Guy Sneaks A Fat Cat On Board An Airplane, Gets Punished By The Airline After Landing
Flying with pets is both tough and expensive. Things get even worse when you can’t keep them in the cabin with you and your four-legged companions are put in the cargo hold. Frustrated owners, who want to make sure their pets are safe and comfortable during the flight, try to avoid cargo hold like a plague. Some even go as far as trying to deceive airlines. Recently, Mikhail Galin, a man from Russia, went viral for doing exactly that – he smuggled his cat who didn’t meet the weight requirement onboard. However, his actions didn’t come without consequences, as Aeroflot’s airline decided to remove him from the frequent flyer program for disobeying the rules.
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Galin was traveling back to his hometown Vladivostok after a stay in Riga. The trip was disrupted when airport employees refused to let his adorable tubby tabby, named Viktor, fly in the cabin. They said that his rather chubby cat who weighs 22lbs is 5lbs over the allowed weight limit. According to Aeroflot’s policies, Viktor had to be placed in the cargo hold. However, Galin refused to let it happen.
Viktor’s owner told Bored Panda that his 4-year-old cat usually feels really bad during flights. Since it was not the first time Viktor flew on the plane, his owner already knew how he is affected by the changing air pressure and unfamiliar surroundings.
So the man came up with an elaborate plan to help his buddy stay close to him, by tricking airport employees into thinking that his cat is actually not that fat. And he did that in a rather simple way.
Galin posted a help request on his social media asking people if they could lend him a cat similar to Viktor. He managed to find an extremely similar cat who weighs much less than Victor. Then Galin swapped cats at the check-in and returned the borrowed cat to the friend successfully boarding the plane with Viktor in his hands.
The surveillance footage confirmed that Galin broke airline rules by switching Viktor for a similar cat. The airline made a decision to kick the man out from the frequent flyer program and take away the 400,000 miles from his account.
Here’s how people reacted
293Kviews
Share on FacebookDownvote me all you like, but I would do exactly the same, no virtual currency in any amount is worth the wellbeing of my gatto :D
Well. If the well-being of your cat is so important, which I agree with, you probably wouldn't have a chonk for a cat ;) Kitty needs a diet and some exercise!
Load More Replies...OMG. How is there such a ridiculously strict weight limit for cats, but not Fat A@@ Humans!!! I would rather fly in a plane full of chonky tabbies than fat humans any day!!!!
Actually, airlines often make people over a certain weight purchase two seats. So, human or feline, still fat-shaming. And, yes, I understand about weight and flight. What I don’t like is why the issue can’t be handled with sensitivity instead of shaming.
Load More Replies...If it's that or putting him in the cargo hold, I think breaking the rule was 100% the way to go. I've heard too many stories about bad outcomes when pets are shipped like luggage.
I agree, animals are sentient beings, they do not belong to cargo hold; the airlines should find solution to this problem - provide an designated area for passengers with pets, get rid off the first class if necessary.
Load More Replies...Cargo area is freezing and dangerous for animals. Almost lost my cat after ONE cargo trip, not humane and no one to take of them :(
They should go in a heated compartment of course. But most cargo personnel sadly won't give two craps about whether it's a suitcase or a cat.
Load More Replies...I just want to point out that like other things the overweight anything WOULD STILL BE ON THE F*****G PLANE! It's all b******t bogus fees
it’s about distribution, the plane is built to hold weight in different areas
Load More Replies...So there a scale for animals and not people. As many times as I have been squished on flights or heavy passengers recline in my lap. I'll take a chunky cat any day.
Yes, like designate an area for passengers with pets, do away with the first class if necessary.
Load More Replies...Maine Coons wouldn't be welcome in the cabin. Like most dogs, healthy weight or not.
Load More Replies...Why didn’t he use some of his miles to buy Viktor a seat on the plane? Pretty sure his weight wouldn’t be an issue if he was a passenger with his own seat.
