Severe cat allergy- cats allowed on plane!!

[aarmando20]

Sometimes it just isn't an option. As I said earlier, there are times of year the airlines will not allow an animal in the cargo area. Either too hot or too cold on the tarmac. Besides, I won't put my pet in cargo...way too much room for error.
This whole discussion about person A's rights vs person B's is just silly. There just aren't that many people with deathly allergies to animals. Uncomfortable? Yes. I'm allergic to cats...can't touch one and then touch my face. I break out in a horrible rash, eyes swell up, trouble breathing. BUT...I choose to have 3 cats but remember to wash my hands after petting them.
I fully realize this isn't an option for some people. But....my issue is this..if I book my seat on a plane, 6 months before I travel, if I pay to have my cat/dog with me, under the seat in an approved carrier, then why in God's name should I be bumped in order for someone with an allergy to be able to fly 'safely'?? Sorry but that just isn't fair. That person should be alerted to the fact that there is already a cat/dog on that flight and then they can choose to take another flight or take a chance on the cat/dog flight. I do appreciate that there are people with health concerns and they should have their rights respected. But what about the rights of those with no issues??? I book a flight months in advance and then am told I can't fly on that flight because someone 'may' have an allergy concern with my cat/dog that is 15 rows behind them??? Sorry but I think that's unreasonable.

Let me play devil's advocate. I book my flight with my family 6 months in advance and I have a cat alergy. Then someone with a cat books a flight that day and the airline notifies me. I have to change my arrangements that I have made months ago? There is no winner in this thread. You are gong to get opinions from both sides.

 

[Belle102498]

Couldn't the airlines do a few no pet flights, or have flights specifically labeled that pets will be on it? I have never traveled with my dog, so I am very naive regarding this issue. Nor do I have pet allergies, so seeing an animal on the plane isn't a big deal. My husband is blind and traveled with his guide dog a few times, so I guess I am just used to animals on planes, but I can certainly see where this would be an issue for some with allergies.

 

[crashbb]

Let me play devil's advocate. I book my flight with my family 6 months in advance and I have a cat alergy. Then someone with a cat books a flight that day and the airline notifies me. I have to change my arrangements that I have made months ago? There is no winner in this thread. You are gong to get opinions from both sides.

I like the "first come, first served" option.

If the allergy is life threatening, you call the airline and tell them. If no one has booked a pet on the flight that you want, you buy your ticket. Anyone wanting to bring a pet cannot do so on that flight. Conversely, if someone has already booked a pet on a given flight, you cannot buy a ticket on that flight (assuming that you cannot fly on a plane with an animal).

That is, basically, what happens if you have someone with service animal on a flight with someone with a life threatening allergy. If sitting them away from each other isn't enough, one will have to take a different flight. The decision is based on factors like when tickets were purchased - neither disability trumps the other.

 

[bavaria]

Let me play devil's advocate. I book my flight with my family 6 months in advance and I have a cat alergy. Then someone with a cat books a flight that day and the airline notifies me. I have to change my arrangements that I have made months ago? There is no winner in this thread. You are gong to get opinions from both sides.

Did 'thou' (in the absence of formal/global 'you' in the English language) inform the airline at time of booking of your allergy?

If not, and it is life threatening, then I don't think that it is reasonable to expect the person who did pay to bring an animal to change flights; I think that the person who failed to advise should get off the flight if they have a life threatening allergy.

I still struggle to understand why people who have life threatening allergies be they pet dander, or peanuts, or nuts, or other things, don't bother to advise the airline in advance. If there is a valid reason for not advising, then please let us know. I think that many of us struggle to understand why someone expects the world to conform to their needs, yet doesn't give the world an advance opportunity to do so.

Many of us do want to be considerate and do want to help, but if we aren't given the chance to do so, it really isn't fair to get upset with us here or on board the aircraft and hold us responsible.

 

[goofy4tink]

Let me play devil's advocate. I book my flight with my family 6 months in advance and I have a cat alergy. Then someone with a cat books a flight that day and the airline notifies me. I have to change my arrangements that I have made months ago? There is no winner in this thread. You are gong to get opinions from both sides.

