A Maine coon cat named Mittens became an accidental globe-trotter this month after being left aboard an Air New Zealand flight, resulting in a round-trip journey between New Zealand and Australia.
Why It Matters
The feline's unplanned adventure began on Jan. 13, when Mittens was scheduled for a one-way flight to Melbourne alongside her family. The mishap has been described by her owner Margo Neas as "distressing and unacceptable," though Mittens has since returned home safely.
What to Know
Mittens, aged eight, was traveling from Christchurch to Melbourne with Neas, and her son Jackson as they relocated to Australia. Air New Zealand requires international animal transportation bookings to be handled through approved pet carriers. Neas entrusted the process to Christchurch-based Move My Pet. Despite these measures, Mittens' cage was overlooked in the plane's cargo hold.
Upon landing in Melbourne, Neas waited three hours at the freight collection depot without receiving an explanation for the delay. It was only later that she learned Mittens had remained on board the plane, which had returned to Christchurch.
"I said, how can this happen? How can this happen? Oh my God," Margo said.
Newsweek reached out to Move My Pet and Air New Zealand for comment via email on Wednesday.
How Do Extreme Temperatures Affect Pets in Transit?
The round-trip flight added approximately 7.5 hours of travel time for Mittens, who was confined to the cargo hold. To keep her comfortable, the pilot activated heating in the hold after being informed of the situation. Pets in the cargo hold may be exposed to extreme temperatures, especially during boarding, deplaning, or delays on the tarmac. In this case, the hold was 44.6°F.
Air New Zealand and its ground handlers attributed the oversight to human error. A stowed wheelchair had reportedly obscured Mittens' cage, leading handlers to assume the area was empty. Neas described the situation as "deeply concerning" and emphasized the need for better safety protocols for live animals in transit.
"It was not a great start to our new life in Melbourne because we didn't have the family, we weren't complete," she said.
The pet moving company Move My Pet retrieved Mittens upon her return to Christchurch, cleaned her, and conducted a health check before rebooking her flight to Melbourne at no additional cost. Despite losing weight, Mittens was unharmed and reunited with her family early the next morning.
What People Are Saying
Air New Zealand has since apologized and agreed to reimburse all costs related to Mittens' travel, including the $1,948 (1,091.70 USD) Neas had paid for her transport.
Alisha Armstrong, the airline's general manager of customer care, said in a statement "We'll work closely with our ground handler in Melbourne to ensure this doesn't happen again."
Mittens' owner Margo Neas said "This situation is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about animal safety protocols." She added the safety and well-being of live animals "must be taken seriously."
What Happens Next
Neas lodged a formal complaint with Air New Zealand, seeking a full explanation. She reported receiving a personal apology from the airline's acting New Zealand sales manager, who assured her of a thorough investigation. Meanwhile, Mittens is newly affectionate in a way she hadn't been previously and is enjoying her Melbourne home.
"She basically just ran into my arms and snuggled up in here and just did the biggest cuddles of all time," Neas said. "It was just such a relief."
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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