Airlines treat pets as carryon bags. They need to be in the bag and under the seat the whole flight. You cannot buy a ticket for your pet, even if you love him as a child and the pet is healthy and quiet.
Load More Replies...2 Options here. -> this is a stupid rule from this airline only, and sorry but sorry, you have to follow these or change airline. The penalty is even ridiculously low. -> This rule about weight have be put in place in case of heavy turbulence as the cat can't be strapped on the seat and will be "flying" on top of other passenger if extreme shaking, presenting a real danger after a certain weight. Again, I'm no expert, but someone who decide such weight should know better than me. (and that's why after a certain weight, some objects/animal should be put in cargo). Now, you decided that you know better than the one who drew these law when boarding an airplane? and complaining when get caught with so little punishment?
I find it odd they're allowed to keep them out of a carrier.
Load More Replies...The weight limit for cats traveling in the airplane cabin is ridiculous. It's the passenger who has to carry the cat usually on the floor between his/her legs, so there's no difference between a 7 or 10 kg cat, besides they usually allow at most only a couple of animals in the cabin, so a fat cat won't make any difference for the plane.
I am allergic to idiots but they still let your whiny a*s on the plane.
It is unacceptable for the airline to separate a pet with possibly severe self-image issues from its emotional support human.
What I strongly object to is people bringing their non service animals into grocery stores and restaurants.
See above. If you have allergies, good luck. People are always sympathetic to the needs of the animals. No matter how sick you become due to the allergy -- nobody cares. Expect no accommodations or assistance. Look at the number of votes.
Load More Replies...Several airline employees told me it was my problem if there was a cat on the plane sitting near me. Even if I asked, they couldn't or wouldn't tell me if an animal was on the plane. I would discover this when I started having an allergic reaction mid flight. The airline would not move ME further away; usually the cat and owner were moved, often upgraded. People seem to ignore animal allergies. A surprise visit by support animals forces me to leave the room. Some animal dander is left behind, so I can't easily reenter. The standard reaction has never been supportive. There are people who are terrified by dogs. Imagine being stuck with one in the seat next to you? Allergy shots helped, but for decades an allergic reaction would take days to recover. Someone please tell me I am wrong about the airline policy.
i'm sorry your allergy makes flying so difficult, however some people rely on animals for their own health or safety, and for others they've become members of their family. and although it's definitely unfair, often people will fake an allergy or a problem for the sole purpose of being upgraded so often they give the animal and it's owner the upgrade to make sure that everyone is safe an no one is taking advantage of the system.
Load More Replies...I don't understand why there can't be an animal hold inside the cabin on some flights. Something that is removable or collapses or something to make room for human seats on their next flight. Accommodates allergies and pets.
I'd like to see an airline offer "Animals Welcome" flights and I don't mean in the horrible, cold cargo hold or the luggage compartment above the seats.
I would start sneezing before seeing him ;p But I still love cats, just not to live with ;)
There's no way in hell I'd let the airline kill or lose my cats by putting them in cargo. I'd do what I had to keep them with me. Kudos to this guy. They should have just charged him for every pound that was over the limit. As long as the carrier can contain him, he's not taking up more space with that five extra pounds.
Every pound of the cat will be on the plane, regardless of it's location on the plane. I'm not sure what the cabin weight limit is about.
I know I'll get downvoted but I agree with the airlines. Rules are rules, you can't pick the one you want to follow.
Bruno Bartlett AND Carlo flew on the same flight. The plane didn't crash due to 40 pounds of kitty.
He is rather slim, so it makes no sense that they wouldn't be weighed TOGETHER and come up less than weight limit for a single human passenger.
The cargo hold is really stressful for animals. I wouldn't even consider it for a senior animal.
Whats it matter with the weight is in the cargo hold or the cabin? (serious question)
Putting the poor kitty in the cargo hold instead of the cabin because he is 'overweight' is just STUPID 'logic'. SAME WEIGHT. On the SAME PLANE! Math is math, people.
