Delta Air Lines has long been known as an airline that that is passenger friendly in that it provides cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages. Being pet friendly is another matter.
As of June, Delta stopped transporting pets as cargo or checked luggage on any of its Boeing 767 flights. The airline contacted customers who already purchased transport for their pets offering alternatives such as transferring them to airline partners still willing to accommodate pets. Delta total fleet of 800 aircraft includes 95 Boeing 767s.
Delta made this decision because it is placing crew bunks below the passenger cabin to allow its international flight crews to rest.
Other changes Delta has made to its pet policies in recent months include:
In February Delta banned pets from international business class cabins to make room for its new lie-flat seats.
Delta stopped accepting snub nosed dogs and cats as checked baggage after the deaths of a few bulldogs and similar breeds late in 2011.
Delta will no long accept pets as checked baggage from May 15 through September 15th, or anytime the outside temperature exceeds 85 degrees or is below 10 degree on the ground.
Other U.S. airlines have also changed their pet policies recently in response to several high-profile pet deaths. The U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed new pet procedures including requiring airlines to report all pet incidents. www.cheapfares.com