Westjet lost this woman's gecko...

[bcla]

Oh, I understand your opinion on this. Still don't understand the sentence about "Weather's temperature restriction is identical to Delta's", though.

Autocorrect (trying to type Westjet) would be my guess.

 

[Magpie]

Autocorrect (trying to type Westjet) would be my guess.

I think you're right... but what about "temperature restriction"? If I recall correctly, we were talking about a hedgehog that was left on the tarmac in the middle of winter, and died.

 

[wilkeliza]

I think you're right... but what about "temperature restriction"? If I recall correctly, we were talking about a hedgehog that was left on the tarmac in the middle of winter, and died.

Delta won't let you fly your pets in cargo in the temperature outside is below or above a certain range. I wonder if that is what they were referring to. I know going to Florida in cargo from NY there is a very very small window you can actually use their service.

 

[bcla]

I think you're right... but what about "temperature restriction"? If I recall correctly, we were talking about a hedgehog that was left on the tarmac in the middle of winter, and died.

I found Delta has a temperature restriction.

http://www.delta.com/content/www/en...needs/pets/pet-requirements-restrictions.html

Weather Requirements
To keep your pet safe, Delta observes the following seasonal restrictions on pet travel.

Year-round Restrictions

Delta will not accept animals as checked baggage during extreme weather, if at any point (origin/transit/destination) during the animal's trip the high temperature for the day is forecast to be: (no exceptions to the temperature restriction)
​

• • Below 10°F (-12C)
  • Above 85°F (29.4C)

And Westjet I really can't decipher:

http://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel-info/pets?sc_ref=direct

It says "We love Canada but, sadly, heat is not an issue". I have no idea what that means, other than it may be a joke about lack of hot weather in Canada. Other countries (mostly tropical) seem to have restrictions for May 15 to Oct 31, which I guess is related to hot temperatures.

 

[NHdisneylover]

On the other hand, there are plenty of people who feel just as strongly about dogs, and yet Westjet allows dogs on board.

I would think it's easier to simply say the animal must be securely packaged. If it was, you wouldn't even know there was a snake on board, and you'd be a lot safer from that snake than you'd be if the dog sitting next to you suddenly decided to get all bite-y.

(Cue "Snakes on a Plane" joke.

My oldest is very afraid of dogs (and not of snakes)---however, a dog, even a small one would be easily noticed and found if it managed to escape from its owner and cannot fit into ductwork, etc in the same way a snake can. I cannot imagine an escaped dog not being able to be cuaght and removed from the plane wihtin a matter of minutes after landing--I can imagine a snake not being found for days and managinging to get through tiny cracks and into the cockpit, or engine area, or luggage, etc. This is a major differnce IMO.

 

[ronandannette]

On the other hand, there are plenty of people who feel just as strongly about dogs, and yet Westjet allows dogs on board.

I would think it's easier to simply say the animal must be securely packaged. If it was, you wouldn't even know there was a snake on board, and you'd be a lot safer from that snake than you'd be if the dog sitting next to you suddenly decided to get all bite-y.

(Cue "Snakes on a Plane" joke.

Westjet's website clearly states the cat, dog, rabbit or bird must be kept in it's carrier and stowed as luggage AT ALL TIMES - there should be no issue with anything getting "bite-y". I am not a pet person. I don't care for them (any kind of them) at all. I do however respect anybody who's conforming to the rules and travelling with one. But HELL NO am I going to be sitting next to somebody with a dog or cat on their lap.

 

[kamik86]

Westjet's website clearly states the cat, dog, rabbit or bird must be kept in it's carrier and stowed as luggage AT ALL TIMES - there should be no issue with anything getting "bite-y". I am not a pet person. I don't care for them (any kind of them) at all. I do however respect anybody who's conforming to the rules and travelling with one. But HELL NO am I going to be sitting next to somebody with a dog or cat on their lap.

