AP
While most of the major U.S. air carriers are working to accommodate Fluffy and Fido as they experience the joys and pains of air travel, there are wide-ranging discrepancies between the policies, the creature comforts, and most importantly the safety records of the big U.S. airlines.
The vast majority of jet-setting dogs touch down safely at their destinations, but a significant number have been injured, lost, or killed in transit. According to the Department of Transportation, 224 dogs met one of the aforementioned fates between 2005 and 2009.
According to ABC News, U.S. airlines have been required to report pet-related problems only since 2005, and they don't necessarily keep detailed records of all of the pets that they transport successfully. But even though the records are by no means perfect, the data does give pet owners reason to to take a hard look at airline pet safety before booking a flight.
From the DOT records available, ABC News says that the airline with the most incidents was Continental, with 58 deaths, injuries, or lost dogs since 2005. (An airline spokesperson told ABC News that during those past five years, Continental has transported over 550,000 animals.) Delta came in second with 48 incidents, then Alaska Airlines with 36, American Airlines with 33, and United with 17. The size of the airline doesn't correspond to the number of pet-related accidents. Delta is the world's largest airline, carrying 65.2 million domestic passengers each year, over twice the number carried by Continental. However, Delta has come under scrutiny in recent months for pet related mishaps.
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