Pets on Planes
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Deerfield Beach, FL, USA
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Pets on Planes
I just got off a flight today and was amazed there was a cat in the cabin two seats ahead of me. I have a severe allergy to cats and was miserable the entire flight - coughing, sneezing and wheezing. Don't they have to disclose this information - how can I stop this from happening again.
#3
Used to be 'g_leyser'
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hbtraveler-
I sympathize!! I am also allergic and if I was in your situation I would ask to be put on another flight, if not possible, then I would insist that the cat/owner be seated as far away from me as possible (preferably the back).
I proposed a question on the thread below, but never got an answer. Could a passenger request that the pet/owner be removed from the plane? Is this within a paying passenger's rights?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum50/HTML/013050.html
I realize that there are many pet lovers out there that probably aren't happy with my comments, but please understand that this is not a matter of disliking animals, it is purely a health issue. If I was exposed to a cat on a long flight, I could get VERY sick.
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"I just wanna wish you good luck, we're all counting on you"
-Dr. Rumack
I sympathize!! I am also allergic and if I was in your situation I would ask to be put on another flight, if not possible, then I would insist that the cat/owner be seated as far away from me as possible (preferably the back).
I proposed a question on the thread below, but never got an answer. Could a passenger request that the pet/owner be removed from the plane? Is this within a paying passenger's rights?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum50/HTML/013050.html
I realize that there are many pet lovers out there that probably aren't happy with my comments, but please understand that this is not a matter of disliking animals, it is purely a health issue. If I was exposed to a cat on a long flight, I could get VERY sick.
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"I just wanna wish you good luck, we're all counting on you"
-Dr. Rumack
#4
Join Date: Oct 2000
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I have a grown son who almost died in 1993 after being in a house with a cat that he didn't know was there. After I saw people traveling with animals on board, I wrote to the airlines. I told them about people with severe allergies and asthma and how dangerous it was to have animals in the cabin without the passengers being told. I got no response whatsoever. What I don't understand is this: they stopped serving peanuts because of the allergy problem, and peanuts can be avoided on a flight by just not eating them. But they don't do anything about an animal that gives a person no choice of avoiding it? Apparently you didn't know there was a cat on board and that is THE problem. Perhaps it's time for people who do have allergies to form a coalition and get some solid force behind us and bombard the airlines with our concerns.
#5
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by hbtraveler:
I just got off a flight today and was amazed there was a cat in the cabin two seats ahead of me. I have a severe allergy to cats and was miserable the entire flight - coughing, sneezing and wheezing. Don't they have to disclose this information - how can I stop this from happening again.</font>
I just got off a flight today and was amazed there was a cat in the cabin two seats ahead of me. I have a severe allergy to cats and was miserable the entire flight - coughing, sneezing and wheezing. Don't they have to disclose this information - how can I stop this from happening again.</font>
Sorry to hear about your miserable flight
I think we may be approaching the day when on the information screen at the gate area will have a little dog of cat icon to alert individuals w/allergies.
A rhetorical question, do airlines know who is travelling w/pets in the cabin area? Is it required by a passenger traveling with a pet to mention this to the airline?
Just my opinion, if there is a person w/a pet allergy and a person flying w/a pet on the same flight, the passenger w/the pet should take a later flight.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,673
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Just my opinion, if there is a person w/a pet allergy and a person flying w/a pet on the same flight, the passenger w/the pet should take a later flight.</font>
Are cats the only common household animal which trigger allergies in some people?
Asking every passenger at check-in whether they are allergic to certain animals seems tedious. I suppose the low probability of having both a cat-allergic passenger and a cat on the same plane, coupled with the strong attachment travelling pet owners have for their pets in the Western world, have dissuaded the airlines to address the issue.
In parts of the world where pets occupy a lower station, I could see it becoming a struggle between the pet owner's and the sufferer's social status and fare paid...
