advice on traveling with pet as carry-on

[Phydeaux]

We're all afraid of making a stink over a legitimate service animal. It's easy to tell when someone has an obvious limitation. Blindness, for instance.

Harder to tell when the dog is an epilepsy dog, for instance.

But it's REALLY easy to spot a faker. These animals haven't been trained. They are indulged. And they're usually chihuahuas, corgis and other tiny little dogs that are basically useless as service animals.

And the airlines are likely terrified of denying service to a passenger incorrectly in our litigious society.

Actually, the airlines hands are tied. My understanding is it is illegal to inquire what the disability is.

 

[ScoopKona]

Actually, the airlines hands are tied. My understanding is it is illegal to inquire what the disability is.

But they ARE allowed to ask for the US Service Dog Registry card. They don't even do THAT. And why should they? Every nitwit who cannot stand to be away from their precious Woogums eventually finds someone to help them become fakers.

We remove our shoes, turn on our laptops, deal with pat downs and full-body scans.

But we have to smell Woogums the Incontinent Cat's scat all the way from LAX to JFK. Noise-cancelling headphones doesn't help that, now does it?

 

[BJRSanDiego]

Best to have someone dog sit

Dogs are bad enough. Wait 'til you get stuck on a flight near some pampered princess with a damned CAT.

Cats hate air travel. And they make EVERYONE near them appreciate how much they hate air travel for the entire duration of the flight. Nothing like smelling a litterbox and listen to a cat howl on a six-hour flight.

Pet owners can be some of the worst people on earth.

We traveled a few times with our cat on a plane. We were required to have current (<30 day) papers from a vet saying it was fit to travel. We "tranq'ed" the cat at the airport with a vet supplied sedative. It didn't make a sound on the plane. After take off I put the sedated cat on my lap and covered it with a blanket. It was warm and could smell something familiar (me). So, it was as "happy as a clam at high tide" and purred most of the "trip" (pardon the pun). It always held its bladder and bowels on the flight. That isn't surprising for cats but I'm not sure abt dogs.

But having shared that story, I think that a flight is likely to be traumatic to animals and if you are just going on vacation, then I recommend just leaving the animal at home with someone taking care of it. While we like to have our animals with us, perhaps its kinder to them to NOT take them.

 

[CatLovers]

I would also never compare a barking dog to a crying baby.

Brian

I would! A crying baby is waaaay worse! Each to his own ...

 

[CatLovers]

"Pet owners can be some of the worst people on Earth." I should modify that. Pet owners can be some of the ugliest people on Earth.

LOL. Hmmm .... I'm seeing some ugliness on this thread ... enuff said

 

[ScoopKona]

LOL. Hmmm .... I'm seeing some ugliness on this thread ... enuff said

Oh, no. Not enough said. Not at all. Excuse me for not wanting to smell cat urine and feces on a long haul. Excuse me for being allergic to cats. VERY allergic. I cannot be in a cabin with one without being in ABSOLUTE AGONY.

But by all means, enjoy bringing your cat onto the plane and making people like me miserable. Obviously, you're entitled to have Woogums with you. And I'm apparently not entitled to breathe.

If I know a cat is getting on the same plane as me, I won't board. That simple.

And guess what -- my rights trump yours. You should have to take a later plane. Or you should put your cat somewhere where it doesn't affect me.

 

[heathpack]

To turn this back into a reasonable conversation:

Animals die in cargo frequently. Cargo should be avoided.

In general, animals should not travel by airplane. But of course there are times that air travel is the only option, at which time it is a positive that the option exists.

The vast majority of animals do not suffer urinary or fecal incontinence.

Pet owners should indeed be considerate of the needs of others. The B-S "assistance dog" is a thing to be ashamed of (it's true- many, many exist. Of course not all).

Ingeneral, our society should put a greater emphasis on consideration for others and acting for the common good. This sort of thing begins with behaving civially on an Internet forum, for example, and perhaps not reducing the situation of a person traveling with a cat home from living in Japan to that of a pathetic cat owner who can't be separated from his/her beloved cat for the duration of a weekend trip.

There are multiple perspectives to every circumstance.

H

 

[mav]

Worse still is the "Moi?" attitude these people have. "Don't you like my widdle Woogums? Woogums is a good dog! Yes he is!"

These people are so far removed from reality and have a sense of entitlement so vast that they cannot wrap their heads around being a half-way decent person just for common courtesy's sake.

"Pet owners can be some of the worst people on Earth." I should modify that. Pet owners can be some of the ugliest people on Earth.

