Having to sit next to a PET - Is it reasonable???
 

Let me first say I'm a dog lover. But... Is it reasonable to have to sit next to a cat or a dog on a plane when you are allergic for several hours?

My daughter (23) was on a plane last week, where the woman had a cat, in a carrier on her lap. My daughter is highly allergic to cats. She didn't expect to be seated next to one so didn't take an allergy pill as she does when she goes to someone's home. She sneezed all the way from BOS - ATL and had to use her inhaler twice. When asked to have her seat changed FA apologized but said flight was full.

Why is it okay for FA to tell you not to eat peanuts or almonds, if someone is allergic on the plane, but it's okay for someone to bring a pet? Pet dander stays around for a long time after the pet is gone.

Until they ban pets in cabin, you're out of luck. But your daughter could ask at check in if there are any pets on board as the ticket agent can check that. I would guess, too, that they could pinpoint where the pet is sitting and try to make accommodations for seating her well away from that area if at all possible.

It's too bad the FA didn't offer to make an announcement regarding the issue - I'd have been happy to switch seats. And I'll bet the seatmate with the cat felt awful for her but didn't know what to say or do.

I love pets too, and I wouldn't mind sitting next to any pet, even if the pet was making noise. But... it is NOT reasonable to make someone who doesn't want to, have to sit next to someone else's pet. I think people that insist on bringing pets on board should have to buy a seat for the pet.

Also, it is my understanding that you are NOT allowed to take a pet out of the container/carry bag inflight.

For the record, all French airlines are probably the most 'pet friendly". And there is nothing more scary than having to check a pet... especially if a connection is involved... something I would NEVER do (the connection part).

It is not a question of paying for the animal, it is a question of health. Once a pet is on the plane, anyone allergic to a pet is subjected to the exposure. I was on a plane and eating almonds, three rows away from a person who was allergic to nuts. I was asked to stop eating my snack because of the persons allergy. There is something wrong with this picture. Nuts are bad but pets are good.

I understand and agree with the health issue... i'm just suggesting that buying an extra seat at least might put the pet a few more inches away from someone else... i would make a rule that the pet must use the seat by the window, and the owner must use the adjacent seat, which would slightly insulate other passengers.

Somewhat related, I also think it's unreasonable to have to sit next to people that have small children, under 2, sitting on their lap. This is awful...

As a F/A, like your daughter, I am also highly allergic to cats, I live for the day that pets are no longer allowed inside the cabin. I cannot take benadryl because of the drowsiness that it causes while I'm working, so therefore I am miserable. I am a pet lover, so don't anyone think that I hate all pets, just have a bad reaction to cats. If your daughter had been on my flight and told me the situation, I would have asked someone to trade seats with her. There are also some people who are not honest, and never tell anyone that they have a pet on board the aircraft. I sympathize with your daughter.....

I love pets, I have zero problem with pets on a flight and would willing sit next to one, but I have thought about what the OP points out before. The airlines go MAJORLY out of their way for people with peanut allergies, removing all snacks from the plane (and leaving ALL all other passengers without a snack service), they clean the plane, and they instruct all the passengers that they arent even allowed to open food they brought on. But yet there is NO announcement even informing passengers there is a pet on board, there is no inquiries if anyone is allergic and so on. Seems like a bit of a double standard!!!!!!!

WN doesn't allow pets in the cabin (although they make an exception for Sea World animals...I was on a flight where the first several rows were reserved for assorted creatures and their handlers...while we were in flight, one of them brought a toucan through the cabin for everyone to see).

Even though I am a pet owner, I have often wondered about allergies and how that would work onboard. We thought we were going to have to fly our cats with us to FL, but we ended up just driving them. If we had flown, I would have pitied anyone in the cabin with our long-haired, probably howling cats.

I do like pets...................but not in an airplane cabin. I know it sounds harsh but pets should not be allowed in an airplane cabin. Most restaurants don't allow them, most hotels do neither so why should airlines?

I am also very allergic to cats, but not dogs, and if it had been a dog, I would have been perfectly willing to change seats. If the FAs are there primarily for our safety, I think the FA should have at least tried to find her another seat. I would imagine there is some level of liability if something serious happened.

I don't really understand the peanut thing, but from what I have seen, allergies to nuts can be more severe than allergies to dander.

I don't know that banning pets is the right answer either. First, you deal with service animals that may still cause similar problems (at least for people with allergies to dogs), and if I was in a situation where I had to fly and bring my pet, I wouldn't want them to fly as cargo, considering the stories I have heard.