You misunderstand me. If you book your flight and tell the airline service rep(obviously you won't be able to book online but have to call them directly), that you have animal allergies, that will impact you if flying on a flight where there is an animal, then that should be noted for that particular flight. If I come along, later and want to fly with my cat, and I want to book the flight you are on, too bad for me....first come, first served. You should be able to fly without worrying about cats being on board. BUT...if I booked myself and my carrier bound cat, on a flight and you booked a month later, you should be told that there is going to be a cat on that flight. You can then choose to fly on the same flight as I am on, with my cat, or you can choose another flight. No one should be bumped after booking their flight.

Couldn't the airlines do a few no pet flights, or have flights specifically labeled that pets will be on it? I have never traveled with my dog, so I am very naive regarding this issue. Nor do I have pet allergies, so seeing an animal on the plane isn't a big deal. My husband is blind and traveled with his guide dog a few times, so I guess I am just used to animals on planes, but I can certainly see where this would be an issue for some with allergies.

There just aren't that many flights with animals on them. This really is a tempest in a teapot sort of thing here. In all my flights, I have had two flights where there was an animal..and one of those flights it was my animal!!

As long as you talk to the airline directly and let them know of your particular health concerns, you should be fine. But you shouldn't expect to show up at the gate, find there is an animal on your flight and expect that passenger to be bumped due to your allergies. You need to be proactive.

 

[uva185]

I agree with all the comments regarding proactive actions.

Pet owners have to be proactive to ensure there is space for their pet on the flight (max 2 in coach and 1 in first on several airlines), If pet owners do not have a problem notifying the airline of their pet then it is not unreasonable to expect those with life threatening allergies to also notify the airline.

Of course that doesn't account for those who just sneak their animals aboard to avoid paying the fee.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

The longstanding conflict between pets, peanuts and allergies onboard aircraft is settled one of several ways. First, we have row separation. The least annoying complainant will get bumped to the better seat. Sometimes it's first class. When creative seating isn't an option, the involuntary bump with voucher for future travel seems to work really well. Some veteran petpeanutallergists try to angle for the vouchers at the outset. Veteran petpeanutallergist referees (a.k.a. gate agents and their combat-ready assistants, flight attendants) recognize this tactic and nearly always manage to place the other party in the better seat or on the next flight with voucher in hand. While these situations aren't rare, they really don't happen as often as disboard posters would have you fear.

Now, back to Fluffy and Fido.

 

[Lewisc]

Some passengers are bothered by peanuts, pets, perfumes etc. I suspect the vast majority of passengers aren't bothered to the extent of a life threatening condition.

Passengers on a plane don't have the option of opening a window or going outside for some fresh air.

Perhaps airlines should charge enough extra for pets to cover the expense of providing more fresh air and less re-circulated air. I think the issues are magnified in an environment where the customer can't get fresh air and where the company has motivation to re-circulate the air.

 

[goofy4tink]

Some passengers are bothered by peanuts, pets, perfumes etc. I suspect the vast majority of passengers aren't bothered to the extent of a life threatening condition.

Passengers on a plane don't have the option of opening a window or going outside for some fresh air.

Perhaps airlines should charge enough extra for pets to cover the expense of providing more fresh air and less re-circulated air. I think the issues are magnified in an environment where the customer can't get fresh air and where the company has motivation to re-circulate the air.

I was charged either $75 or $100 one way for the cat to fly with me. That was my carryon bag...I got no other piece of luggage. So...for an addlt $100, I got to bring the cat, stuff it under the seat and carry nothing other than a small purse.
And as I've related before, I did go to pretty extreme measures to be sure there were no people seated anywhere near me who may have had an issue with the cat. I had booked a specific row/seat because it had no one around it...not for at least 2 rows ahead, behind, or next to where I was. Then, the day before I left, I checked the seating plan and found they (Delta) had left several rows open but put people all around me, rather than put them someplace else. (assuming it was Delta, not the passengers due to where the seats were). So, when I got to the gate, I nicely asked if there were any seats open, that didn't have any neighbors in seats. The gate attendent looked at me quite strangely and asked.."Do you have an issue being near other people??!" I told her the situation, she told me that no one had reported an allergy. I asked her to please try and find a seat for me, and the cat, that didn't have someone right in front of us, or immediatly behind. She sighed, and said fine but it would be all the way to the rear of the plane. That was fine with me. But, of course when I boarded, there were people seated in front of me. I leaned around and asked them if they had any 'cat issues'...they said no, but thanks for asking. I was thrilled there was no one beside me, or in the row in back of me...just the nice couple in front of me, and thankfully, there was no one sitting in the seat right above the cat..no one took that window seat in front of me.

