January 19, 2020

The Skinny on Fat Pets on Flights


The Skinny on Fat Pets on Flights
Only pets under 8 kg are allowed on most flights. Tripp [CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]

Russia’s Transportation Ministry will not set uniform standards for pet weights on airplanes.

As we previously reported, a cat that was two kilograms above the weight restriction made its way onto an Aeroflot airplane. The cat’s owner managed to get his fat cat on board by presenting a smaller decoy cat at check-in. Once Aeroflot discovered the swap, they stripped the cat’s owner of his bonus miles and canceled his account. This led to a petition from Russia’s union of passengers to the Transportation Ministry asking for uniform standards for pet weight.

Russians did not approve of Aeroflot’s actions: the internet responded with many memes supporting cats of any weight on planes.

Despite the drama surrounding the event, the Transportation Ministry decided to hold off on establishing standard requirements for pet weights in the cabin of an airplane. The Ministry didn’t find it appropriate to set standards, since different airlines use different sized planes, which each have their own safety requirements. As it is, each airline sets its own limits, with companies’ policies currently ranging from 5 to 12 kilograms for pets in the cabin. There is some discussion of the possibility of paying extra for pets who are over the weight limit. Otherwise, overweight pets have to ride with the baggage.

Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

Jews in Service to the Tsar
October 09, 2011

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.

Little Golden Calf
February 01, 2010

Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

Bears in the Caviar
May 01, 2015

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955