In brief
Mittens' adventure started when she was forgotten in a cargo hold, resulting in her taking three flights in 24 hours before being reunited with her owner.
Mittens, an eight-year-old Maine Coon, found herself on a whirlwind trip across the Tasman Sea after being left in the cargo hold of an Air New Zealand plane. Scheduled to travel from Christchurch to Melbourne, a staff oversight led to her cage being forgotten, causing her owner, Margo Neas, quite the scare!Once in Melbourne, Margo waited anxiously for her pet's arrival, only to discover that Mittens was already winging it back to New Zealand. Ground staff informed her that, thankfully, the cabin heating was turned on to keep Mittens cozy during her unexpected flight, which is crucial since temperatures in cargo can drop low.While the airline has launched an investigation, it appears a stowed wheelchair may have blocked the baggage handler's view of Mittens' cage. Air New Zealand has apologized for the incident and promised to cover all travel costs. Margo expressed her relief when Mittens finally returned to her arms for some long-awaited cuddles.Reflecting on this rocky start to their new life in Melbourne, Margo revealed just how much she craved enjoying moments with her feline friend, stating, "It was just such a relief." With flight times between the two cities averaging under four hours, Mittens certainly got more frequent flyer miles than she bargained for!
