CJKatl, have you thought about contacting the airlines every time you fly to ask them to create a pet-free-buffer-zone for you? They do this for people with peanut allergies.

See: http://www.delta.com/planning_reserv...erns/index.jsp

Quote:
"Peanut Allergies

When you notify us that you have a peanut allergy, we'll create a buffer zone of three rows in front of and three rows behind your seat. We'll also advise cabin service to board additional non-peanut snacks, which will allow our flight attendants to serve these snack items to everyone within this area.

Gate agents will be notified in case you'd like to pre-board and cleanse the immediate seating area. We'll do everything we can, but unfortunately we still can't guarantee that the flight will be completely peanut-free."

I'm sure they can do the same for pets - and/or block off that flight as pet-eligible.

Unfortunately, since the airlines do allow pets in the cabin, I think people on both sides of the issue do bear responsibility for advocating for themselves. If your allergy is indeed life-threatening, I would think you would want to contact the airlines before every time you fly so they can make a record of it.

As an aside, I think the comment about the other poster's prosthetic leg and/or disability was horrifyingly uncalled for, regardless of the various positions on the issue people have taken. . . . . . . . . . . There is no need for such crass cruelty on an internet forum!

I'm not going to flame you, Mike. I respect your opinion.

Not all pet owners are as disrespectful and gross as you mention in your post. I would never allow my pet to pee in an airport bathroom or on board. I follow the rules. He stays in his carrier under the seat in front of me or my husband. His head pops out so he can see us, but he never leaves that carrier... because that is the rule.

I moved from Asia back to the US. I brought my pet with me. Is that ridiculous? I took responsibility when he became part of my family. As long as the airlines continue to allow pets on board in cabin, I will continue to pay my fee and have him travel with me while being a respectful pet owner and receiving my disability seating accommodations which really only need an aisle seat.

The health risk you mention is a bit moot and the reason why is most people who fly probably have a pet. They also have dog and cat hair on their pants, jacket, and shirt. You can't remove all allergens from a flight. You just can't. Just like you can't remove viruses like the flu and h1n1.

I do understand where you're coming from, but as long as the airlines allow me to bring my little dog on board, I will. I pay my fee, he doesn't bother anyone. If someone near us is allergic, I will certainly cooperate, as long as I can have my disability seating accommodations which I arrange prior to flying.

Good point. I did not mean to imply that all pet owners are irresponsible... Just that I have seen many that are.

There are plenty of normal people who take good care of their pets, and are respectful to other passengers.

Then there are the handful of bad ones who think it is OK to keep their dog in a purse all day except for a few breaks running around the cabin to go to the bathroom!

Did not mean to lump those of you from group a in with those from group b!

And as long as you are allowed to bring your pet on board, you should take advantage of that. I just question the policy itself, not your right to use it... And moving back from asia (with no other option) is completely different than bringing your lap dog with you on a 3 day trip to vegas where you can keep the dog in the room all day and night while you party!

First, I apologize if the over-the-top comment offended....

Second, this is EXACTLY what the airline did when I brought the problem to their attention. They moved the cat and let the owner know about the issue so the owner could be careful. The owner objected to being moved for a brief second and then accepted this as the best alternative to making everyone happy. I had a very tight connection, or I would have been willing to move, but wanted to be in the second row instead of the next-to-last. Bottom line: everyone made it to where they needed to go with little hassle or issue.

The other poster was the one who then starting writing about not having to move because she paid for her pet's flying and her leg room is taken away. If I were to encounter another passenger who was equally stubborn and didn't recognize that having a pet on board is an extra that this airline extends, even if it one for which there is a charge, then I would start to be more demanding to ensure the cat was not next to me.

Fortunatley, the one time it did happen to me, the pet owner acted responsibly, understanding that pets in the cabin are not as important as people in the cabin, to paraphrase Suzi Orman. In my experience, DL recognizes the people first principle when it comes to pets.

This seems to bother the poster, who thinks she has some sort of rights when it comes to pets in the cabin, as opposed to it being a privelege.



As another poster pointed out, sometimes people get so involved with their pets that they lose sight of other people.

We take our pet with us as much as possible b/c of dh's frequent job moves. We have moved 5 times in almost as many years, most of which were X-country, so it's difficult to build relationships with trustworthy people to care for him when we go away. It's just easier for us to pay $X to bring on board.

You're right, the bad ones do ruin it for those of us who follow the rules.

"Peg Leg"? That's a pretty disrespectful term. Want to say that to some of the Iraq vets at Walter Reed, internet tough guy?

I bet you're the type of patient that has a bag full of Xanax/Ambien/Valium for 'anxiety' that results in chest palpitations as well, huh?

Delta Pet Policy
 

can someone please explain to me why it costs $100 to have a pet come to Asia with you, $75 to go to Brazil and $125!!!! to fly domestically??? does that make any logical sense?

Why bother to look for logic in airline fees? DL has determined that's what people are willing to pay. There are plenty of domestic tickets available for less than $125 each way, but cabin pets can't ride on a human fare instead.

Had a flight from LAX to LAS for 4 people @ $49 per ticket (included tax). DL told me $150 for my pup to fly along. CANCEL! Rented a car for $150 total. Had an easy drive in a new Ford Flex. Sorry DL you lose.
DL is the only one charging $150 each way for in cabin pet.
Business is business & it is for me too.....

Why is it cheaper for me to fly to NRT than to SEA from the US?

For complete list of fees

http://www.delta.com/planning_reserv...ex.jsp#carryon


Fees for anything dealing with Brazil, it has to deal with Brazil's aviation authorities and the agreements the airlines have. The process of adding or raising fees is difficult hence why Brazil has different fees.

+1

FYI - I have traveled with pets many times (only when ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY).

IMO your post above is a WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN

WIN (Pet): Doesn't have to deal with airlines, altitude changes, security, those terrible carriers, etc.

WIN (You): You can pull over whenever you want to let the little guy/gal pee, poo, eat, etc.. Plus you saved some $$$.

WIN (Us): You are not on the plane, clumsily handling the little guy/gal

WIN (FAs): They are not dealing with all of the inevitable issues that go along with a pet-in-cabin

WIN (DL): They probably sold your cheapie fare seat plus pet fee for a lot more $$$ closer to departure [OK - maybe this is debatable ;) ]

TFD

:-: :-: I like it! :-: :-:

David

And how exactly was that fee reimbursed to you for your inconvenience?

Pet MQM
 

Delta charges $125.00 to carry a small dog in the main cabin.Does anyone know if a FF program is available for pets?