In 2021, when a couple was going on vacation, they decided to fly from Lubbock, Texas, to Las Vegas via Southwest Airlines. At the airport check-in luggage counter, they were told that their luggage was overweight and had to remove some unnecessary items since they refused to pay for overweight fees. When the airport personnel opened the luggage, what caused the extra weight inside left the couple dumbfounded!
Jared Owens and his wife Kristi were preparing to fly to Las Vegas for a well-deserved vacation. Unexpectedly, at the airport, they were told by the staff their luggage was 2.7 kgs. overweight. Since the couple refused to pay overweight fees, they allowed the staff to open their luggage so they could discard some unwanted items causing its heaviness.
“They put it on the scale, and this bag is basically like five, five and a half pounds overweight. Really quickly, we are like, ‘Oh, we have got to rearrange some stuff’,” Jared Owens said. “An airport personnel opens it up, and literally, there’s our dog coming out of my boot, coming out of my boot with her head bopping up.”
After emerging from the boot, Icky’s tongue was still hanging on her lips, and looked confused about the situation. Kristy claimed they had packed their clothes the day before their departure, but Jared added some more clothes earlier that day. The last thing he packed was his riding boots. At home, Icky the Chihuahua loves to hide under their clothes or in their shoes, so she probably snuck into his boots when the couple was not paying any attention to their open luggage. The couple was in a hurry to leave and did not notice the extra weight in his boots. 😆
Southwest Airlines spokesperson Alyssa Foster said that within the decade she had been working for the airline, never had she encountered an incident such as this. It was a memorable situation for her to see a dog that packed itself into a luggage. Fortunately, a Southwest Airlines employee named Cathy Cook expressed her willingness to take care of the Chihuahua while they were on vacation. However, Jared had an uncle who lived near the airport. He called him to pick up Icky and return her to Kristy’s mom at home. In a Facebook post, they thanked Cathy for her consideration and awesome customer service.
Jared and Kristi have 2 children, 3 dogs, 1 rabbit and fish at home. While they are away on vacation, the couple need not worry about their beloved Chihuahua since she will be taken care of by Kristi’s mother.
“She was home safe and sound half an hour later,” said Kristi, confirming that they did eventually make it to Vegas.
Images credits: © Jared Owens/Facebook
