Pet Policies on Flights

[seaurchin]

So, it seems the airlines have become far more strict about pets on planes than they used to be. Has anyone else noticed this or have any idea why?

 

[Karl_K]

To many issues with them during the emotional support pet craze made them crack down.
Passengers were bite scratched and attacked plus broken bones from tripping over them and sued and won.
Someone I know is one of them fell because of a cat and broke her wrist on a plane.

 

[seaurchin]

To many issues with them during the emotional support pet craze made them crack down.
Passengers were bite scratched and attacked plus broken bones from tripping over them and sued and won.
Someone I know is one of them fell because of a cat and broke her wrist on a plane.

Ah, thanks. Mystery solved. Yeah, the emotional support pet thing got a bit loony imo!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

no way would i take/ or put a pet on any flight
do you trust airlines to take care of them and keep them alive ?
its not worth the risk

 

[seaurchin]

no way would i take/ or put a pet on any flight
do you trust airlines to take care of them and keep them alive ?
its not worth the risk

Yeah, they used to put a lot of pets in the cargo section, which I think is where they put the luggage and which sounds pretty iffy to me. They seem to have largely stopped that now.

But you can take a small pet, under 20 pounds or so, on the flight with you, in a soft-sided carrier under the seat in front of you. But now a lot of them don't allow that either, anymore and/or have limited it to cats and small dogs only. So I don't know what people do if they're permanently moving to a new country now.

 

[monarch64]

@seaurchin you can pay to have them driven if you can’t fly them. (Assuming you’re making an transcontinental move.)

Blanche is 13-14 lbs but she doesn’t fit comfortably in a carrier with the measurements both airlines I fly frequently allow. I can’t imagine subjecting her to an isolated area in the belly of a plane, I don’t know how people do that, even with sedatives or whatever they might use.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Yeah, they used to put a lot of pets in the cargo section, which I think is where they put the luggage and which sounds pretty iffy to me. They seem to have largely stopped that now.

But you can take a small pet, under 20 pounds or so, on the flight with you, in a soft-sided carrier under the seat in front of you. But now a lot of them don't allow that either, anymore and/or have limited it to cats and small dogs only. So I don't know what people do if they're permanently moving to a new country now.

do you remember this bunny ?

https://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/26/travel/bunny-death-united-trnd/index.html

Passenger told to put cat in storage bin on long-haul flight by cabin crew

The woman refused to take the advice of a steward who suggested she put her cat in the overhead compartment.

www.newsweek.com

United Airlines responsible for dog death in overhead locker

A flight attendant ordered the owner to put a bag containing the pet into an overhead locker.

www.bbc.com

airlines cannot be trusted with your pets life

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Family heartbroken after dog dies on hot airplane: 'This was 100% completely avoidable'

The Engelgaus were relocating from Hawaii when their French Bulldog died from overheating at Honolulu Airport and on an Alaska Airlines plane.

www.usatoday.com

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/family-share-story-of-dogs-death-on-singapore-airlines-flight/news-story/bf9df31f82e8896e34dd8687d0abb8dd

 

[Bonfire]

@Karl_K is right, the airlines had to crack down on the number and types of animals in the cabin. People were abusing the emotional support animal classification. My DH, is a retired United Captain and had a flight where a woman tried to bring on her pot bellied pig.
Dogs and cats have to be in a carrier at all times and fit under the seat in front of you. Otherwise larger dogs and cats are checked in at baggage and loaded in the cargo hold. It’s climate controlled but if there is a ground delay in a hot climate it can get very hot (or cold) in there and it’s dark. So a lot depends on the airline (they all have slightly different policies) aircraft type and climate conditions in departure and arrival airports. It seems most European countries no longer require quarantines for pets but that varies by country so also something to check out.
There used to be an air carrier that strictly transported animals. Maybe google to see if it’s still in business?

