scilly

Back in the day, those were known as OPKs, and the parents were despised.

I've been on planes where the air crew refused to assist parents with OPKs .... QUANTAS used to be very bad for that!

Aviator

Whose problem is it then? If they are your pets or kids, it would certainly not be my problem.
If you have no doubt it is adequate, why put the pets thought the trauma in being in a cabin with lots of people and noise?

Davita

Recently, in USA, airlines have amended their policy on carrying 'emotional support' pets in the cabin.
It clearly got out of hand and now some passengers flushed their pets, like hamsters, down the toilet.... apparently to get attention. One guy filmed to send to his ex who had gifted the animal.... but was cheating on him.
No wonder they needed 'emotional support' pets in the first place.

Personally, I think we should make space in the hold for such pax and keep the pets upstairs in the cabin, strapped to a seat...

Dave_Pardew

Who says they're in any more trauma flying in the cabin than in the hold? Pets have no reference point regarding flying, whether it be in the cabin or the hold. So it's my personal preference. If the airline offers me the choice of the cabin I'll have my cats in the cabin. Parents get on flights with their young children, if the child is feeling uncomfortable and starts crying, passengers would be wrong to kick off at the parents, it's probably hard enough for the parents as it is.

In the same vein, if the cats are uncomfortable they might whinge for a bit, I'll do everything I can to give them the attention they require and feed them fresh water (neither of which they'd get in the hold), and I'll appreciate the same level of understanding from other passengers, I'm not deliberately creating an uncomfortable situation, I'm handling it. So if anyone has a problem with that, just because it's a cat and not a child, they're being unreasonable and it's their problem, not mine.

If a person doesn't like pets in the cabin, then next time they book a flight, book it way in advance and tell the airline immediately they have a pet allergy, that way the airline will stop any pets from being booked in the cabin.

Just because a person doesn't like animals or have pets, that doesn't mean the rest of us with pets have to cow to their personal preferences, as long as we're following the rules and doing our best in challenging circumstances.

Aviator

Pets can go in the hold. It is frowned upon to put children in the hold.

I bit of smokers logic there eh!

Howefamily

Our cat flew in the hold on Air Canada, with water, he was fine.

Dave_Pardew

Hmmm... not quite, I can assure you my cats aren't anti-social or culturally ostracised, and won't give you lung cancer or kill you

Their judgmental glances on the other hand may sap your sense of self-worth...

Aviator

Certainly not mine and I doubt anyone else!

Howefamily

I am not sure any of the passengers will be paying attention to how your cat is looking at them given they are going to be in their cat carrier on the floor.
I am pretty certain though that they may have a comment or two should they need to use the litter box mid flight...
I love cats, but even I dont care for that.

caretaker

Air Canada makes provision for the wee bairns in the cabin. I'm not sure which plane she got on, but I did see someone carrying a little dog through the security line.

Dave_Pardew

We're using disposable dog nappies which line the base of the carrier and can be changed immediately.

I agree with you, I too wouldn't have much leeway for anyone who brought their cats into the cabin and didn't make reasonable advance preparations in consideration of other passengers.

Dave_Pardew

So we're all back to being friends again!

Howefamily

You sound prepared. Good luck in your move.

Snowy560

I live in North Van. Getting downtown takes one bus or I can go the other way and get a bus then seabus. I usually get the bus. My daughter and the student we have in our basement usually do the seabus. There's other areas with a fairly quick commute like New Westminster, Richmond or Burnaby. Or you can go further afield as plenty do.

milly_m

So apparently I missed the Great Cat Flying Debate of 2018

Anyway, more pertinent questions - how the heck do you decide what to take with you?? We have three tentative categories:
1) To take with us immediately
2) To ship over
3) To keep in storage in the UK

We can each bring two suitcases with us but no idea what to prioritise taking, and whether to try and ship a few boxes with us. For example, it might be good to bring some of our cat 'stuff' that they are familiar with (litter trays, scratchers) and other bits and bobs that we don't necessarily want to wait 2-3 months for. I'm pretty sure just my clothes and a few toiletries could fit into two suitcases!