Due to their recent merger with America West Airlines, US Airways will cease to accept live animals as checked baggage or cargo as of October 1, 2005. US Airways will make an exception for ticketed reservations made before August 17, 2005, and will honor these through November 1, 2005. The policy change does not apply to the transportation of service animals. The move will bring US Airways into alignment with the policies of America West.

Customers on domestic flights may continue to carry on dogs and other small animals, provided they are in kennels or other approved containers, subject to certain limits. The animal carry-on fee will be reduced from $100 to $80 effective October 1, 2005.

AKC believes that airlines have a responsibility to provide passengers with a safe and affordable means of traveling with their dogs. These types of restrictions make travel difficult for fanciers attending shows, as well as dog owners who are moving or traveling. AKC encourages fanciers and concerned dog owners to contact US Airways and America West to ask them to remove these barriers to pet transportation.
The US Airways Office of Consumer Affairs can be reached in the following ways:
• By e-mail through www.usairways.com
• By telephone between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.(Eastern Time) Monday through Friday at 1-866-523-5333
• By US Mail:
Ms. Deborah Thompson
Managing Director, Corporate and Consumer Affairs
US Airways
P.O. Box 1501
Winston Salem, NC 27102-1501
• By Fax at 1-336-661-8031

The America West Customer Relations Department may be reached in the following ways:
• By email through www.americawest.com
• By telephone at 480-693-6719
• By US Mail: America West Airlines
Attention: Customer Relations Department
4000 East Sky Harbor Blvd
Phoenix, AZ 85034
For more information contact:

The AKC Canine Legislation Department
doglaw@akc.org
919-816-3720