I really did want to lessen any discomfort anyone may have had due to the cat's presence. Perhaps someone had bought a ticket and didn't realize there could be a cat on board, which is why I asked those immediatly around me if they had any issues. Not sure what I would have done if someone freaked out and started yelling about my cat being there though!!

 

[bavaria]

The least annoying complainant will get bumped to the better seat. Sometimes it's first class.

Longhaul AC executive class. I was apparently the least annoying and most charitable in the frenzy at the gate of theairportwhichcannotbenamed this past winter. The screaming 'ladies and gentlemen' who did make in on board enjoyed the last row in coach. When AC management came to break up the screaming mob I however ended up with a boarding pass in my hand for.....

 

[bavaria]

And as I've related before, I did go to pretty extreme measures to be sure there were no people seated anywhere near me who may have had an issue with the cat.

Just as you go to extreme measures to avoid those with cat dander allergies, I go to extreme measures to respect the demand for 'nothing produced in a nut facility on board the aircraft', as I outline here many times.

I receive numerous PMs from people telling me to just eat the darn nut products, and passengers on board tell me the same thing.

It's ironic that those of us who do try and be considerate take so much heat here; the backlash against hyperbole has resulted in many passengers choosing to ignore the demands or requests. We see that here as well as posters have said that they won't change their habits.

Reasoned arguments and logic tend to sway opinion more than raging, name calling, and hyperbole. I have absolutely no doubt that there are deadly allergies, but the reality is that in order to convince others to change their habits in regards to pets (or nuts, or perfume), one has to take some responsibility and inform the airline in advance. Expecting people to adjust with no notice and then becoming upset with them when they find themselves unable to do so really isn't fair, nor does it achieve the desired results.

 

[Lewisc]

Just as you go to extreme measures to avoid those with cat dander allergies, I go to extreme measures to respect the demand for 'nothing produced in a nut facility on board the aircraft', as I outline here many times.

I receive numerous PMs from people telling me to just eat the darn nut products, and passengers on board tell me the same thing.

I think you're wrong. JMO but a person who has a medical condition that requires food is entitled to eat whatever food they brought. I don't think the other passengers rights trumps your right. I'd have a different opinion if the airline's CoC specifically prohibited products produced in a nut factory, if you were told of the policy when you booked your flight or if the airline was able to supply food that meets your medical needs. I'm sure there are going to be some passengers that won't hear, or will decide not to obey, the request. I see no reason why you should impact your health.

I wouldn't consume the food item if I was sitting near the affected person, I'd move to another seat or eat in the back of the plane. I wouldn't consume a food item unless there was a health issue, I'd skip my Butterfingers candy.

One poster, not recently, said her child would die if anyone on the plane so much as unwrapped a candy bar containing a nut product. That person is either exaggerating the extent of the allergy or can't fly. It's inevitable that at least one kid won't hear the announcement, won't remember their candy bar contains nuts or won't care.

 

[locolala]

Strapping on my flame-proof panties:

With the exception of service animals, anything with 4 legs should be below in the cargo hold, period. Next thing you know there will be chickens and sheep roaming the aisles like on buses in 3rd world countries. If the cabins of planes were designed for animals, there would be kennels instead of overhead compartments. Leave Fido and Fluffy at home or drive.

