seowitz

Before boarding my SLC-SEA flight I came across a woman who had a full grown, live turkey as a service animal (2 years old). She had just flown from SEA-SLC. She had said that the turkey flew on her lap on the flight, not in it's own seat. I unfortunately did not ask if she was in Y or F.

What other "emotional support companions" have you seen on flights where the pet was on the passenger's lap, not in it's own seat?

davetravels

Well, at least she pardoned it for Christmas dinner!

3furballs

IMHO, as a dog owner, this is a grossly exaggerated view of dog owners. That said, I completely agree dogs don't belong in the lounge. I would go further to say forget the in a carrier, only service dogs should be allowed in. Of course my view is also biased because as the owner of a large dog (80 lbs) I get upset seeing all the people who travel with their pet and think rules don't apply to them. For example last week I had a layover in MSP, I saw no less than 10 dogs on leashes walking around the airport (yes I kept a running tally). Each of these pet owners had a carrier with them but the dog was out of it. MSP's policy is that "All non-service animals must be kept kenneled while in the airport's facilities." So each of these people got to pay around $125 to ignore the rules. If I want to travel with my dog I can't even guarantee that she'll on the same flight as me, and it will cost $500+. (and because she has the dog version of autism she needs an emotional support person so she'd probably howl the whole flight)
So yeah some dog owners get pretty upset about the people who don't follow the pet rules too. Of course I teach my dogs to heel very tightly and not approach people unless told to (and then I usually have the person who asks approach them) so I'm probably not the best example of a dog owner for your purposes.

Crazyhotelguy

...or was flying it home for Christmas Dinner

Doc Savage

A turkey with a turkey.

Nice.

MSPeconomist

I thought DL had a specific list of animals that could come into the cabin as service and emotional support animals. IIRC household birds like parakeets and parrots are allowed but not farm animals. OTOH some of the middle eastern carriers allow falcons, even sitting on the owner's arm. I wonder whether a falcon would attack and eat a turkey.

seowitz

There was no way this turkey was going to be eaten, ever. She was petting it like a dog, and some friends actually saw her walking it in Downtown Seattle, on a leash.

jimrpa

I STILL want to bring my fully-grown emotional-support boa constrictor. Her name's Fluffly. She's absolutely ADORABLE! And if she gets hungry during the flight, I'm sure she can slither around the cabin and find SOMETHING living to eat - unrestrained warm-blooded mammals are her favorite! It's so calming to watch her stun her prey then eat.

Tizzette

Yes, there is very much abuse of the service dog and emotional support animal rules and it is growing. It is becoming easier, cheaper and more convenient than getting a pet sitter or a kennel. TOO easy.

I use a pet sitter, but I would go the service/emotional support route if I absolutely had to fly a large dog. When you put a pet in a crate in the hold you take a terrible chance. Those conditions are stressful, even dangerous, and totally beyond your control how long before you get your pet back. Not just during flight, but additional hours before and after the flight waiting on the Tarmac on in a warehouse stuck in a crate in the heat or cold. I understand how people don't want to chance that. I wouldn't unless it was beyond driving distance and there was no alternative.

BeatCal

The above is another example of a DYKWIA who does not care of another's needs

zitsky

It doesn't seem right to lie when it's convenient for you. Tell me again about abuse of the rules. Unless you are moving overseas, you could always drive cross country as an option. Sure it may not be pleasant but the options are more than crate or fake support animal. Your post seems to imply that you recognize that driving is an option for some people. Sure crates can be scary but most pets are ok.

I realize it's not easy flying with large dogs. I have driven and flown with cats but those are much easier. I may be moving cross country in a year or two. I will probably drive with my cat as he is big and might not be comfortable under the seat in a soft carrier.

KDCAflyer

No, I'm just a passenger who doesn't want unnecessary animals loose in the cabin. If you aren't blind, prone to seizures, etc, you DO NOT NEED to have Scruffy loose in the cabin with you. Ten years ago, people flew just fine without "emotional support" from their pet.

As evidenced by the previous post, the number of people who are willing to lie just to avoid the pet fee is significant. The airlines were stupid enough to allow this practice, and now it's being heavily abused. What happens if there is an emergency? People already don't leave their carryons behind if they have to evacuate. I could totally see someone holding up an evacuation to get their pet off the plane. People > animals

I didn't know that being allergic and objecting to there being a dog on your seat made someone a DYKWIA. You learn something new every day...

zitsky

Agreed. +1

beachmouse

When I flew with the late great Five cat, (used to joke that with what I paid for him to go in-cabin, he should get his own frequent flyer miles) it was made clear at check-in that I wasn't allowed to sit in an exit row seat because it was assumed my first priority would be grabbing my little pal's carrier and not opening up the door upon crew instruction.

Spousal Unit works at a school that has a fair number of students who are doing VA vocational rehab retraining, including some with severe PTSD. The disabilities coordinator there is pretty hard core about - "properly trained service animals are of course welcome, it you need an 'emotional support animal', this isn't the school for you" because of incidents of people bringing barely housebroken large breed puppies to class and claiming that they were ESAs. And then the dog would go on extended barking jags, the student would refuse to remove the dog from the room, and it would be a trigger for the veteran with diagnosed PTSD.

Tizzette

We are on the same page about this. Like I said, I use a pet sitter. Or I would drive with my dogs if I could. But absolutely I would lie to keep my dog in the cabin on an overseas flight. My son's large dog flew in the hold when he moved to Europe. We drove the distance to an airport where it was only a 7-1/2 hour non-stop flight but it required checking him in 3 hours in advance, and due to arrival time there was nobody to check him out for 4 hours after landing. So 14 hours in a crate in strange surroundings, unable to comprehend what was happening. Badly dehydrated, never a chance to relieve himself, stressed out and in pretty bad shape.