Alaska Airlines ends free humane society animal transfers
COURTESY ALASKA AIRLINES
Alaska Airlines is no longer transferring shelter animals from Hawaii for free.
PUHI >> Alaska Airlines is no longer transferring shelter animals from Hawaii for free.
The Garden Island reports humane societies will be charged $150 for each animal’s flight.
A letter from the airline to Kauai Humane Society leadership cites safety and security concerns. The letter said passengers did not know the animals or take responsibility before takeoff and after landing.
Kauai Humane Society Executive Director Penny Cistaro says shelter officials were always at airports for transfers.
She said the new charge is cost prohibitive and also impacts the Maui Humane Society.
A monthly average of 34 animals flew under the program.
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The Kauai shelter can afford travel for six animals per month.
Alaska Airlines official Daniel Chun said the program was intended to ease shelter crowding and is being reevaluated.
9 responses to “Alaska Airlines ends free humane society animal transfers”
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Sad to say Alaska Airlines official Daniel Chun is just doing as he is told, he really doesn’t know anything. Clearly evident in his comment, “safety and security concerns” willfully failing to articulate exactly what the concerns are.
Fact is there are no concerns. This is just a corporate decision by bureaucrats who feel they do not have to give back.
This is really laughable, “Alaska Airlines official Daniel Chun said the program was intended to ease shelter crowding and is being reevaluated.” Uhhhhh, why is this being reevaluated after the fact? Clearly Alaskan Airline bureaucrats are unprofessional, just throwing darts at a wall and hoping something will stick. Sad.
At least Alaska tried to help. Where was Hawaiian Airlines in all of this……….That’s what I thought, nowhere………..
If Hawaiian doesn’t do “anything” for free.
several questions arise:
isn’t alaska airlines a “for profit” business as any other business? they are in existence to provide a given service for a fair nominal fee which includes a profit margin (like any other business).
why does anyone who decides/elects to use the service they offer have the right to EXPECT ANY KIND OF SPECIAL CONSIDERATION OR TREATMENT out of the ordinary course of business? every customer, man, woman, child, or animal should expect to pay the going market rate established to receive the service offered, should they not – or don’t use the service!?
at what point does “giving back to the community” begin or end? one can see “giving back to the community” in times of extreme devastation whether natural or otherwise – but not during the course of normal daily activities or events! this culture of expectation of any “entitlement” is becoming too commonplace, too, too woven into the social fabric of a society. it is bordering on and taking on the characteristics of pure socialism!
what is the comparative practice for other air carriers servicing the garden isle? are they also being pressured to provide a similar service to the same group or others like them in the name of “giving back to the community”?
should the business not be accorded the prerogative of deciding the how, when, where, under what circumstances, along with the recipient of any such “giving back” action? sharing is good – but the giver has the right to retain the last decision for the action.
but – to have any such pseudo-governmental organization try to force any for-profit business organization into complying with their demands (fair or otherwise) for free services under the mistaken guise of “giving back to the community” BY USING THE MEDIA is basic unconscionable greed by imposing an aura of GUILT! that is truly sad!
atilter – Rookie poster, shibai, verbose post.
This was not hurting Alaskan Airlines in any way. As with all airlines, already maximum profits with low fuel costs, packed planes, baggage and other charges.
This was a chance for Alaskan to really show their pride, lead by example. Sad to say management bureaucrats haven’t got a clue. All about taking care of #1.
The heck with freebies!
Alaska Airlines official Daniel Chun said the program was intended to ease shelter crowding and is being reevaluated.
BEST WAY TO EASE SHELTER CROWDING: Euthanasia!
Why knock Alaska? Why not ask all the airlines to contribute? At least Alaska was helping. Where is Hawaiian, United, Delta, American?
I think there is a lot more about the animal transfers than the story reveals. The letter from the airline to Kauai Humane Society leadership said passengers did not know the animals or take responsibility before takeoff and after landing. That suggests to me that the Kauai Humane Society was recruiting passengers to handle the transfers, that the passengers were not fulfilling whatever obligation that they made with the Kauai Humane Society and that Alaska Airline employees were being forced to take care of animals when they should have been taking care of human passengers.
Perhaps the original article from the Garden Island Newspaper would explain it better…
http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/devastating-blow/article_a890e086-c02a-5aef-b191-fb6377bf10eb.html
Big Island Dog Rescue dropped the ball and left several dogs at an airport unattended. Alaska did not want to take the responsibility for possible liability.