Woman Who Abandoned Dog at Pittsburgh Airport, Flew To Mexico, Pays Just $150 Fine-Animal Cruelty Charges Dropped [Roundup]

News and notes from around the interweb:

  • Two years ago a woman abandoned her dog at the Pittsburgh airport and flew to Mexico. Now she’ll pay a $150 fine and animal cruelty charges have been withdrawn. (HT: Enilria)

    A Spirit Airlines passenger once flushed their hamster down the toilet at BWI, because the airline wouldn’t transport it and she thought it would be more human than just abandoning it in winter.

  • New Orleans Pelicans basketball player CJ McCollum used points to travel to this interview. Based on the reference to food and beverage credit, either he’s confused ($450..?) or he’s talking about the value of elite breakfast benefits? Or he’s overstating what he’s getting from Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts or Chase’s The Edit (perhaps he split up his stay and used both). (HT: Roni)

  • Amex is offering a 20% transfer bonus from Membership Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy through July 15, 2025. What a waste of points it is to transfer American Express 1:1.2 into Marriott.

  • Meanwhile Chase is offering a 50% bonus on transfers to Marriott Bonvoy through August 15, 2025. Better, but still lighting points on fire.

  • About 20% of Uber riders tip their drivers while the figure is higher for food delivery – likely because tipping is the default in the booking path and you’d have to proactively opt out.

  • Deadheading means they’re being moved to work another flight, to avoid inconveniencing far more passengers. Refusing to give up a seat for a deadhead is what got David Dao dragged off of a United flight and bloodied. Still gives the perception that the airline is being run for employees and not passengers, so communication is key here and it seems like none was really forthcoming at the gate (which would be the default, but should not be):

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About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. When I Uber, which is rare, I always leave a tip in cash. I hope that the company knows nothing of the tip.

  2. You know, Gary, I was just thinking, it’d been a little while since you posted a dog-related story… it’s usually fantastic for engagement, like, inevitably bringing out the dog-lovers and the pro-euthanasia hate-groups. Well, folks, take a wild guess which side I’m on? Bah!

  3. @Gene — *takes a deeeep breath* ‘…forgive (him), for (he) does not know.’

  4. There’s complexity in whether an airline designates deadheading crew as a must ride. If the airline is trying to get a pilot(s) to an airport needed for an International widebody flight then without he/she/they will be must rides and the airline will follow standard oversold procedure.

  5. What should be the outcome of the dog case?

    a. no fine, brief advice given by the judge
    b. $150 fine
    c. $500 fine
    d. $100,000 fine
    e. 20 years prison, $500,000 fine
    f. deportation
    g. 5 year ban on any pet ownership
    h. letter of appreciation, appointment to vacancy in the U.S. Senate

  6. Oh, now I get it, the person is an idiot, and thought ‘pitt’-bull… ‘Pitt-sburgh.’ *slaps knee* huhyuck!

  7. Maybe CJ got $450 f&B allowance to come to NY and be interviewed?? Yes, it’s unclear what $450 he’s talking about.

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