I myself have NEVER taken a dog on a flight, but I have been on planes where others have. We are on planes anywhere from 10 to 15 times a year, most of which are to Europe and the Middle East. I have NEVER noticed a sound or smell coming from the area where the animals are. Once on a flight back to the USA from Turkey I spotted 2 cats in a cat carrier on the flight and that was about an hour from landing. Never heard a sound from that area and they were only a few rows from us. BUT on flights I can't stand the slobs that get on planes with colds that SNEEZE at the top of there lungs , cough, blow their nose so everyone for 10 rows around them is treated to the sound , talk non stop in loud voices having conversations ranging from the mundane to their wild single weekend away from home , the seat mate that will not shut up even when you pretend to sleep, and screaming kids old enough to know better. Just LOVE the kids who run up and down the aisles even when the overworked flight attendents ask their parents to please keep them seated for their safety in case of turbulence. But the places we go ya need a plane sooooooo

 

[Phydeaux]

I too am allergic to cats. In March of this year, I was on a 3.5 hour flight with a couple that brought their two cats on board in a carrier and sat directly behind me. I was more amused by the appearance of the couple that brought the cats on board than anything else. I never heard, smelled, sneezed or otherwise. Just got a kick out of the passe hippies that brought their little darlings on board with them. They looked like relics

 

[Janann]

We put our cat on a 3 hour flight many years ago without incident when we were moving to a new home. The vet prescribed a sedative, and we always joke that the instructions were: give the cat half a pill. If that doesn't work, we should take the other half! Anyway, the cat did fine in cargo.

Another thing to worry about with a pet in cargo is the weather. During certain times of the year the airlines won't accept pets in cargo.

As long as we're on the subject of spoiled pets, I thought it was ridiculous that the cat needed a labeled box with certain specifications, a physical exam within 10 days of the trip, proof of vaccines, etc. HOWEVER, my toddler daughter was not required to have a safety seat, ID, proof that I was her parent, etc. The pet had better documentation and safety standards than the kid.

 

[klpca]

I too am allergic to cats. In March of this year, I was on a 3.5 hour flight with a couple that brought their two cats on board in a carrier and sat directly behind me. I was more amused by the appearance of the couple that brought the cats on board than anything else. I never heard, smelled, sneezed or otherwise. Just got a kick out of the passe hippies that brought their little darlings on board with them. They looked like relics

I'm not sure what we would do in a situation like that. My youngest daughter and my husband are super allergic to cats. With certain cats it's an instantaneous reaction of water eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion etc, with other cats it doesn't start for a half hour or so. If they know in advance about a cat they can take an antihistamine and suffer through it, but if they come into a room where there's a cat before they've taken a pill, there's no time for recovery. There has to be a happy medium on a plane. I guess they would have to move someone. Flying seated near a cat isn't an option for them. Flight attendants must love this.

 

[mav]

Oh, no. Not enough said. Not at all. Excuse me for not wanting to smell cat urine and feces on a long haul. Excuse me for being allergic to cats. VERY allergic. I cannot be in a cabin with one without being in ABSOLUTE AGONY.

But by all means, enjoy bringing your cat onto the plane and making people like me miserable. Obviously, you're entitled to have Woogums with you. And I'm apparently not entitled to breathe.

If I know a cat is getting on the same plane as me, I won't board. That simple.

And guess what -- my rights trump yours. You should have to take a later plane. Or you should put your cat somewhere where it doesn't affect me.

I'll take the pets ANY day over the 2 legged. See my above post. Glad this person was not across from me! http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013...ing-action-when-teen-reported-lewd-passenger/
Like I say, I never have taken a pet on board myself, don't even have a pet anymore. But I would rather fly with them then a lot of the rude people on a flight.
Oh, and I"ll never forget the sight of this slob of a man "cleaning his nose", if you get my drift as I was going down the aisle to the bathroom! Glad HE wasn't next to me either.

 

[klpca]

Ewww. Some people are so gross.

 

[ScoopKona]

I'll take the pets ANY day over the 2 legged. See my above post. Glad this person was not across from me! http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013...ing-action-when-teen-reported-lewd-passenger/
Like I say, I never have taken a pet on board myself, don't even have a pet anymore. But I would rather fly with them then a lot of the rude people on a flight.
Oh, and I"ll never forget the sight of this slob of a man "cleaning his nose", if you get my drift as I was going down the aisle to the bathroom! Glad HE wasn't next to me either.

Boo hoo. Yes, there are lots of filthy people in the world. We see them all the time leaving public restrooms without washing up.

But that doesn't cause a small (but significant) part of the population to have real trouble breathing.

Why does their "I have to have my pet in my lap on the flight" trump my right to breathe?

Can anyone give me a thoughtful answer to that question that isn't a variation on "humans can be icky?" Damned straight humans can be icky. For instance, they bring their pets into the cabins of airplanes even though they know there are likely allergic people on the plane. Get a random sample of 400 people together in a jumbo jet and the odds are likely that one or two of them are allergic to cats. Why would anyone do that to their fellow man? And so gleefully, at that?

