small dogs on a plane

[ez]

I have been noticing when I travel lately it seems more and more people take their small dogs on the plane with them. I love animals, but as I child I was horribly allergic to dogs. I couldnt even trick or treat to a house that had one...it would send me into a full fledged asthma attack and a trip to the hospital. So evertime I see a dog on the plane, I wonder what would happen if a person with a severe allergy was on the plane as well. Has anyone else wondered about that?

 

[Erin1700]

Now that my baby has asthma I absolutely wonder what we would do in this situation. My sister and I just had a "disagreement" about this, as she thinks animals should go no problem. That is a whole new thread.

But, yes, what would we do? They cant turn away seeing eye dogs though, so would we always be in danger?

 

[ez]

well I have never been on a plane with a seeing eyedog, I know they can't turn them away but there seems to be a much less chance of that happening. But it seems every single flight I have been on lately there has been a small dog. All I can say is the dog isn't a ticketed paying passenger!

 

[funhouse8]

I've noticed this also and was wondering the same thing. The last time we were on the plane there was a dog roaming the plane and one of the passengers was scared so the flight attendent had to go find the dogs owner. I thought this was really rude. I'm guessing if you pay extra they can fly with you now. IMO Not a good idea if anyone is allergic.

 

[ez]

the dogs I have been seeing are small and seem to have been brought on the plane in a carry-on luggage type thing so Im assuming, perhaps incorrectly, that they are not a "paying" passenger. Anyone?

 

[E&BMom]

You do have to pay for the dog to travel. It it around $75 each way. There are only a few spots for dogs on flights and there are other restrictions about fitting in the carry bag and weight. HTH

 

[DawnCt1]

the dogs I have been seeing are small and seem to have been brought on the plane in a carry-on luggage type thing so Im assuming, perhaps incorrectly, that they are not a "paying" passenger. Anyone?

Delta's fee just went up to $100 for carryon pets. I am sure that other airlines will follow suit, but yes, there is a fee.

 

[Chattyaholic]

Dogs belong in the luggage compartment.

 

[Minnie824]

I wonder about this as well. With all the restrictions of having peanuts on airplanes for those allergic, it would be nice if they'd consider other allergies. I am severly allergic to dogs...just being in a house w/a dog, even though it wasn't near me (friends put it away while I was there) after 2 hours I started sneezing and my chest got filled up and congested. I don't know what I'd do on a long flight if a dog was onboard. I mean, allergy medicine helps a bit, but the only real help is getting to some fresh air.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I didn't realize you could take dogs into the cabin with you. After my sister got divorced and moved back home, her ex sent her cat to her (OK to NH) and he was sent in the luggage compartment. I don't think I'd like to fly next to a dog. It would especially be torture if my daughter was with me since she's absolutely terrified of cats and dogs.

 

[jensen]

well I have never been on a plane with a seeing eyedog, I know they can't turn them away but there seems to be a much less chance of that happening. But it seems every single flight I have been on lately there has been a small dog. All I can say is the dog isn't a ticketed paying passenger!

Yes, those animals are ticketed paying passengers. I don't have a small animal, but two of my sisters frequently fly with their pets - one a dog and one a cat. Tickets for those animals run nearly as much as the human tickets and they have to stay in their carry bag the entire trip, no seat for them.

 

[MELSMICE]

I've noticed many small dogs going on flights also. Lucky for us we usually see them in the airport as one of our DD's is allergic & being around dogs or cats makes it so uncomfortable for her - plus her asthma acts up when around them.

Personally, I don't understand why you have to have "Fluffy" right there with you, but that's JMO!

 

[hiwaygal]

In some cases (especially with smaller breeds) it's not safe for them in the "luggage compartment" for many reasons.

While I'm sure there are some folks who don't necessarily follow the rules, if the airline allows it, and they have paid for their ticket, and the pet remains in the carry-on crate/container then there shouldn't be a problem.

And perhaps they aren't just taking "Fluffy" with them on vacation, maybe they are moving? Just too many possibilities out there...

 

[Nana Annie]

As everybody has already mentioned, small pets can travel in the cabin with you.

And also as mentioned, there are many restrictions.
1) they have to be small enough to fit in a pet-approved carryon bag under your seat.
2) you have to pay a fee - varies by airlines. You cannot just show up at the gate with a dog/cat in your carryon. It has to be declared at time of ticketing. This is how airlines control the amount of animals on a flight AND how they can help allergic passengers avoid flights with pets.
3) pet is never allowed out of the bag - even to sit on the owner's lap. If you see a pet wandering the aisles, it is in violation of the rules and you should complain to a flight attendent. People who do that ruin it for people whose business it is to get dogs from one end of the country to another in short periods of time (show people).
4) There are only a few slots per plane for carryon pets. It varies between airlines, but it is very low, ie: 3 per cabin allowed.

5) This is the most important for allergy sufferers:
If you are severly allergic (ie: life threatening) to dogs and/or cats, let the reservationist know at time of booking. People usually come first and there will not be any pets on that plane. When you are travelling with an animal, you are under the understanding that if there is a life-threatening allergy on the plane, you could be bumped from the flight.

As for the comment that dogs belong in the cargo hold - I disagree.

