I think they did it just to counter bad press, but I’ll bet the passengers were not happy.
I have to wonder, though, if United carries significantly greater numbers of pets than other airlines, and that is why their statistics are so high.
If I was on that plane, I would have been very unhappy. It’s bad enough to detour because of bad weather. How many hours lost by passengers collectively? Previous incidents may make me not take pets on United. This incident makes me not to fly United period. I don’t want to stay on plane longer than needed because of a misplaced pet. I pay premium to got a nonstop.
Yes, United carries more pets by far. But their percentage of mishaps is also higher, not just absolute number.
@busdriver11 I’ve seen some data charts that show United has the most pet transports which partly explains why they have more incidents.
Oops, I see iglooo already answered. I missed the last sentence in his/her post before I responded.
And another one. This time it was Delta.
“An 8-week-old puppy headed to his new home in Idaho was mistakenly flown thousands of miles around the country, landing in at least four other states before reaching his destination, his owner said.”
What was this guy thinking having an 8-week old puppy shipped in cargo from Virginia to Idaho? That’s a horrible thing to do to to a puppy of that age. 8 weeks is younger than recommended to even separate a dog from its mother.
Delta screwed up but I don’t understand how a dog owner would do this.
And United takes the CC advice and stops carrying dogs in cargo. Little dogs/cats can still fly in the cabin.
I have to say I don’t understand the need some people seem to have to take their dogs on vacation. Leave them at home with a house sitter, board them at a good kennel, or find a friend willing to take them home for the week. They’ll be a whole lot less stressed that they will be trapped in a crate or carrier for hours.
The new United policy has left military families in Guam with no options to fly pets off the island when they are transferred.
Maybe the military will have to help the families relocate the pets when they transfer families.
Yep, plenty of military flights flying into and out of Guam. I used to fly C-5’s in there, and that airplane has a lot of room inside for pax and cargo. Seems like you could fit Rover in there, too.
I don’t know - I just saw a statement from the military that they cannot fly them on their planes for some reason. I’ve flown in C-5s - not first class, lol. "Air Mobility Command (AMC) will move pets on military aircraft on a space-available basis via a service known as Patriot Express, which uses contracted flights. But because Andersen Air Force Base does not have those flights, pets cannot be flown in and out of Guam by military transport, Andersen officials said in a statement posted to the Andersen Passenger Terminal Facebook page March 20.
“In light of the recent decision by United Airlines to suspend bookings for pets, we have begun to receive many phone calls regarding the shipping of pets on DoD aircraft and would like to help answer any questions regarding the shipping of your pets,” the statement said. “Unfortunately, we do not have commercially contracted passenger missions out of Andersen and are unable to ship pets at this time.”"
United–more bad press from someone badly injured when they took wheelchair from him after he entered aircraft and fell badly:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5525867/Passenger-sues-fell-United-took-wheelchair.html
Hey now, C-5’s are first class travel in the military, have you ever Space A’d on a C-130? 
The price is right.
If it gets too tough, the military might change their policy. Gonna be a lot of pushback if people have to leave their pets on Guam. Or a lot of newly minted service dogs flying on United in the cabin. :o3
Alaska now has a new ESA policy:
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/alaska-airlines-tightens-emotional-support-animal-policy/
Our local Costco recently put up a sign at the entrance welcoming service dogs and saying that ESAs are not service animals.
I swear I heard a dog barking in there the day before I noticed that sign, lol.
So, my office is dog friendly. Bust I have a client who brings in a dog each time, not always to my liking. Last week, I was upset with his dog. That dog jumped on my leather couch and scratched it, long deep scratches. I mentioned it to my patient today, and he said that dog won’t be back, still, he ruined a $1000 leather couch.
That’s what I was thinking.
The fines should be bigger. Otherwise, decent laws.
United is restarting the program for flying pets in June/July. Some places won’t be available in the summer months (Vegas, Texas).