 

[ScoopKona]

There are multiple perspectives to every circumstance.

Not as far as my sinuses are concerned. My sinuses can't tell the difference between a "legitimate" need and some insufferable nitwit who "wuvs Woogums sooooo much."

I have pets. Not cats, naturally. Parrots. And there are people who have severe allergies to my birds. I would never, ever, ever, board an airplane with one -- because I'm not an inconsiderate blowhard with a vastly-exaggerated sense of entitlement.

As an allergy sufferer I know how bad it is. And even if NOBODY on the plane is allergic, most people would not want to listen to them squawk for the duration of the flight. I would like to say that it is common courtesy. But it obviously isn't so common these days.

 

[smurfyblue]

Wow. I have never come across a thread (well american thread) were a people are so vocal about being against pets. Pet love is like the new religion in this country, you dear not speak against it. Im allergic too but have being able to get a good change of seat the few times I have been seated around a pet. once on AirTran i guess the flight attendant did not believe me until i started wheezing and gasping for air 30 mins into the flight. i had to stand in the back of the plane for a while before they decided to put me in first class cause there were no open seats in economy and no one wanted to move. The dog owner was very apologetic but only after my asthma attack kicked in. I was wheezing all through the 4 hr flight, cause once the reaction kicks in it takes a long while to get back to normal. Now I have to travel with drugs just incase a pet is in the plane. Their rights seem to trump mine. .

My other major upset with dog owners is dog poop all over the neighborhood. It is really annoying. When We move into this beautiful community walking in the evening was a breeze until pet owners started moving in. Now we have to pay for poop scoopers who come in twice a week or we have to dodge poop left and right while taking a stroll. I know not all owners leave dog poop in the middle of a walkway. But plenty of them do and I just don't understand how they are ok with this. They must be filthy people to think that is ok.

Bravo scoopLV, although I would have thought scoopLV had something to do with scooping poop

Pet owners please be considerate. And parents of rowdy kids too.

 

[happybaby]

update on dog

to answer op's and clarify

Some will understand and then the non pet lovers won't.

all other trips (leisure on vacations wherever or come here because of health issues) dd has left the dog at home in a kennel or with friends, but this time she will be here for a month . she will be working here at the house as she does back home. her job is set up for such as many other girls work from home ....case manager....

Her husband is travelling much of this month that is why she decided to bring him with her. Besides they would miss each other.

to ask friends to dog sit a month is a bit much and the kennel would cost about 1000.00

the dog is a hypoallergenic dog because dd husband is allergic to animals, moreso cats tho. I also have allergies. Take a benadryl . somedays are worse then others.

I also have a dog and 2 cats and watch other dd dogs much when she works.So 2 more dogs.

The Vet said it was ok to give benadryl, not that it necessary. just it is ok
The airlines dont like them sedated. How do you know if the animal is sleeping, drowsy or having medical problems.
I mentioned their HR , blood pressure can also drop as do humans when sedated

Many airlines today will not ship an animal in cargo . They have had had many die.

Another poster mentioned kids. Yes, I had one behind me that kicked my seat for 5 hours. He was old enough to know better or understand the meaning of dont do that. Who to blame .the parents. Just let him keep on kicking me. Then they got on the Old McDonald song . I listened to that for about a half hour kicking the seat to the tune

Crying babies dont bother me.

As far as the dog. he did fine. slept in his soft kennel under the seat. no drugs!!! never once barked and well behaved. never went pee until he landed at final destination and dd took him to the pet area

 

[Ken555]

I'm allergic, but I don't think quite as severe as some of you. I sympathize with all of you re the myriad issues we all have to deal with when flying - children, pets, loud and obnoxious people, sick people, etc. I'm sure we all try to be reasonable, most of the time. But, I personally know many who, while they are wonderful individuals, considerate and giving, they are universally completely selfish when it comes to their own travel needs. We had a few humorous (and not so humorous) posts here a few years ago about large/overweight flyers and their rights on planes. This topic seems to be never ending, and I doubt it will.

There are some obvious issues which develop naturally from space limitations and the simple fact that we breathe the same air on planes as everyone else, including pets. How we deal with it says a lot about us. For myself, I think health concerns trump everything. If you're sick and contagious you shouldn't fly...but many do. If you're allergic to animals and someone has one on plane, should you fly? If I know in advance that there is a pet that I'm allergic to on the flight I will ask to be seated far away...but most flights I don't know in advance, don't have time to arrange an alternative seat, etc. I can't reasonably expect the airline to prevent the animal owner from boarding, but I do expect some consideration from the flight crew in assisting me change seats (which often doesn't work, generates hostility from fellow passengers and even sometimes the flight crew itself), etc.

Many try to be considerate, but fail. And some are so selfish that they don't care at all about anyone else, especially if it will inconvenience them. That's the way things are right now, as I see it.