TTFN

I can't exactly drive to Germany when we PCS out there, and the airlines state the they won't take pets in the hold below a certain temp. I guess you'd just like me to give my cats to an animal shelter and forget about them? Heck no, my cats are coming on the plane with us. We'll be travelling on the governments dollar, so the extra money for the cats doesn't affect me, and if we get bumped, we get bumped. As long as we make it there before DH has to check in so be it, but I'm not leaving my furkids behind.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Oh, look... there's a whole new can of worms on that shelf of discontent... just waiting to be opened.

 

[TheWog]

Some passengers are bothered by peanuts, pets, perfumes etc. I suspect the vast majority of passengers aren't bothered to the extent of a life threatening condition.

Passengers on a plane don't have the option of opening a window or going outside for some fresh air.

Perhaps airlines should charge enough extra for pets to cover the expense of providing more fresh air and less re-circulated air. I think the issues are magnified in an environment where the customer can't get fresh air and where the company has motivation to re-circulate the air.

I think they should let us start opening the windows.

 

[TheWog]

I'm curious as to how many cases of death caused by pet dander there really are in the US (or world for that matter) on an annual basis. I understand some peanut allergies can cause death (and has anyone noticed a rise in claimed peanut/fill in blank allergy there have been over the past say 10 years), but are they really going to die or is it the fear of death that is there? I mean how do you know you can die from an allergic reaction to someone opening a snickers bar 15 rows behind you unless you actually die? I don't have allergies, so I am not familiar with them or how they determine severity, so I am wondering.

 

[Belle102498]

I'm curious as to how many cases of death caused by pet dander there really are in the US (or world for that matter) on an annual basis. I understand some peanut allergies can cause death (and has anyone noticed a rise in claimed peanut/fill in blank allergy there have been over the past say 10 years), but are they really going to die or is it the fear of death that is there? I mean how do you know you can die from an allergic reaction to someone opening a snickers bar 15 rows behind you unless you actually die? I don't have allergies, so I am not familiar with them or how they determine severity, so I am wondering.

I know personally, that when I went to the Blue Man group, and sat in the front row, I had a severe allergic reaction to the latex paint that they use. When I went at another time, I was more towards the back, and I had no problems. I guess it is all relative.

 

[Jestocost]

I'm curious as to how many cases of death caused by pet dander there really are in the US (or world for that matter) on an annual basis. I understand some peanut allergies can cause death (and has anyone noticed a rise in claimed peanut/fill in blank allergy there have been over the past say 10 years), but are they really going to die or is it the fear of death that is there? I mean how do you know you can die from an allergic reaction to someone opening a snickers bar 15 rows behind you unless you actually die? I don't have allergies, so I am not familiar with them or how they determine severity, so I am wondering.

Statistics around deaths resulting from anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions) aren't very good, because cases can potentially go undiagnosed or unreported for a variety of reasons. Some estimates indicate that as may any 45 million Americans may have allergic sensitivities that put them at some risk for anaphylaxis.

Estimates suggest that approximately 1,500 deaths in the U.S. result from anaphylactic reactions every year. The cause of 75% of those deaths, however, is an allergic reaction to penicillin. Food allergies account for an estimated 150-200 of those deaths per year and insect stings are responsible for another 40-100 deaths. That leaves a handful of deaths related to other allergies or, in some cases, where no cause is identified. Anaphylaxis as a result of exposure to airborne allergens, including pet dander, is extremely rare. That doesn't mean it can't be extremely dangerous for someone who experiences it.

 

[Jestocost]

I know personally, that when I went to the Blue Man group, and sat in the front row, I had a severe allergic reaction to the latex paint that they use. When I went at another time, I was more towards the back, and I had no problems. I guess it is all relative.

Latex allergies actually are responsible for a few deaths every year. In addition, almost half of the people who are allergic to natural latex also are allergic to some fruits, such as avocados, bananas, kiwis and chestnuts.

 

[3girls4me05]

I will tell you that a cat is what caused my worst asthma attack ever when I was 20. I survived (obviously) but my allergist told me later that I was very close to dying when I called him about my attack not responding to my meds. I was rushed to the hospital and was immediatly rushed into treatment. A delay of another hour or so then the outcome would have been different for me. Cats are my worst trigger.
As I said before though..I wouldn't ask for the cat to be removed from the plane but that I be moved as far away as possible.