The headline might sound like Mad Libs, but it's real life.
Russia's flag airline, Aeroflot, kicked Mikhail Galin off its frequent flyer program earlier this month after it determined the Russian man had snuck his overweight cat onto a flight. NBC News reports Galin recruited a slimmer “body-double cat” for check-in to sneak his bulkier cat, Viktor, onboard the flight from Moscow to Vladivostok.
Viktor the cat was about four pounds too heavy for Aeroflot's in-cabin pet restrictions. Galin said a mutual friend was able to provide a “mini-Viktor.”
He copped to the entire scheme in a public Facebook post, posting pictures of himself and Viktor in an Aeroflot business class seat.
Aeroflot responded by kicking Galin out of its frequent flyer program after concluding he violated airline regulations. The airline confiscated Galin's stash of 370,000 Aeroflot Bonus miles.
“In connection with several counts of deliberate violation of the air carriage agreement, Aeroflot has decided to exclude this passenger from the Aeroflot Bonus loyalty program,” Aeroflot said in a statement. “All miles accumulated during his entire participation in the program will be canceled.”
Galin took the news in stride.
“I violated the rules, and the carrier has every right to take action,” Galin said. “The law is harsh, but it is the law.”
Bottom Line
Meee-ouch.