#9
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Sweet Willie:
A rhetorical question, do airlines know who is travelling w/pets in the cabin area? Is it required by a passenger traveling with a pet to mention this to the airline?</font>
A rhetorical question, do airlines know who is travelling w/pets in the cabin area? Is it required by a passenger traveling with a pet to mention this to the airline?</font>
#10
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 2,098
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Sweet Willie:
[B] ... A rhetorical question, do airlines know who is travelling w/pets in the cabin area? ... B]</font>
[B] ... A rhetorical question, do airlines know who is travelling w/pets in the cabin area? ... B]</font>
I do see both sides of this argument, in asking pet carrying passengers to be reseated when someone with an alergy is seated close by, however, since the person carrying the pet was charged an additional fee to bring the pets on board (with no miles earned at that), I think the person could argue that the person with the alergy should be reseated, since they had to pony up a fee, in addition to the airline ticket, for simply bringing a pet on board.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Deerfield Beach, FL, USA
Posts: 9
but in the case of the person with the allergy - simply reseating doesn't necessarily work - two rows a way I felt it - they should disclose the information and then those like me with allergies should be allowed to change to a different flight without penalty.
#12
Join Date: Jul 2001
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Sweet Willie:
A rhetorical question, do airlines know who is travelling w/pets in the cabin area? Is it required by a passenger traveling with a pet to mention this to the airline?
</font>
A rhetorical question, do airlines know who is travelling w/pets in the cabin area? Is it required by a passenger traveling with a pet to mention this to the airline?
</font>
It's less likely these days, but I wouldn't say it's not happening.
#13
Used to be 'g_leyser'
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by hbtraveler:
but in the case of the person with the allergy - simply reseating doesn't necessarily work - two rows a way I felt it - they should disclose the information and then those like me with allergies should be allowed to change to a different flight without penalty.</font>
but in the case of the person with the allergy - simply reseating doesn't necessarily work - two rows a way I felt it - they should disclose the information and then those like me with allergies should be allowed to change to a different flight without penalty.</font>
Again, I ask: is it within a passenger's rights to request that the pet/owner be removed from the flight?
#14
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I don't think the pet/owner should be removed from the flight if the pet traveling was already confirmed with the airline and the fee was paid. I think the solution might be to offer to reaccomodate the allergic passenger on a later, pet-free flight at no charge.
Maybe the long-term solution is for the airline to designate a particular proportion of flights per day as "pet-free". People would not be allowed to book pets on them (except in the hold) and severely allergic people could take those particular flights without worry.
Maybe the long-term solution is for the airline to designate a particular proportion of flights per day as "pet-free". People would not be allowed to book pets on them (except in the hold) and severely allergic people could take those particular flights without worry.
#15
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Hm. I've always wondered how they dealt with this situation. I guess those with severe allergies to dog/cat aren't necessarily expecting to find them on a plane. Some carriers don't take pets in the cabin, as I recall, and that may be one way to be sure. (Check carrier's web site for such info.) When they do allow them, there are several rules including a size limit, carrier must fit under seat and a limit of one or two per plane, depending upon airline and plane type. There's also a fee, and it must be reserved well in advance due to the restrictions, particularly the per-plane limit.
I can sympathize with both sides. I have a cat, and if I needed to fly somewhere with her, I'd want to take her in the cabin. I also have allergies, not to cat dander luckily, but to a couple other things, and certainly I know they can be not just uncomfortable but life-threating in some cases. Due to the nature of the reservation and extra fee paid for the pet, I have a feeling that the path of least resistance would be to reaccommodate the allergic person on another flight. That said, I suspect there isn't sufficient info given out about when there is an animal in the cabin. I think it would be a good idea for the airlines to volunteer this info without being asked, but for right now, it seems those with severe allergy are probably going to have to be proactive and ask well in advance. If you can find an airline that doesn't allow them (Southwest is one, though not an option if you're used to F!) you're safe, but I wonder if the others even have a policy for rebooking an allergic person. You may well have to fight for that even.
[This message has been edited by CrazyOne (edited 10-07-2002).]
I can sympathize with both sides. I have a cat, and if I needed to fly somewhere with her, I'd want to take her in the cabin. I also have allergies, not to cat dander luckily, but to a couple other things, and certainly I know they can be not just uncomfortable but life-threating in some cases. Due to the nature of the reservation and extra fee paid for the pet, I have a feeling that the path of least resistance would be to reaccommodate the allergic person on another flight. That said, I suspect there isn't sufficient info given out about when there is an animal in the cabin. I think it would be a good idea for the airlines to volunteer this info without being asked, but for right now, it seems those with severe allergy are probably going to have to be proactive and ask well in advance. If you can find an airline that doesn't allow them (Southwest is one, though not an option if you're used to F!) you're safe, but I wonder if the others even have a policy for rebooking an allergic person. You may well have to fight for that even.
[This message has been edited by CrazyOne (edited 10-07-2002).]