United Mistakenly Sends Hendrix the Dog to Ireland Instead of Phoenix!

by Adam

Edith Alback thought she was sending her dog Hendrix from Newark to Phoenix but instead United put him on a plane to Shannon, Ireland and the Springer Spaniel now has his first doggy passport stamp! Hendrix flew from Newark to Shannon, spent two hours in Shannon, flew back to Newark, and then was finally placed on a flight to Phoenix.

a map of the world

a woman holding a dog

CBS New York has the full story:

United Airlines is in the dog house with Alback. She paid $408 for Hendrix to fly, plus $160 for the crate, while fully expecting safe transportation for the dog to Phoenix, Ariz. But instead, the pooch wound up in lush, green Ireland. At home last night in the Great Kills section of Staten Island, Alback was thinking her dog would land in Arizona any minute. However, that changed when a United Airlines representative contacted her. “Somebody called me and told me that there was something wrong with the dog, and that the dog was on its way to Ireland instead of to Phoenix,” Alback said. In a 24-hour period, Hendrix took not one, but three flights. One from from Newark to Shannon, Ireland that took seven hours. He then spent two hours on the ground there. Then the dog headed back from Shannon to Newark and finally from Newark to Phoenix on a five-hour flight. “So this dog’s been in a crate since last night,” Alback said. The airline is giving the family a refund.

a dog lying on the ground…a little tired after the big trip

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Watch the full video here.

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12 comments

Greg Z March 16, 2013 - 1:42 pm

Least he’s alive, unlike other less lucky animals United has “transported”. Also a refund doesn’t seem enough to me.

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Dave March 16, 2013 - 2:50 pm

Since when is Phoenix up by Seattle?

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George March 16, 2013 - 3:00 pm

Not any funnier this time than when unaccompanied children get a “tour” of the country instead of being taken directly to their intended destination. Once again, no common sense or safeguards in place with a supposedly responsible carrier.

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Lilly B March 16, 2013 - 4:43 pm

Poor Hendrix, so cute and so tired 🙁

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Andy C March 16, 2013 - 4:45 pm

I wonder if Hendrix will get any other passport stamps in his doggie passport or if his owner will just now drive him everywhere!

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Megan STL March 16, 2013 - 4:46 pm

I want to get my dog a doggie passport ;-0

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Wendy March 16, 2013 - 4:51 pm

I’d rather drive cross country with my dog than subject them to flying as cargo.

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Gizmosdad March 16, 2013 - 9:03 pm

Happy St. Patricks day?

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adam March 16, 2013 - 9:12 pm

@Gizmosdad – Haha, yes!

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V March 17, 2013 - 7:09 am

We’re not asking the right questions: does doggie get miles for the distance actually flown, or for the ticketed flight only?

I agree, though, highly irresponsible of United….

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Eric March 18, 2013 - 9:31 am

That poor Hendrix, he looks so tired. I hope he gets a free trip anywhere for his troubles. I hear the dog parks in Arizona are very nice, so hopefully he enjoys his time there.

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LaurenL March 18, 2013 - 9:33 am

I’m totally getting my dog a doggie passport too!

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