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

@Karl_K is right, the airlines had to crack down on the number and types of animals in the cabin. People were abusing the emotional support animal classification. My DH, is a retired United Captain and had a flight where a woman tried to bring on her pot bellied pig.
Dogs and cats have to be in a carrier at all times and fit under the seat in front of you. Otherwise larger dogs and cats are checked in at baggage and loaded in the cargo hold. It’s climate controlled but if there is a ground delay in a hot climate it can get very hot (or cold) in there and it’s dark. So a lot depends on the airline (they all have slightly different policies) aircraft type and climate conditions in departure and arrival airports. It seems most European countries no longer require quarantines for pets but that varies by country so also something to check out.
There used to be an air carrier that strictly transported animals. Maybe google to see if it’s still in business?

remember this one

Emotional support peacock denied flight by United Airlines

United Airlines said in a statement to NBC News that the peacock "did not meet guidelines for a number of reasons, including its weight and size."

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Bonfire]

Oh my gosh that’s so funny @Daisys and Diamonds! Hubs does remember that!
There was a passenger once that tried to get their miniature pony onboard as an emotional support animal!

 

[Lookinagain]

There used to be an air carrier that strictly transported animals. Maybe google to see if it’s still in business?

I thought there was a transportation company but I have no idea if they are still around and if they have their own planes and how the pets are handled. I know that some airlines will not transport brachycephalic dogs because of breathing issues. My dog is a Boston Terrier. Too large to go under a seat and I wouldn't put him in the cargo hold even if allowed but again, several airlines have limited which dogs they will transport in the hold.

 

[Austina]

I’ve recently flown within the US, where very large dogs, (bigger than labradors) were allowed in the cabin. I don’t have any major objection to it, but I can see where others would, especially if they were seated next to it, and it was encroaching on their floor space. I’ve also seen people take their dogs out of the carrier and keep them on their laps during the flight.

I don’t know about domestic flights, but I do know that when we were looking in to bringing Dottie over to the U.S., there were companies that specialised in pet transportation and arranged all the medical tests and flights. The plane had a special compartment that was temperature controlled for them, just under the 1st class section.

 

[Bonfire]

I’ve recently flown within the US, where very large dogs, (bigger than labradors) were allowed in the cabin

I’m assuming those are service dogs and they are very well trained, have proper documentation and are pre approved. They usually seat those passengers and their dogs in the bulkhead row. I was seated next to a huge German Shepherd on a longish flight and he hardly moved. Far better behaved than some passengers.

 

[seaurchin]

Tbh I don't know that I'd have even gotten my pets if I'd known the airline policies would change so much.

We had to cancel our flight and find a different airline because SWA no longer allows animals in the cabin on international flights at all- even international flights that are only 2.5 hours long, like ours. I'm just glad we had refundable tickets. Now we also have to drive farther, to the airport that airline flies out of. That was for the cat. I specifically picked a small cat without the snub nose because of the pet policies I knew of at the time. I didn't know it would become so difficult to fly with her at all.

None of the airlines going to our destination would allow the bunny, though its within the weight and size limits to go in the cabin with me. That's changed too. I do agree with no bunnies in cargo though. Bunnies are delicate and can die just from a quick, extreme temperature change or nearby barking dogs.

I usually just get someone to come by and feed the pets when we're gone but we're putting our stuff in storage and won't have a home. So now I'll have to board bun-bun, which I dread.

The pet transport services would be cost prohibitive for us, since we're only going for 1-3 months, not permanently.

@Austina- From what I've read (USA) large dogs can't be put in cargo (or whatever it's called) anymore and only guide dogs (not "emotional support dogs") can fly without being in a crate.

ETA: It seems to me it happens so much that the pendulum swings too far one way, then too far the other way to try to correct it.

 

[Lookinagain]

only guide dogs (not "emotional support dogs") can fly without being in a crate.

I believe guide dogs and "service dogs" who have that certification can be in the cabin. Not emotional support dogs. It's every easy to get a note from a doctor saying your animal is for emotional support. Service dogs have more stringent requirements.

As far as your bunny goes, do you think you could see if one of your local elementary schools would have a class that would like to "foster" your bunny? The kids might love it. Or maybe speak with one of the local rescues and see if they have someone who would foster for a short period of time. Just trying to think outside the box to avoid boarding.

 

[Austina]

On one flight, a lady had some kind of defection dog that was very well trained, and they sat her in row one, but the other large dogs on flights I’ve been on, were seated in other parts of the plane. At least they don’t get drunk and start causing a problem