It depends on the person, I have known a couple people whose pet reaction were life threatening, on par with serious peanut reaction

I've never given it much thought before, and I guess it must happens all the time, but the idea of a bird on a plane made me laugh....

Do you think that it's embarrassd about having to take a jet? Did it look ashamed? Do you think it lied to the other Toucans when it got there??

:p

Cat lover speaks...
 

Yesterday I watched a woman board in C with a small dog in a carrier - I must admit it crossed my mind, "what if people are allergic?"

I'm surprised they allow it too, but I'm grateful because I needed to do it once.

When I moved cross country, I had no choice but to fly with my cat (I could never have boarded her in stowage!) She was quiet the whole trip and it was the only safe way I knew to get her here.

In 1985 we were flying with our small children on PA from LHR to JFK. We were in business class, which was up the spiral staircase on the 747-100. We had comfortably ensconced ourselves in our seats and were suffering our usual pre-flight anxiety about how the kids would behave during the flight, especially in business class in such a confined location. Just before leaving, the final two passengers boarded, an old lady and her poodle, which sat on her lap (in theory) but in reality just gambolled around the cabin as it pleased. The hilarity of the situation hit us and everyone else. The kids and the other passengers had a source of amusement for the rest of the flight and we were healed of our anxiety.

Perhaps the situation has changed over the years. I haven't seen a pet in a cabin for many years, and I'm almost certain they are not and never have been permitted to fly in the cabin on Australian flights.

I know if I had an allergy and could potentially be in a situation where pets COULD be present, I would always carry my medication... so I think your daughter made a mistake in not carrying her medication.

Second, as someone mentioned, she could have asked at the desk if there was any pets scheduled to be on board. If so, at a minimum, she could have asked to be rebooked... I know United had done that in the past for some friends... at no charge.

Third, I cannot believe that no one was willing to change seats with your daughter if she asked. I would have welcomed the opportunity to sit next to a cat... and help out someone who has an allergy. In the future, she may want to be more "forceful" with the flight attendant... and just say "Can you announce to see if anyone would be willing to switch seats with me for this reason?"

These days, there are so many things that people may be allergic to that it is impossible to account for everything. But I would hope they would be as accomodating as possible.

William

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The cat itself wasn't a problem. According to my daughter, it wasn't freaking out, making noises, it was sleeping most of the way. The problem was the dander.

I guess my question is why are airlines so "sensitive" to peanut allergies and so insensitive to animal allergies?

I wonder what the airline can do about my allergy to small children...

About a year ago... I was in first (757 with 24 seats I believe.) One of the passengers had a cat in a carry on (Sherba bag.) The woman next to her raised a major fuss complaingin to the purser "Why is that thing seated next to me?"

I could not tell if the woman was allergic or just hated animals.

I walked up to the ladies and said "I"m more than happy to change seats to ease the situation because I happen to LOVE cats."

The woman at first refused saying "I'm always in 2b and this is my preferred seat." Eventually after the purser calmed her down she moved. I had one of my best flights with the woman and her cat who was the best behaved passenger on that flight!

SOmetimes I rather fly with cats than people. ;) Cats don't get drunk, don't get fresh with the FA's and follow the safety rules. :)

Also concur with what wharvey and others said.

Maybe the solution is a pet friendly airline! :)

IMO, the OP should write the airline and let them know the FA did not reseat someone who was at risk for a health problem on the flight. It doesn't sound like the FA even asked if anyone was willing to swap seats - just, "Sorry, we're full!" When a pax's health could be endangered, that's unacceptable.

I wonder if asking a second FA on the flight would have gotten a different response.

The FA in this instance was lacking, and it should be brought to the attention of the airline.

It is interesting that Sea World animals get to travel on WN (if you look at the Sea World website, WN is a "partner company") because, other than service animals, you are not allowed to bring ANY live animals with you--in the cabin or in the cargo hold.

From the WN website:

Southwest Airlines does not accept live animals in the aircraft cabin or cargo compartment other than fully trained service animals accompanying a person with a disability or being delivered to a person with a disability.

I am mildly allergic to almost all dogs and cats, and terrifically allergic to a few breeds. I can get into pretty severe respiratory distress in about 15 minutes, and back out of it in another 15 if I get away from the allergen. I've never traveled with allergy meds because in my case it suffices to get away from the animal, and I've never had a problem traveling. But in a situation like the OP's daughter's it would have been a choice between reseating me and a medical diversion, and I would have told the FA exactly that.

