Mittens the Cat Soars as an Unintentional Frequent Flyer After Being Left Behind on Plane

"Mittens the Cat Becomes an Accidental Frequent Flyer After Plane Mishap"

Mittens, a Maine coon cat, accidentally traveled between New Zealand and Australia three times before reuniting with her owner, Margo Neas.

Alex Chen22 January 2025Last Update : 4 weeks ago

Mittens the cat becomes an accidental frequent flyer after getting mistakenly left on a plane

www.nbcnews.com

A Maine coon cat named Mittens became an accidental jetsetter this month when she was mistakenly left in the cargo hold of an Air New Zealand flight. On January 13, 2025, Mittens was supposed to travel from Christchurch, New Zealand, to Melbourne, Australia, with her owner, Margo Neas, but ended up making three trips within 24 hours due to a mix-up.

6 Key Takeaways

Mittens the cat became an accidental jetsetter.
She made three trips between New Zealand and Australia.
Owner Margo Neas was initially distressed.
Air New Zealand provided comfort during the flight.
Mittens returned healthy but lost some weight.
Air New Zealand will reimburse travel costs.

Fast Answer: Mittens, an 8-year-old Maine coon cat, was accidentally left in the cargo hold of an Air New Zealand flight. After being overlooked during unloading, she made three trips between Christchurch and Melbourne before being reunited with her owner, who reported that Mittens lost some weight but was otherwise unharmed.

Mittens was booked for one-way travel with her family on January 13. After waiting for hours without seeing her cat, Neas learned from ground staff that Mittens had remained on the plane, which had already returned to New Zealand. The flight back took approximately 7.5 hours. Neas expressed her disbelief at the situation, noting that a stowed wheelchair had blocked the baggage handler’s view of Mittens’ cage.

During the return flight, the Air New Zealand pilot was informed of the unexpected passenger and took steps to ensure Mittens’ comfort by activating the heating in the cargo hold. After her journey, Mittens was met by the pet moving company that facilitated her travel. They ensured she was placed on another flight to Melbourne, this time without any issues.

Upon her return, Mittens had lost some weight but was otherwise unharmed. Neas described the moment of reunion as heartwarming, stating that Mittens snuggled up to her immediately. Air New Zealand has since apologized for the incident and committed to reimbursing all costs related to Mittens’ travel. They also stated that they would work closely with their ground handler in Melbourne to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Notice: Canadian pet owners should be aware of travel regulations and ensure that pets are properly monitored during flights to prevent similar incidents.

The unexpected journey of Mittens highlights the importance of careful handling of pets during air travel. While the incident caused distress for Neas and her family, it ultimately ended happily with Mittens safely reunited with her owner.