Pulaski

Hypocrite.

mrken30

I flew my cat direct from LHX to ORD on United. I believe this is still an option looking at their website.

mrken30

They have to be examined for fleas by a vet and treated just prior to flying. You're more likely to get a flea ridden human on a plane with flea ridden pets at home.

sir_eccles

Worse than that! Bed bugs!

Rete

How so? People who are allergic to cats are allergic to their dander. Since they are confined in a carrier and must be kept under the seat at all times, the dander does not have the opportunity to invade the cabin. For those who are allergic to perfumes, etc., that scent is on the person sitting next to you, behind you or in front of you and pervades the entire environment around you.

Pulaski

So the cat is transported magically from the concourse and reappears under the seat, right? You're not, for example, waving the cat carrier around as you carry it in front of you as you walk down the aisle of the plane?

If you knowingly introduce one allergen source to an airplane cabin, I don't see you have much of a basis to complain about someone else doing the same thing.

Rete

Nope, I'm not waving the carrier around in front or me or behind me. The carrier is soft sided with only one small opening in the front for air and that is covered with a fine mesh. The danger of dander escaping is minimal whereas the danger of allergic reaction to someone who dumped a 1/2 bottle of cologne/perfume on themselves is definitely much greater.

Bet you are a heavy user

jenninedinburgh

Thank you Yes, as airlines cram more and more people in a small space, there are many irritations for us all. What I do know is that they are very strict about how many pets are allowed in the cabin and in what parts of the cabin. There are also many airlines that don't allow it at all for those who are very opposed to it.

What part of Mississippi are you? I am originally from Tupelo

moneypenny20

Whilst I can't imagine ever putting my cat through a long trip in the cabin, I'd be seriously naffed off if I was told I couldn't take my cat, then got on board and found a load of cats there.

LondonSquirrel

Some humans stink in a way animals hardly ever do. I'd rather sit next to someone with a cat under their seat in a pet carrier who hasn't been fed for 24 hours and is unlikely to poop, then squashed next to a fat human who reeked of BO. There are all sorts of inconveniences you can get when flying, a lot of it to do with luck (screaming children, someone travel sick puking up next to you, seat pusher-backer, 'air rage' passengers scrapping...) and small animals are likely to cause the least of problems. And I'm sure if the pet did poop, the cabin crew would ask the owner to go into the toilet and get rid of the offending stuff.


As far as I know, allergies to pet hair are rarely fatal, whereas allergies to peanuts can certainly be. And I was going to mention what Rete said about strong perfumes and aftershaves.

mrken30

My cat traveled on the seat on the transatlantic part. They even asked someone if they wanted to move to allow him a seat. I doubt if that would happen today.

lizzyq

As I travelled alone with my 2 cats when I brought them over I could not have had them both in the cabin with me. I was happy for them to travel in the hold as:

i) I was on a direct flight MAN-JFK
ii) I did all the arrangements myself (American Airlines in October 2014 - I don't think that is an option now)
iii) They had more space in their hard sided carriers than in a small soft sided carrier
iv) If they had been with me I think they would have been more distressed that I couldn't let them out etc than on their own.
v) I would have been more stressed if they were distressed.

The staff at Manchester were excellent and let me know that the cats were loaded and strapped down before I boarded myself. On arrival at JFK they arrived at the outsize baggage point before my suitcase arrived on the carousel and were perfectly calm - calmer than after the 5 hour car journey from Manchester to Pembrokeshire which they made on a regular basis.

Rete

So is my next door neighbors. The place of Elvis' birth. He is in the Army and stationed now in Fort Shelby so we all reside in Hattiesburg.

RainyDays

This reminds me of that time my husband and I moved from San Francisco to New York with our 3 cats in the cabin. One of our cats bit and scratched the security person who tried to check out his carrier. That same cat pooped on the flight and my husband and I were so embarrassed by the almighty smell that we wrinkled our noses and frowned as though we had no idea where the smell was coming from. Even worse: we'd been upgraded from economy to business.

Rete

Why would traveling in the cabin be any worse in your thinking than traveling in the cargo hold? They are still confined in either circumstance and at least the cabin offers your pet the sound of your voice for comfort.

Surprisingly when I did take her on the plane, the other two seat holders were traveling with their dogs under the seat. Didn't bother my cat for being along a dog and the dogs didn't care either.