Unless the dog is a "service dog" (in quotes because real service dogs are very unlikely to bite but we all have heard stories of getting a dog labeled a service dog so it can fly in the cabin)

The only one I remember being an issue with animals is someone who boarded late complaining there were only middle seats and how bad that would be with the animals. The FA was having none of it though and pointed out that many animal carries MUST be in the middle seat because the luggage area in front of a middle seat is larger (if you look on a SW flight the dividers between the luggage areas don't line up with the edges of the seat they are a bit off so the middle seat has more space)

Luckily I only have cats so if I ever had to I could take mine in cabin (although the girls would have to be drugged they meow and whine constantly when in the car so I'm sure they would hate a plane).

 

[Magpie]

I found Delta has a temperature restriction.

http://www.delta.com/content/www/en...needs/pets/pet-requirements-restrictions.html

Weather Requirements
To keep your pet safe, Delta observes the following seasonal restrictions on pet travel.

Year-round Restrictions

Delta will not accept animals as checked baggage during extreme weather, if at any point (origin/transit/destination) during the animal's trip the high temperature for the day is forecast to be: (no exceptions to the temperature restriction)
​

• • Below 10°F (-12C)
  • Above 85°F (29.4C)

And Westjet I really can't decipher:

http://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel-info/pets?sc_ref=direct

It says "We love Canada but, sadly, heat is not an issue". I have no idea what that means, other than it may be a joke about lack of hot weather in Canada. Other countries (mostly tropical) seem to have restrictions for May 15 to Oct 31, which I guess is related to hot temperatures.

"Heat is not an issue..." except for three months of the year, in the summer, when animal control spends all their time running around rescuing dogs from locked cars.

I wouldn't want to be an animal either on the tarmac or locked in a hold, when the temperatures are like they were this past week (30 C, 86 F).

 

[Magpie]

My oldest is very afraid of dogs (and not of snakes)---however, a dog, even a small one would be easily noticed and found if it managed to escape from its owner and cannot fit into ductwork, etc in the same way a snake can. I cannot imagine an escaped dog not being able to be cuaght and removed from the plane wihtin a matter of minutes after landing--I can imagine a snake not being found for days and managinging to get through tiny cracks and into the cockpit, or engine area, or luggage, etc. This is a major differnce IMO.

An escaped bird could also create all sorts of chaos. And I've lost my cats in my own home (not to mention which, cats disappear while in transit all the time - http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/06/travel/lost-cat-airline/).

It's very odd when rabbits are allowed, but guinea pigs are not. And birds are allowed, but geckos are not.

Rather than just picking a small selection of "popular" pets, I think Westjet should simply say that any animal travelling with a passenger must be small enough fit into a secure, regulation sized carrier. I mean, really, if they can get all fussy about the size of our carry-ons, how much more trouble would it be to have clear regulations for the transport of animals, without limiting it to specific species?

Not to mention which, the odds of your pet's carrier being damaged in the cargo hold are MUCH greater than if it's in your custody (see the link above about the cat). Meaning the risk of escape is much greater. And because no one's in the cargo hold to keep an eye on things, no one will notice that the critter is slithering or crawling or creeping into the nooks and ductwork of the plane, until it drops into your pilot's lap at 30,000 feet.

 

[Magpie]

Unless the dog is a "service dog" (in quotes because real service dogs are very unlikely to bite but we all have heard stories of getting a dog labeled a service dog so it can fly in the cabin)

The only one I remember being an issue with animals is someone who boarded late complaining there were only middle seats and how bad that would be with the animals. The FA was having none of it though and pointed out that many animal carries MUST be in the middle seat because the luggage area in front of a middle seat is larger (if you look on a SW flight the dividers between the luggage areas don't line up with the edges of the seat they are a bit off so the middle seat has more space)

Luckily I only have cats so if I ever had to I could take mine in cabin (although the girls would have to be drugged they meow and whine constantly when in the car so I'm sure they would hate a plane).

