A baggage handler didn't spot Mittens' cage when it was blocked by a wheelchair on arrival in Melbourne Mittens the cat has clocked up lots of extra air miles after mistakenly flying between New Zealand and Australia three times in 24 hours.

Mittens, 8, was only supposed to take a one-way flight from Christchurch to Melbourne. She ended up being airborne for over 10 hours.

A Maine coon cat named Mittens clocked up some serious air miles this month after being left on an Air New Zealand flight and accidentally flown to Australia and back. Mittens’ owner, Margo Neas, described the events as “both distressing and unacceptable” after paying $1948 to have her feline flown to Australia.

A Maine coon cat named Mittens became an accidental jetsetter this month when her cage was overlooked in a plane cargo hold and she made three trips in 24 hours between New Zealand and Australia.

Air New Zealand apologised to the family for the distress caused and assured that it would reimburse the entire cost of Mittens’ travel.

Mittens, an 8-year-old Maine coon cat, inadvertently became a globe-trotting feline this month after a mix-up in a plane’s cargo hold left her on an unexpected 24-hour adventure between New Zealand and Australia.

Mittens was flown three times between New Zealand and Australia after being forgotten in a plane's cargo hold.

A Maine coon cat named Mittens became an accidental jetsetter this month when her cage was overlooked in a plane cargo hold and she made three trips in 24 hours between New Zealand and Australia.

The return trip from Melbourne to New Zealand involves about 7.5 hours in the air.