I'm very sorry your daughter had to suffer during her flight. The FA should have moved her and I would complain to the airline. However as a dog owner that flies with my dog during the holidays...I have to disagree with pets being banned from the cabin. It is cruel to place any animal under the plane and the airlines DO NOT allow us to buy them seats. I see no difference between my dog and a little child (yes, I'll get flames on this...) but given that I often have to pay more to fly my dog than for my ticket, I'd much rather pay for a seat than to place him on the floor.
Now for allergies, any pet dander/hair will be on the owner's clothes provoking allergies as well. So banning pets doesn't really solve the issue. and even on airlines that do not allow pets to fly in the cabin (Southwest is one), they cannot ban service/companion animals as that is discrimination.
It is my understanding that airlines don't make announcements about pets on flights as they don't want to draw attention to it. I don't want to draw attention to myself when I have my dog and would feel odd if the airline announced "there's a passenger in 18B with a dog..." b/c more often than not, it's added stares and "let me sees and what's his name" etc. when I'd rather be left alone.
But...I'm sorry that your daughter felt awful during her flight...complain about the FA, NOT about pets in the cabin. Please.

Pets are supposed to be under the seat not in the lap so the FA should have instructed the owner to do so.

People shouldn't have to sit beside pets if they don't want to. However dander would have been on the person's clothes and would likely have caused a reaction as well in someone highly allergic. I get severe headaches from smokers and wish I had the option of not sitting beside a smoker. Many people have reactions from perfumes, etc. I know I'll never hear an FA call out "13F stinks, would someone change places with 13D?" but I think someone whose health is at risk should have the right to ask to switch seats.

Most airlines have a limit on the number of pets on board and the pets have to have the window seat. AC limits two pets per plane and I think it would be much easier to find someone to switch seats to sit beside a pet than to sit beside a person holding a toddler, a screaming child or in front of a child who kicks your back the entire journey. I fly quite a bit with my dogs and more often than not, no one knows they are there.

There is a risk in flying pets cargo. Not only is it more traumatic, being in the dark with all the noise, the risk of losing pets, having them escape or of pets dying should not have to be taken unless absolutely necessary. Weather also restricts when pets can fly cargo.

It is important to be able to fly to with pets not only so that we can have our pet with us but it is essential to compete in the shows nationally and internationally, and for the preservation of breeds. I have a old breed (thought to have emerged in Mesopotamia around 4000 to 5000 BC) that was nearly wiped out by the world wars. Dog shows allow us to determine whether or dog has type enough to breed. Our gene pool is small and imports lessen the chances of genetic diseases. Frozen AI does not work in our breed and even if customs was cooperative, the travel time is limited. Most (responsible) breeders breed to prevent extinction and to preserve the breed; travel is vital to this.

I agree that the F/A should have asked if someone would switch seats. You could even sweeten the deal by offering to buy the person a drink. I don't have allergies so as long as the pet is well behaved (not barking/yowling), I'd switch.

I think the difference between peanuts and pets is that peanuts can cause death. Are pet allergies that severe?

My husband's cousin died of an asthma attack brought on by dog allergy, and my son's asthma is triggered by being around dogs. Yes, there is no question that pet allergies can be as severe as nut allergies and can cause death.

Ok not to start a war, but if the person with the allergy lets the TA's know they are allergic shouldnt the PET be rebooked not the "normal" traveller????? They dont tell the person with the peanut allergy to fly later, they remove the source of the allergen. I would think accomodating the pet should require the schedule change not the allergic person. But this is my point from my earlier post, they do not announce or let other passengers know there will be a pet on the flight so how would she even know to ask to be rebooked?

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The problem would be that the plane with the pet on it (if the pet has already boarded) and human with the pet would be contaminated with pet dander/fur - so that still might not be safe for the highly allergic. Yes, the next plane might have had a pet on the it in the past that left some residue behind, but odds are it would a lower risk level than actually being near the living animal.

According to
http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/animalallergy/
10 million people in the US are allergic to cats. (I have read 30 million elsewhere, but I'll use the conservative number here.)

Should all 10 million be forced to buy medication just so they can avoid the rare possibility that someone has brought a cat on the flight? Most have never purchased such medication--as has been pointed out, cat allergy is not a problem if you can get away from the cat, so it's not a big deal in most situations. But on a plane, by the time you find out the cat is there, it's too late.

I agree with the poster who said that the person who is bringing the animal into the cabin should be rebooked if another passenger complains.

And no, being exposed to dander or cat hair that got onto a fellow passenger's clothes or residue from an earlier flight is not the same as being exposed to the animal itself.

