There is currently a discussion going on in the TalkBoard forum regarding the establishment of a dedicated Travel with Pets forum.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=575989
Please join in and let the TalkBoard know you feelings one way or the other. This board would be for general pet travel questions and any issues that were specific to one particular airline's or hotel's rules or program would be directed to that board. The current status quo is that general pet travel topics should be posted here on TravelBuzz which I personally disagree with.

This is not the first time that this forum has been voted on and in the past the TalkBoard has voted no because they felt that there was not enough support for this forum. That is why I felt it necessary to post this thread here in TravelBuzz which is the current home for these general pet travel questions and request that everyone share their thoughts with the TalkBoard before they vote on this issue.

Yes, I would.

I travel with our dog and I'd love to have Pet Travel forum. It would offer a place to exchange tips and ideas which would likely be very helpful.

One issue I hope will get some thought in advance is how to have a productive forum on pet travel that avoids the bashing that seems to intrude on every thread that mentions the topic. I won't question all the claims of allergies, though I see a lot more talk on FT than real alergic reactions on planes (none so far in over 60 flights). It just gets old and disruptive. Maybe the anti-pet crowd could have their own place or thread, but please find a way to allow useful discussion without all the thread hijacking. I don't really know but maybe a similar problem has been addressed for the Women and Gay forums.

I travel with our dog and I'd love to have Pet Travel forum. It would offer a place to exchange tips and ideas which would likely be very helpful.

One issue I hope will get some thought in advance is how to have a productive forum on pet travel that avoids the bashing that seems to intrude on every thread that mentions the topic. I won't question all the claims of allergies, though I see a lot more talk on FT than real alergic reactions on planes (none so far in over 60 flights). It just gets old and disruptive. Maybe the anti-pet crowd could have their own place or thread, but please find a way to allow useful discussion without all the thread hijacking. I don't really know but maybe a similar problem has been addressed for the Women and Gay forums.

MT, your concern is addressed in some of my posts on the thread that I referenced in the TalkBoard forum. I suggested that the moderators of the Travel with Pets board post a sticky stating that none of this pet bashing type of behavior will be allowed.

More importantly, I urge everyone to post on that TalkBoard thread and make your feeling known regarding the formation of this Travel with Pets forum.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=575989
That is the appropriate venue for your comments. I only started this thread here to alert everyone to this discussion as many of FT's membership never venture over to the TalkBoard where these important decisions are made. @:-)

No. I would not.

Yes I would like to see that.

I don't want one either. There are other forums out there for that. FT won't even come close to the qualify of other more dedicated/specific forums.

IMHO it is better to be good at one thing than a jack of all trades.

If your question is if I would visit that forum, the answer is most likely no, as it's unlikely that our dog or 3 rats will be going with us anywhere any time soon.

Other than that, I don't care one way or the other.

As I said in the Talkboard Topics Forum, I am against this idea... and it has nothing to do about level of support.

I believe that Pet travel - for the most part - is very airline/hotel specific. Questions are best found and answered in those forums. For the few generic pet questions, I believe TravelBuzz can handle the demand... doing a search does not find many threads so I do not believe TravelBuzz will be overburdened with the Pets overload.

I also am concerned that Flyertalk not become so totally segregated... I believe we need fewer rather than more forums overall.

William

that would be the biggest WASTE of bandwith since well it would be the biggest waste of bandwidth

He11 NO!!!!!!

Consider me enrolled in this school of thought

I also am concerned that Flyertalk not become so totally segregated... I believe we need fewer rather than more forums overall.

William

I also am concerned that Flyertalk not become so totally segregated... I believe we need fewer rather than more forums overall.
Same here. I'm just waiting for the "USAirways PIT flyers with Kids and Pets" forum.

I've seen other sites go down this path and eventually the popular forums get "since I didn't get any response in the xxx forum, ..."

that would be the biggest WASTE of bandwith since well it would be the biggest waste of bandwidth

He11 NO!!!!!!

Obviously you have forgotten OMNI. :)

Seriously folks, the reason why I started this thread was for the large number of FT'ers that frequent TravelBuzz on a regular basis to voice their opinions one way or the other on the thread currently located in the TalkBoard forum deciding the fate of this proposed pet forum. Please post you comments over there. @:-)

As I said in the Talkboard Topics Forum, I am against this idea... and it has nothing to do about level of support.

I believe that Pet travel - for the most part - is very airline/hotel specific. Questions are best found and answered in those forums. For the few generic pet questions, I believe TravelBuzz can handle the demand... doing a search does not find many threads so I do not believe TravelBuzz will be overburdened with the Pets overload.

I also am concerned that Flyertalk not become so totally segregated... I believe we need fewer rather than more forums overall.

William


William, the issue is not whether TravelBuzz is overwhelmed with pet posts but whether the members of this community would be better served with a dedicated pet forum to visit for their travel needs.

In addition it should be pointed out to everyone reading this thread that the Travel with Pets board would be a sub-forum in the Special Interest Travel section and really not a forum on its own.

Again I wish to point out to you that not all pet related posts are airline/hotel specific, so it is misleading to make the type of statement where you have said that for the most part they are.

Among the topics that will be better served in a dedicated forum would be:

General pet travel questions.
Pet accommodation questions related to hotels, motels and B&B's.
Service related questions regarding pet cargo.
Safety related questions regarding pet travel.
Feeding issues when traveling with pets.
What type of hard or soft kennel to use questions.
Comparing the various airlines/hotels pet fee questions.
Train pet travel questions.
Cruise line pet travel questions.
Airline lounge pet questions.
Suggestions for managing your pets during long haul flights.
Medical issues when traveling with your pets.
Layover suggestions for people traveling with their pets.
How to handle the TSA when traveling with a carryon pet discussion.
Other too numerous to count pet cargo questions.
General discussion on FF programs that recognize pet travel.

So folks, to borrow a phrase from the old Eastern Airlines advertising campaign, "Come on Down" to the TalkBoard forum and let the TB members that are voting on the fate of this sub-forum know how you feel.

No, not for my needs.

I believe this topic could best be addressed in specific airline/hotel fora, or TravelBuzz.