Hey, turns out your emotional support animal can be a monkey or a pig!

Proof: http://i.imgur.com/tB7jB5J.jpg

Also, here's some adorable pics of the gecko (aka Nom Chompsky), if anyone's interested...

http://imgur.com/a/PKgwH

 

[King Schultz]

Gecko fight!

Gecko fight!

 

[BLAZEY]

The Gecko has been found and re-united with the owner!
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/westjet-missing-gecko-found-1.3698230

 

[smadath]

I am highly allergic to feathers. I sneeze, cough, watery eyes, asthma attack... the whole nine yards.
So, I'd personally much rather sit next to someone with a snake than a bird!

*edited for spelling, because proofreading first is hard.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I was afraid if I opened this thread, I'd be sad for days, lol. Glad things worked out for this little guy.

 

[pryncess527]

Some of the stories people have been sharing about Westjet and the way they handle animals are just appalling.

Honestly I've read enough horror stories from a wide enough variety of airlines that I'd be wary of letting ANY animal in cargo, in any weather. If WestJet does not specifically ban pets in the cargo hold in excessive cold (and heat) the way most airlines do, that policy absolutely needs to be changed.

My oldest is very afraid of dogs (and not of snakes)---however, a dog, even a small one would be easily noticed and found if it managed to escape from its owner and cannot fit into ductwork, etc in the same way a snake can. I cannot imagine an escaped dog not being able to be cuaght and removed from the plane wihtin a matter of minutes after landing--I can imagine a snake not being found for days and managinging to get through tiny cracks and into the cockpit, or engine area, or luggage, etc. This is a major differnce IMO.

Agreed. It's not just about my fondness for animals with fur.

I'm very glad she was reunited with her pet.

 

[Magpie]

Another interesting tidbit... live lobsters can be brought in the cabin with you, because they're classed as "food", not pets.

I'm sure they'll get along great with the parrots and emotional support monkeys.

 

[wilkeliza]

Honestly I've read enough horror stories from a wide enough variety of airlines that I'd be wary of letting ANY animal in cargo, in any weather. If WestJet does not specifically ban pets in the cargo hold in excessive cold (and heat) the way most airlines do, that policy absolutely needs to be changed.

I agree. I would personally never fly my pets cargo. There are just too many variables. If an airline can't guarantee my luggage is going to make it to my final destination how are they ever going to guarantee that my pet will? I'd rather driver first. Thankfully I have no intention of traveling with my pets overseas so that is an option. I would be a nervous wreck if my pet was in cargo.

There are now specialty "shipping" services that do nothing but fly pets. Since they are only dealing with pets they are trained handlers and will stop to feed and water animals as well. The pets aren't kept in cargo but in the custom cabin.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Westjet's website clearly states the cat, dog, rabbit or bird must be kept in it's carrier and stowed as luggage AT ALL TIMES - there should be no issue with anything getting "bite-y". I am not a pet person. I don't care for them (any kind of them) at all. I do however respect anybody who's conforming to the rules and travelling with one. But HELL NO am I going to be sitting next to somebody with a dog or cat on their lap.

I was on a flight two years ago where a young woman had her "support" pig wrapped in a blanket on her lap. No joke!

 

[ronandannette]

I was on a flight two years ago where a young woman had her "support" pig wrapped in a blanket on her lap. No joke!

You have my sympathy. Pretty sure I would have tried to get my seat reassigned and if the nasty, ridiculous beast so much as touched me I'd be raising holy hell. (I realize this makes me sound like a grumpy old bat, which I'm really not, but people imposing their pets on me and expecting me to like it is a hot-button.)

 

[King Schultz]

Another interesting tidbit... live lobsters can be brought in the cabin with you, because they're classed as "food", not pets.

I'm sure they'll get along great with the parrots and emotional support monkeys.

I want an emotional support monkey.