s first Dreamliner model delivered with the airline’s signature Polaris business class seats, and new United Premium Plus seats.”
TODAY IN THE SKY: United reveals first international routes for new Boeing 787-10s
TODAY IN THE SKY: Boeing celebrates delivery of its newest, biggest ‘Dreamliner’ yet
The 787-10 is the newest airplane variant to be rolled out from Boeing, which delivered its first one just this past March to launch customer Singapore Airlines.
United is the first North American airline to both receive and put the 787-10 into passenger service.
United’s 787-10s seat 318 passengers. Included in that configuration are 44 of United’s new “Polaris” lie-flat business-class seats and 21 international-style “Premium Plus” premium economy seats, United’s newest class of service that debuted in 2018. It’s not yet widely rolled out to United’s fleet, but is being installed on all 14 787-10s that United has ordered.
Completing United’s 787-10 layout are 54 extra-legroom Economy Plus seats and 199 in standard coach.
By comparison, United’s 787-8s seat 219 passengers and its 787-9s seat 252.
TODAY IN THE SKY: ‘New airplane smell’: Aboard a 24-hour Singapore delivery flight
Posted!
A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.
1 of 44
2 of 44
3 of 44
4 of 44
5 of 44
6 of 44
7 of 44
8 of 44
9 of 44
10 of 44
11 of 44
12 of 44
13 of 44
14 of 44
15 of 44
16 of 44
17 of 44
18 of 44
19 of 44
20 of 44
21 of 44
22 of 44
23 of 44
24 of 44
25 of 44
26 of 44
27 of 44
28 of 44
29 of 44
30 of 44
31 of 44
32 of 44
33 of 44
34 of 44
35 of 44
36 of 44
37 of 44
38 of 44
39 of 44
40 of 44
41 of 44
42 of 44
43 of 44
44 of 44
Singapore Airlines unveils new cabin interior for Boeing 787-10 ‘Dreamliner’
(WILX) — There are new rules for emotional support animals at United Airlines.
Starting Monday, United Airlines will only allow dogs and cats to fly with passengers as emotional support animals.
The new rule also bans all support animals from flights longer than eight hours, although service animals with specialized training can still travel on long haul flights.
All dogs and cats traveling on board flights must be at least four months old.
Additionally, only dogs, cats and miniature horses will be allowed to fly as service animals.
Although the changes take effect Monday, United says it will honor reservations made by January 3rd under the old rules.
Turns out airline food doesn’t have to come in a snack-sized bag and doesn’t have to stay on the plane.
Now folks can recreate some business-class meals with the new United “Polaris” cookbook, The Daily Meal reports.
But this isn’t the peanuts and pretzels served in coach —United Airlines shared an image of the cookbook featuring a recipe for “coconut soup with sambal oelek chicken” with the Free Press.
According to the United Airlines shop, its $29.99 cookbook features over 40 recipes from United’s executive chefs and chefs from The Trotter Project —which works to provide education and mentorship to benefit young chefs in the culinary and hospitality fields.
On its website, United has said that it is “excited to be the official airline of The Trotter Project” and partners with the nonprofit to bring gourmet options for the United Polaris business class passengers and premium transcontinental service flyers, plus new dishes for those enjoying international economy dining.
“A portion of proceeds (for the cookbook) will be donated to The Trotter Project to continue its mission of inspiring the next generation of culinary professionals,” a United spokesperson said in an email.
According to Travel + Leisure, other airlines have previously ventured into cookbooks: Southwest Airlines published “Feel the Spirit, Savor the Fare” in 2006 and Delta put out a book of recipes compiled by its flight attendants called, “First-Class Meals” back in 1987.
United Airlines is tightening rules on animals which can be brought into the cabin starting Monday. One new restriction is regarding the length of flights.
The airline said emotional support animals won’t be allowed on flights longer than eight hours.
“We have seen increases in onboard incidents on longer flights involving these animals, many of which are unaccustomed to spending an extended amount of time in the cabin of an aircraft,” the company said in a blog post.
Kittens and puppies under four months old will not be allowed on any flight regardless of whether they are emotional support animals, service animals, or pets. The airline said animals under four months typically don’t have the required vaccinations.
Only dogs and cats will be allowed as emotional support animals. Service animals will be limited to dogs, cats, and miniature horses.
The airline said reservations made before January 3, which is when the change was announced, will be honored.
By saying that only the president can and should take the necessary steps, the pilots seem to recognize that, whatever the merits (or demerits) of a wall, it isn’t worth risking airline safety for what some believe is a symbol of power, rather than an effective security measure.
Benjamin and his family were looking at more than $5,000 in airline tickets to bring him back to Michigan for the first time in a year, and then a return flight to Germany in January before his leave expired. (iStock)
United Airlines on Monday quickly reversed itself in what could have been another embarrassing public relations gaffe for the carrier.
United will reimburse U.S. Army soldier Pfc. Benjamin Jimenez for the money he spent to get home to Michigan from Germany after his original flight was cancelled on Saturday, Dec. 22, and will also pay for his return flight to Frankfurt, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Benjamin and his family were looking at more than $5,000 in airline tickets to bring him back to Michigan for the first time in a year, and then a return flight to Germany in January before his leave expired.
Instead, United is picking up the tab.
“I’m happy,” Benjamin’s aunt, Sarah Mundt of Monroe, Mich., told the Free Press.
Read more from TravelPulse:
The issue started on Saturday. Benjamin had spent $1,116 in November on a round-trip flight to come home to Michigan for Christmas. But he found out that the flights were canceled by United codeshare partner Lufthansa, and was told by United that the best they could do was have him purchase another flight – at a cost of $2,300 one way – and dispute the charge with his credit card company.
The Free Press published a story on the ordeal on Sunday and it immediately became a viral sensation, prompting callers and well-wishers who wanted to donate to Benjamin and his family.
“I made it very clear, I don’t want anything for free,” Mundt told the newspaper. “I understand this is a business, you guys have to make money. I don’t mind paying the original fare that he originally bought … but we want the $2,500 back, and we need a way for him to get back to Germany.”
United, stung in the past by public relations gaffes and insensitive and/or ill-timed responses, jumped in quickly after the initial story appeared.
The airline said it would send Benjamin and his family a check to cover the $2,300 the soldier spent on his ticket to Michigan after his original flight was canceled. And, United will fly him back to Frankfurt next month, free of charge.