 

[Glynda]

How far?

Absolutely agree.

For comparison, it's not that uncommon for flights that serve peanuts (Southwest?) to occasionally state that they can't serve them on the flight because someone on board is allergic. I'm glad they respect that allergy. And I wish the same would be true for those who are allergic to cats and/or dogs. Health concerns used to be a concern of the airline passengers, and seemingly now are only somewhat a concern.

Whenever I see a dog or cat in the security line, I immediately get a bit concerned that the pet will end up on my flight.

I don't understand the acceptance of this practice by the silent majority.

I, and a lot of people, am allergic to many soaps, perfumes, scented hand and body lotions, etc. I am also allergic to wool. I sure hope none of you would wear a wool jacket, cologne, perfume, scented lotions, soaps, etc. on an airplane. How far do we go?

 

[Glynda]

Thank you!

Thank you! Well said!

To turn this back into a reasonable conversation:

Animals die in cargo frequently. Cargo should be avoided.

In general, animals should not travel by airplane. But of course there are times that air travel is the only option, at which time it is a positive that the option exists.

The vast majority of animals do not suffer urinary or fecal incontinence.

Pet owners should indeed be considerate of the needs of others. The B-S "assistance dog" is a thing to be ashamed of (it's true- many, many exist. Of course not all).

Ingeneral, our society should put a greater emphasis on consideration for others and acting for the common good. This sort of thing begins with behaving civially on an Internet forum, for example, and perhaps not reducing the situation of a person traveling with a cat home from living in Japan to that of a pathetic cat owner who can't be separated from his/her beloved cat for the duration of a weekend trip.

There are multiple perspectives to every circumstance.

H

 

[sgtdesi]

Worse still is the "Moi?" attitude these people have. "Don't you like my widdle Woogums? Woogums is a good dog! Yes he is!"

These people are so far removed from reality and have a sense of entitlement so vast that they cannot wrap their heads around being a half-way decent person just for common courtesy's sake.

"Pet owners can be some of the worst people on Earth." I should modify that. Pet owners can be some of the ugliest people on Earth.

Yeah I flew my cat back after my involuntary mobilization in the Army Reserve. I was away from home for 13 months and adopted a cat for company. My cat was fine on the flight but it is too bad you were not nearby. Yes, I served my country so you would have the right to call me ugly and a POS. I REALLY appreciate that. Perhaps you should stop slinging insults at people and just provide your perspective. I think it is extremely disrespectful of you to make those blanket comments.

 

[pwrshift]

I think there's size discrimination with flying pets. A Great Dane has to go in cargo while a 15 lb dog is welcome.

Brian

 

[ciscogizmo1]

I can always put on my Noise cancelling headphones for crying cats, dogs, and humans.

It's the seat kickers, tray slammers and headrest pullers that bug me!

Don't forget about the men that have GAS problems. Omgosh, we were on flight to Maui and the guy just couldn't stop farting. I finally offered him my tums so, he'd get a clue but he didn't. Just kept tooting away...

 

[ScoopKona]

Yeah I flew my cat back after my involuntary mobilization in the Army Reserve. I was away from home for 13 months and adopted a cat for company. My cat was fine on the flight but it is too bad you were not nearby. Yes, I served my country so you would have the right to call me ugly and a POS. I REALLY appreciate that. Perhaps you should stop slinging insults at people and just provide your perspective. I think it is extremely disrespectful of you to make those blanket comments.

You shouldn't have adopted a pet knowing that you would have to fly home shortly thereafter. And it's "too bad" that I was not nearby? You want me to suffer? What kind of person are you, anyway?

It is not disrespectful -- it is the absolute truth for those of us who have allergic reactions. And even people who DON'T have allergic reactions shouldn't have to deal with flying pets. "Oh, my pets LOVE to fly" they all say. Well, my experience in airplanes with incontinent cats and unruly dogs does not square with their assessment of the situation. I think they are projecting a positive spin on the situation because to do otherwise might lead to introspection.

Not only do most people not even consider what they are doing to their fellow man, even if told they do not care. I absolutely stand by my statement that pet owners can be some of the ugliest people on the planet.

EDIT -- Still waiting for a thoughtful answer to my question: Why does their desire to have their pet in their laps on the flight trump the right of others to breathe?

I don't think anyone is going to answer that one. It is an indefensible position. And to answer Glynda's hypothetical question, I would never wear cologne on an airplane. I know full-well what kind of misery I may inflict on someone with an allergy. People who do so are discourteous to their fellow man. We can't control our digestion (and flying at altitude increases flatulence). We cannot control infants. We CAN control how we behave in confined spaces. And some people do not think about that. Nor do they even want to CONSIDER thinking about it.

 

[mav]

Could it be because you seem to be ranting and raving? Sort of like a tantrum. Chill