After a weekend event for 35 people, the planner was chastised by some (who did not attend anyway) for not having warned people pets might be present at the hotel. We are talking about a 2 lb. Japanese Chin that was observed in a photograph.

I think anyone with a severe allergy should inquire if there are pets in the home, or at the event before attending. Not so, they say. Warnings should be issued.

If pets are allowed on planes, do the airlines have to notify all passengers? Or all passengers in that cabin? What about hotel rooms? These people are telling me that dander on a jacket will throw them into a severe asthma attack.

Airlines do not notify passengers if there are pets in the cabin, and there are typically as many as 2 or 3 on board. Likewise, hotels do not notify guests if there are pets in the building or indeed if a room you are renting has been recently used by a furry friend. I believe the tradition (in the western world, at least) is for allergy-impaired folks to ask questions before, not after. I am sure most business are willing to cater to allergy-sufferers, or at least if they are unable to cater, they can inform the customer to shop/fly/stay elsewhere.

To be honest, I wouldn't think to check. I have a cat allergy - I can be in their presence for about 1 hour before I react. And I didn't even realise that pets/dogs were allowed in the cabin on intercontinental flights. However, if the people complaining are really that sensitive, they should probably be carrying anti-histamines at all times too.

I have allergies but only ask about a non-smoking room when I check into a hotel. I'd bring up allergies if I have a reaction to something in the room to ask for an ion or air filter machine -- they are usually accomodating.

For air travel, I've only had a problem once and that was when the person across the aisle from me decided to take her pet rabbit out of its cage to pet it and show it off to everyone, particularly kids in the aisles. You could see the fur floating in the air -- its illegal to do and I asked the fa to have her put the animal away after I started getting stuffed up. The passenger was later moved to another seat after getting vocally abusive to me for complaining.