Global outrage: Airlines will pay the same for losing a pet as for misplacing a suitcase.
A new ruling has sparked outrage among thousands of travelers who fly with pets , after the Court of Justice of the European Union ( CJEU ) ruled that airlines must pay the same compensation for the loss of a pet as for the loss of a suitcase .
According to the international media outlet Ok Diario , the ruling was issued on Thursday, October 16 , and establishes that, according to the Montreal Convention, animals traveling by plane are considered part of the luggage.
Payment for a lost or dead pet will be the same as for a lost suitcase.Therefore, if a pet is lost or dies during transport , the compensation will be equal to that of a lost suitcase , which has generated strong criticism and rejection on social media.
The Court explained that the international convention only recognizes three categories of air transport: passengers, baggage, and cargo . Since the term " persons " refers only to passengers, pets are classified as baggage , which limits airlines ' financial liability in the event of loss or damage.
The resolution states that if a passenger believes the value of their pet exceeds the legally established amount, they can make a special declaration of value at check-in, which would increase the compensation amount, provided the airline accepts and an additional fee is paid.
Why will airlines pay the same for a pet as they do for a suitcase?This ruling arose from a case that occurred in 2019 , when a passenger on an Iberia flight between Buenos Aires and Barcelona lost her dog after the animal escaped from its carrier while being transferred to the plane's hold.
The pet was never recovered, and its owner sued the airline demanding five thousand euros (approximately 107,409.75 Mexican pesos) as compensation for moral damages.
Although Iberia acknowledged its liability, the court ruled that it should only pay compensation for lost luggage, as no special value was declared.
The decision has sparked outrage among animal rights activists , who call the ruling “ inhumane ” and “ shameful ,” equating the life of a pet with the value of a suitcase .
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