Airlines can suck. I find it hard to believe that his cat is almost 10kg (that’s too fat for any domestic cat if they aren’t a bigger breed like norwegian forest cats). Also the cat would weigh the same amount in the cargo, which is cold and horrible. I move my cats by land nowadays, it’s safer and less stressful. Also the airlines allow usually a maximum of 2 pets in the cabin so if the places are booked, you are screwed.
people are fat shaming animals now? come one people! they're animals, let them be happy dear god!!
So....next time an obese human tries to board the plane, they'll make them sit in cargo?
If flight attendants couldn't tell the cat was oversized when he was on the plane, then why does it matter?
They could tell, which is how they caught him. The surveillance footage was used to verify their claim after the fact.
Load More Replies...The airline allows cats in the passenger cabin, so if not Mikhail there could have been another cat owner with their cat on the same flight.
Load More Replies...Downvote me all you like, but I would do exactly the same, no virtual currency in any amount is worth the wellbeing of my gatto :D
Well. If the well-being of your cat is so important, which I agree with, you probably wouldn't have a chonk for a cat ;) Kitty needs a diet and some exercise!
Load More Replies...OMG. How is there such a ridiculously strict weight limit for cats, but not Fat A@@ Humans!!! I would rather fly in a plane full of chonky tabbies than fat humans any day!!!!
Actually, airlines often make people over a certain weight purchase two seats. So, human or feline, still fat-shaming. And, yes, I understand about weight and flight. What I don’t like is why the issue can’t be handled with sensitivity instead of shaming.
Load More Replies...If it's that or putting him in the cargo hold, I think breaking the rule was 100% the way to go. I've heard too many stories about bad outcomes when pets are shipped like luggage.
I agree, animals are sentient beings, they do not belong to cargo hold; the airlines should find solution to this problem - provide an designated area for passengers with pets, get rid off the first class if necessary.
Load More Replies...Cargo area is freezing and dangerous for animals. Almost lost my cat after ONE cargo trip, not humane and no one to take of them :(
They should go in a heated compartment of course. But most cargo personnel sadly won't give two craps about whether it's a suitcase or a cat.
Load More Replies...I just want to point out that like other things the overweight anything WOULD STILL BE ON THE F*****G PLANE! It's all b******t bogus fees
it’s about distribution, the plane is built to hold weight in different areas
Load More Replies...So there a scale for animals and not people. As many times as I have been squished on flights or heavy passengers recline in my lap. I'll take a chunky cat any day.
Yes, like designate an area for passengers with pets, do away with the first class if necessary.
Load More Replies...Maine Coons wouldn't be welcome in the cabin. Like most dogs, healthy weight or not.
Load More Replies...Why didn’t he use some of his miles to buy Viktor a seat on the plane? Pretty sure his weight wouldn’t be an issue if he was a passenger with his own seat.
Airlines treat pets as carryon bags. They need to be in the bag and under the seat the whole flight. You cannot buy a ticket for your pet, even if you love him as a child and the pet is healthy and quiet.
Load More Replies...2 Options here. -> this is a stupid rule from this airline only, and sorry but sorry, you have to follow these or change airline. The penalty is even ridiculously low. -> This rule about weight have be put in place in case of heavy turbulence as the cat can't be strapped on the seat and will be "flying" on top of other passenger if extreme shaking, presenting a real danger after a certain weight. Again, I'm no expert, but someone who decide such weight should know better than me. (and that's why after a certain weight, some objects/animal should be put in cargo). Now, you decided that you know better than the one who drew these law when boarding an airplane? and complaining when get caught with so little punishment?
I find it odd they're allowed to keep them out of a carrier.
