Article Index

Flying with Dog?

Experience which NO dog should ever make.

Flying with AIR FRANCE
YazooThis is Yazoo, my funniest, cheekiest, most characterful, most loveable and most trusting Briard. She is the only one of the gang that I believe is capable to make a flight in a kennel box in the cargo compartment. That is why I decided in fall 1999 to have her join me to my trip to Canada and the United States. In Canada I would live with friends who have two daughters of Yazoo, in the States with other puppy owners. So I booked with AIR FRANCE: Yazoo in the cargo compartment and my Yorkie girl Gizmo as dog in cabin. Planned was vacation from Aug. 4th to Sept. 1st, 2000 with some shows in both countries and with the Rassemblement and National Specialty 2000 of BCA (Briard Club of America). The trip to the States should also take place by flying.

Abflug in WienDeparture Vienna
Besides my own two dogs I took an 8 weeks old Briard girl from a breeder with me; this puppy should fly to her owners in the States.
The flight was going from Vienna to Paris, were I had to switch plane. Before taking off I was told that both the dogs had been loaded and that they were calm. Wow - FINALLY vacation!

Switching in Paris
Getting on the plane in Paris I called attention that besides Gizmo being with me as dog in cabin, two more dogs should be on this flight and that this needed to be checked. Shortly before taking off I was assured twice that the dogs were on board.

Landing in Toronto
Then, after seven and a half hours the relieving words of the captain: in some minutes we are going to land in Toronto; sunshine and summer temperatures - in contrary to Europe. I was at the first destination of my long awaited vacation.

Where are my dogs
Landung in TorontoWhile leaving the plane a stewardess said to me that in few minutes I would see my dogs. But what happened then and would furtheron happen, I had never in my life expected, this vacation turned to be no vacation but a horror trip: Just at the gangway I was asked by a woman from the ground crew if I was Mrs. Friedl and I said yes, with the remark that now I would be brought to my dogs. The answer hit me like a punch: NO, YOUR DOGS ARE IN PARIS ..... Everyone will imagine what went on in me now.

AIR FRANCE forgets dogs in Paris
That also my luggage had been left behind in in Paris, did not interest me in any way, but it seemed to be the special attention of the airline, as they had only interest to hand over 150 CAD to me, so that I would be able to buy the most important things until my suitcases would arrive. Concerning information about the dogs they just ignored things after they had told me that for sure the two would be taken care of properly.