Many of the people transporting dogs are going back and forth to shows. Many of these animals are worth sums in the 5 digits. Dogs die in the cargo holds. They get seriously stressed out. And if your job and livelyhood is showing this dog, you don't want it stressed out the day of the show. It is just as much a necessity for a person's livelyhood as an engineer's expensive laptop - only worth much more.

Airlines have regulations in place to protect seriously allergic passengers. The allergic passenger just needs to notify the airline and they will either bump the passenger with the animal or make sure the allergic passenger does not book on a flight with a dog.

 

[CathrynRose]

I wonder about this as well. With all the restrictions of having peanuts on airplanes for those allergic, it would be nice if they'd consider other allergies. I am severly allergic to dogs...just being in a house w/a dog, even though it wasn't near me (friends put it away while I was there) after 2 hours I started sneezing and my chest got filled up and congested. I don't know what I'd do on a long flight if a dog was onboard. I mean, allergy medicine helps a bit, but the only real help is getting to some fresh air.

If I could, I would take Charley - but of course, he's not a pocket pet. Someone might notice him in my purse.

On the other hand - Im REALLLY allergic to Cats. Now if the cat was on the flight, I dont think it would make a difference though. Its like when you tell people youre allergic to cats, and they say "Ill put them away" and you say it doesnt make any difference, theyve been wandering your house for years! Its not really the cat itself.... and since the plane isnt covered in cat hair, one cat (one dog) wouldnt spiral me into an attack (I dont think)

 

[poohandwendy]

I don't have a problem with any animals taken on a plane as long as they are in a carrier at all times. I think it's important for people with life-threatening allergies to make sure they let the airline know ahead of time, so they can be sure to be placed on a flight without animals.

 

[RickinNYC]

I don't have a problem with any animals taken on a plane as long as they are in a carrier at all times. I think it's important for people with life-threatening allergies to make sure they let the airline know ahead of time, so they can be sure to be placed on a flight without animals.

Guess that leaves me out from bringing Bill, my dog, in the snuggly I was planning.

 

[MELSMICE]

5) This is the most important for allergy sufferers:
If you are severly allergic (ie: life threatening) to dogs and/or cats, let the reservationist know at time of booking. People usually come first and there will not be any pets on that plane. When you are travelling with an animal, you are under the understanding that if there is a life-threatening allergy on the plane, you could be bumped from the flight.

I wasn't aware of this, so thank you for posting it.

 

[Cool-Beans]

If you're allergic to smoke, the whole world will support your efforts to rid the air of smoke. No effort will be considered too ridiculous except maybe shooting the smoker...and some might support that.

Pets, scents and all the rest...nobody really cares. They would like you to figure out a way to live in the world without making the rest of society change just for you. And it can be done.

I've never had a problem with pets on the plane, but I deal with them everywhere else in life. Especially cats. I love them, but boy do they get to me, some of them very quickly.

Zyrtec is working well for me and is now available OTC. Maybe you could try that. Or you could drive.

Good luck!

 

[chyam]

As everybody has already mentioned, small pets can travel in the cabin with you.

And also as mentioned, there are many restrictions.
1) they have to be small enough to fit in a pet-approved carryon bag under your seat.
2) you have to pay a fee - varies by airlines. You cannot just show up at the gate with a dog/cat in your carryon. It has to be declared at time of ticketing. This is how airlines control the amount of animals on a flight AND how they can help allergic passengers avoid flights with pets.
3) pet is never allowed out of the bag - even to sit on the owner's lap. If you see a pet wandering the aisles, it is in violation of the rules and you should complain to a flight attendent. People who do that ruin it for people whose business it is to get dogs from one end of the country to another in short periods of time (show people).
4) There are only a few slots per plane for carryon pets. It varies between airlines, but it is very low, ie: 3 per cabin allowed.

5) This is the most important for allergy sufferers:
If you are severly allergic (ie: life threatening) to dogs and/or cats, let the reservationist know at time of booking. People usually come first and there will not be any pets on that plane. When you are travelling with an animal, you are under the understanding that if there is a life-threatening allergy on the plane, you could be bumped from the flight.

As for the comment that dogs belong in the cargo hold - I disagree.

Many of the people transporting dogs are going back and forth to shows. Many of these animals are worth sums in the 5 digits. Dogs die in the cargo holds. They get seriously stressed out. And if your job and livelyhood is showing this dog, you don't want it stressed out the day of the show. It is just as much a necessity for a person's livelyhood as an engineer's expensive laptop - only worth much more.

Airlines have regulations in place to protect seriously allergic passengers. The allergic passenger just needs to notify the airline and they will either bump the passenger with the animal or make sure the allergic passenger does not book on a flight with a dog.

Very well said....and I agree with you about animals in the cargo hold....MANY have died.
You said everything that I would have said only in a much nicer way.....If people have such severe allergies that they cannot be at one end of a plane from the other than they need to speak up when they make their reservations. Many people are allergic to some of the perfumes that some women and some men believe they have to bathe in....so what do they do about that situation. This world has just become so nit picky about every little thing that "happens" to set them off. Yes I do know there are people with severe allergies, but come on people we can't shield ourselves from every situation we maybe put in. I personally am allergic to some perfumes, but I deal with it for such a short period of time as I deal with some kids kicking my seat, and screaming for an entire flight behind me. I am sure if you can not tolerate being in close distance from someone with a dog or cat, they would move you to another seat.