Load More Replies...The weight limit for cats traveling in the airplane cabin is ridiculous. It's the passenger who has to carry the cat usually on the floor between his/her legs, so there's no difference between a 7 or 10 kg cat, besides they usually allow at most only a couple of animals in the cabin, so a fat cat won't make any difference for the plane.
I am allergic to idiots but they still let your whiny a*s on the plane.
It is unacceptable for the airline to separate a pet with possibly severe self-image issues from its emotional support human.
What I strongly object to is people bringing their non service animals into grocery stores and restaurants.
See above. If you have allergies, good luck. People are always sympathetic to the needs of the animals. No matter how sick you become due to the allergy -- nobody cares. Expect no accommodations or assistance. Look at the number of votes.
Load More Replies...Several airline employees told me it was my problem if there was a cat on the plane sitting near me. Even if I asked, they couldn't or wouldn't tell me if an animal was on the plane. I would discover this when I started having an allergic reaction mid flight. The airline would not move ME further away; usually the cat and owner were moved, often upgraded. People seem to ignore animal allergies. A surprise visit by support animals forces me to leave the room. Some animal dander is left behind, so I can't easily reenter. The standard reaction has never been supportive. There are people who are terrified by dogs. Imagine being stuck with one in the seat next to you? Allergy shots helped, but for decades an allergic reaction would take days to recover. Someone please tell me I am wrong about the airline policy.
i'm sorry your allergy makes flying so difficult, however some people rely on animals for their own health or safety, and for others they've become members of their family. and although it's definitely unfair, often people will fake an allergy or a problem for the sole purpose of being upgraded so often they give the animal and it's owner the upgrade to make sure that everyone is safe an no one is taking advantage of the system.
Load More Replies...I don't understand why there can't be an animal hold inside the cabin on some flights. Something that is removable or collapses or something to make room for human seats on their next flight. Accommodates allergies and pets.
I'd like to see an airline offer "Animals Welcome" flights and I don't mean in the horrible, cold cargo hold or the luggage compartment above the seats.
I would start sneezing before seeing him ;p But I still love cats, just not to live with ;)
There's no way in hell I'd let the airline kill or lose my cats by putting them in cargo. I'd do what I had to keep them with me. Kudos to this guy. They should have just charged him for every pound that was over the limit. As long as the carrier can contain him, he's not taking up more space with that five extra pounds.
Every pound of the cat will be on the plane, regardless of it's location on the plane. I'm not sure what the cabin weight limit is about.
I know I'll get downvoted but I agree with the airlines. Rules are rules, you can't pick the one you want to follow.
Bruno Bartlett AND Carlo flew on the same flight. The plane didn't crash due to 40 pounds of kitty.
He is rather slim, so it makes no sense that they wouldn't be weighed TOGETHER and come up less than weight limit for a single human passenger.
The cargo hold is really stressful for animals. I wouldn't even consider it for a senior animal.
Whats it matter with the weight is in the cargo hold or the cabin? (serious question)
Putting the poor kitty in the cargo hold instead of the cabin because he is 'overweight' is just STUPID 'logic'. SAME WEIGHT. On the SAME PLANE! Math is math, people.
Airlines can suck. I find it hard to believe that his cat is almost 10kg (that’s too fat for any domestic cat if they aren’t a bigger breed like norwegian forest cats). Also the cat would weigh the same amount in the cargo, which is cold and horrible. I move my cats by land nowadays, it’s safer and less stressful. Also the airlines allow usually a maximum of 2 pets in the cabin so if the places are booked, you are screwed.
people are fat shaming animals now? come one people! they're animals, let them be happy dear god!!
So....next time an obese human tries to board the plane, they'll make them sit in cargo?
If flight attendants couldn't tell the cat was oversized when he was on the plane, then why does it matter?
They could tell, which is how they caught him. The surveillance footage was used to verify their claim after the fact.
Load More Replies...The airline allows cats in the passenger cabin, so if not Mikhail there could have been another cat owner with their cat on the same flight.
Load More Replies...
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