When Faith and I fly we use American Airlines - there's a reason for that.  In 2007 Faith and I traveled more than 30 times with both American and other carriers. At that time Faith was flying in the cargo as she wasn't recognized as a proper celebrity even though she had been on Oprah, the Montel Williams Show, Ripleys Believe it or Not, Discovery, Animal Planet and so many other shows. She was not recognized because management at the airlines don't always have the vision and insight that pet owners have for the pets in our lives - - we think of our dogs and cats as our children. We wouldn't want to put our kids in the cargo now, would we? (Now, now, don't answer so quickly!) LOL

American Airlines, though a very very good airline carrier, did manage to lose Faith in January 2007.  We were suppose to go to Orlando with an airport code of ORL.  I boarded the right plane, but because Faith was going cargo she didn't board when I did. She was placed on a plane headed to Chicago - with an airport code very similar to ORL  - - O'Hare Airport's code is ORD. It was a simple mistake, but one that led to me calling Oprah, CNN News, and my own local NBC-TV station to find out what I could do since the people at the airport were not quite sure how to address the issue.  Many dogs and cats are misplaced as many of them fly, but as Anderson Cooper put it "How do you lose barking luggage?"  When American Airlines managed to NOT place Faith on a plane departing O'Hare in October 2007 I put an end to any future problems by asking American to give her the noted recognition she deserved as a celebrity. By this time she had been given a Field Recognition in the United States Army and believe it or not, I just don't feel so good about placing one of our troops in the cargo anymore than I would feel about leaving a child down there.

American agreed with me.  They gave Faith and I several free flights for the years 2008 and 2009.  However, they did stipulate that she would have to fly First Class - -which at times has been hard to do with the budgets of the people bringing us out. When we travel to and from military bases I rely on American's free flights as the Army can't fly someone in First Class. Believe me, Faith and I would be just as happy in Coach (bulkhead so she can have a little extra room).  I'm being told that American, as wonderful as they've been, have been considering not letting Faith fly in the cabin at all after our 2009 agreement and I think it may be time to get a little grass roots going to let the carrier know that during the two year agreement I've not only advertised when I can for American Airlines I was really rather nice to not make more of the two loses - - and I think it would be a great thing if they continued to allow Faith to fly in the cabin so she can reach the children at the hospitals, and the soldiers at the bases and military medical facilities that we fly to.  Faith wouldn't be able to do the work she does without flying and she doesn't deserve to be placed in the cargo with luggage either.  I can't tell you how many people she's touched because she can go where she needs to go, but the American Airlines flight attendants and pilots can tell you many stories of how the passengers just light up when they see her. She receives standing ovations wherever we go in airports -- and when the crew finds out she's on THEIR flight, they rush out for her picture and they call their friends and tell them so they can come over from other carriers, bookstores, and shopping venues to see her.  American has enjoyed Faith as much as we've enjoyed flying American. 

I believe in the mission my dog and I have and I truly, from my heart, thank American Airlines for the love and care they've shown us over the past few years as we've flown to our beautiful destinations. If you see us please wave and tell me you saw this page - - it may mean that you were kind enough to write to the editor of American Way Magazine to ask him or her to put Faithon their next cover!  www.americanwaymag.com   It may mean that you care and love Faith enough to ask American to continue to let her fly American. You can leave your comments at www.aa.com with the title of "Let Faith Fly".  They'll be expecting it!  LOL

Again, when you can, fly American Airlines. They KNOW you (and I) have a choice.