Mittens, an 8-year-old Maine coon cat, embarked on an unexpected adventure, becoming an accidental jetsetter when her cage was overlooked in a plane's cargo hold. The feline made three trans-Tasman flights between New Zealand and Australia within a span of 24 hours. This unusual ordeal began when Mittens' owner, Margo Neas, booked her for a one-way trip from Christchurch, New Zealand, to start a new life with her family in Melbourne, Australia, on January 13.
Upon arrival in Melbourne, Neas anxiously awaited Mittens' release from the freight area. However, three hours passed with no sign of Mittens. It soon emerged that Mittens had inadvertently remained on board as the plane returned to New Zealand. A stowed wheelchair had obscured a baggage handler's view, leading to the oversight. Despite the mix-up, Mittens was unharmed, though she had lost some weight.
Air New Zealand took swift action to rectify the situation. The airline's pilot, informed of the unexpected passenger mid-flight, ensured Mittens' comfort by turning on the heating in the cargo hold. The pet moving company responsible for her journey met Mittens upon her return to Christchurch and facilitated another attempt to Melbourne. Each round trip involved approximately 7.5 hours in the air.
“It was not a great start to our new life in Melbourne because we didn’t have the family, we weren’t complete,” – Margo Neas
Despite the initial distress, Neas expressed immense relief upon being reunited with Mittens. She recounted how the cat eagerly ran into her arms, resulting in what she described as "the biggest cuddles of all time."
“She basically just ran into my arms and just snuggled up in here and just did the biggest cuddles of all time,” – Margo Neas
Air New Zealand has formally apologized for the inconvenience caused and assured Neas that all travel costs for Mittens would be reimbursed. Ground staff at the airline acknowledged the mistake and conveyed their commitment to ensuring such an incident does not recur.
“The cat gets as much attention as she wants right now because we’re just so absolutely and utterly relieved to have her back,” – Margo Neas