The reason they don't do this is because on flights that have pets allowed in cabin they are limited usually to 1-3 on the whole plane. It depends possibly on the size of the plane, but one in F and 1-2 in Y is fairly common as I recall. So just bumping the pet and owner to the next flight would mean checking for flights which have not reached that limit, in addition to having a seat available. Given the very low limit, flights with in-cabin pets have to be booked well in advance, and on top of that there's an additional fee even though the pet does not take up additional space (it must remain in carrier under the seat in front of you). The typical fee is $75 one-way if I'm not mistaken. (May have gone up from that, in fact.) So the pet owner has scheduled this well in advance and paid extra for the privilege. I'm not really surprised that the airlines choose to work around this by reaccommodating other passengers rather than the pet.

Actually stress can bring on dander so if you are giving fido a hug before he goes into the cargo you will have more dander (and fresh) than usual. You are better off sitting beside a pet who has been wiped down with listerine (which gets rid of dander) than someone who has just hugged their pet goodbye. Plus you are forgetting people that live with multiple pets (I was just at a house with over 40 cats!).

actually some pets are better behaved than some passengers. I love a change of pace.

It should be the AIRLINE's responsibiility to protect people who don't want to sit near someone else's pet, just as it is their responsibility to protect people that may not want to sit next to an overly larger person, just like it is the airline's responsibility to enforce and protect people from being around someone else's foul, cancerous, proven dangerous, annoying, smelly cigarette smoke. If they want to get paid to transport us, the have to protect us at the same time from certain hazards in small confined spaces, 35,000 feet in the sky.

And if they are going to protect a miniscule percentage of the populace from possible peanut reactions, they surely can do the same for those that don't want to sit around pet.

Personally, I would be thrilled to sit next to any pet... I love them, and I don't seem to have any alergies... and it might give me something pretty to look at during a flight... BUT... there is no doubt that being around a pet can really make some people SICK... As much as I generally like Air France and the French attitude and/or policy of EVERYONE ON BOARD CAN TAKE A PET IF THEY WANT, it's way beyond reasonable.

Then there's the other attitude of, "well, if you're SOOoooo delicate that you can't handle pet dander, just stay home, or drive..., or charter your own aircraft..." Personally, I can't stand or tolerate strong cheap perfume... I wish the airlines, and society in general would crack down on that.

My son's allergist and the ER doctors who treated his last ashtma-attack-due-to-dog-essence-on-Granpa's-clothes would disagree with you - people can and do react to second-hand "dog essense."

If that's the case, you REALLY should see your allergist/primary care doc and get an Epi-Pen.

Count me another cat allergy person as well. Unfortunately, to be really effective, I need to have taken the anti-histamines for several days before I fly if I am going to be exposed to cat dander. Just taking one once exposed is too late really.

Second point is the problem with peanuts/bees is the risk of anaphalatic shock - hence the prescription of epi-pens for sufferers. Animal allergies tend to cause asthmatic attacks, so epi-pens are not appropriate. I do (now) carry my inhaler with me everywhere just in case, having suffered severe allergic asthma attacks in the past brought on by cats - but if you are cat allergic, you tend to avoid them, so you may not have realised this. My first attack brought on by cats was very scary, and that was on the ground!

Given that there is an alternative to animals in the cabin, and that pet allergies are actually one of the commonest allergies (IIRC, only pollen is more common), I'm surprised that US airlines continue to allow this to happen. I suppose it will take someone actually dying (or an airline being sued :rolleyes: ) before the rules are changed. Perhaps the OP should sue the airline for the distress they caused ;)

I don't want a pet next to me in-flight.

Think of your safety and comfort. No pet ever tried to light its shoes or fly the plane into a building. Every seat occupied by a pet makes the plane that much safer for you.

Pets don't get drunk, talk on their cell phone, or hog the arm rest. People do.

Pets don't bore you talking about their latest MR to TOM. FTers do. :D

The solution is very simple, and a wonderful business opportunity for someone with an enterprenureal spirit: Bubble Airlines. With John Travolta as its spokesman, this airline offers a complete, self-contained atmosphere for each passenger. You are rolled aboard the aircraft in your own individual plastic bubble, sealed and filtered against germs, pet dander, nut dust, perfume fumes, body odor, noxious food items brought on by fellow passengers, baby diaper crap smell, etc. Also, the issue of personal space is instantly resolved, as the bubbles do not recline, and your bubble also acts as a barrier to fellow passengers' various body parts encroaching on your territory (whether POS will be required to purchase TWO bubbles is still up for debate).