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United gives break to pet owners on PCS moves

United Airlines is making an exception for military families who ship their pets on that airline when making permanent change-of-station moves, the company said Wednesday.

“We evaluated our policies and developed a special process for military families traveling on permanent change-of-station orders only,” said Mary Ryan, a spokeswoman for United Airlines.

Under the policy, military travelers on PCS orders will be able to ship their pets under United’s “PetSafe” program without having to pay an additional fee to a third-party freight forwarder, Ryan said. That fee would add $1,500 to $4,000 per pet to a traveler’s costs, according to some estimates.

United’s pet-shipping costs without that fee generally run a few hundred dollars. From Japan to anywhere in the U.S., for example, the cost is $309 for pets up to 50 pounds and $359 for pets weighing 51 to 70 pounds.

Military families should contact a United PetSafe desk for details on the special process, Ryan said.

The issue of pet shipping fees has arisen as a result of the impending merger of Continental Airlines and United, under which the new United will adopt Continental’s PetSafe program. Beginning March 3, for most commercial travelers United will no longer check in animals at the airport ticket counter for travel in the cargo area of the plane; instead, passengers will take their pets to cargo facilities or express offices. The only exception will be for small animals that can be carried on board.

This policy does not affect service members shipping their pets with them on military-contracted Patriot Express flights as they make PCS moves. A number of commercial carriers, including United, operate flights under the Patriot Express banner.

Those moving to or from overseas locations on contracted Patriot Express aircraft pay a flat fee of $112 to fly a pet weighing up to 70 pounds and $224 for a pet weighing 71 to 140 pounds, regardless of destination, according to U.S. Transportation Command spokeswoman Cynthia Bauer.

That cost is set by TransCom, along with Air Mobility Command, at the time officials agree to the contract that includes Patriot Express flights. Bauer said Patriot Express is the primary way military passengers on official orders move to and from the U.S. and overseas.