Airlines pooh-pooh pets on planes

Posted by George Hobica on Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Southwest Airlines has never allowed them. Frontier Airlines banned them as of June 9th this year and now charges up to $400 round-trip to fly them as baggage under the plane.

And Delta and United recently raised their in-cabin pet fee to such absurdly high levels that they might as well have banned them.

Are airlines sending a message to passengers and their pets? As in, leave 'em home?

Although many pet owners disagree, most animal welfare experts insist that shipping pets as cargo (in the airplane's hold) isn't such a great idea, since a malfunction in pressurization or temperature could result in an animal's death, plus if an airline can lose your bag, they can also lose your pet. Frontier, on its site, clearly states, "No oxygen will be administered to a pet in the event of an emergency." Well, duh, of course not, but kudos to them for being up front about it.

But it seems like airlines have declared war on in-cabin pets. Delta now charges $300 round-trip for each in-cabin pet, as does American, both up from $200 earlier this year, and United upped its charge recently from $200 to an industry-leading $350 round-trip. Continental is a relative bargain at $250 round-trip and JetBlue is even better at $200 round-trip.

But the winner is AirTran, which currently charges just $69 each way for in-cabin pet transport.

Southwest Airlines doesn't even allow pets in the cargo compartment, let alone in the cabin.

So should pets be allowed in the cabin at all? We're running a poll right now and welcome your opinion.

Categories: Airline Industry News

Everyone complains about traveling with pets because of their allergies... Get over it. I'm highly allergic to peanuts and I have to deal with the little brightly covered bags of poison being shoved in my face every flight and the obnoxious wafting scent. But it is what it is and life will go on. I do think paying these pet fares is ridiculous though. If the pet carrier is replacing my carry on and they offer no service to my pet then why should I have to pay them money? That just does not make any sense to me.

by kitteetraveler on Thursday, October 06, 2011

Southwest DOES allow them now!! http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/animals.html

by matthewsoft on Saturday, April 17, 2010

I have really really severe allergies to cats: if I were seated next to a cat on a plane and somehow got fur near my face (like if the cat shook himself - although cats do that less than dogs), my face would swell and eventually my air passages would swell shut. It scares me to think of being in that situation in the confined space of an airplane cabin. Would I have issues carrying prescription meds to resolve the attack in my carry-on bag? I don't think they're liquid...

However, if the cat was in a carrier bag with mesh openings for air that would trap fur, and preferably if they had a section of the plane where the animals sat and gave me the chance to specify "I can't sit next to a cat" when I bought a ticket, I don't see why it would be a problem. Allergies and allergy-induced asthma are pretty easy to manage but the airline would have to cooperate so that everybody could have a situation that meets their needs.

by dog lover on Thursday, July 30, 2009

Hey maryh, you're still a nut-job.

by boutros on Wednesday, March 11, 2009

My kids are grown and none of my relatives or family live nearby so flying is my only connection to them and my small dog is as devoted to me as I to him. I have paid more for his ticket than mine and no one even knew he was on a cross country flight. He weighs 8 pounds and was my only carryon. How could that possibly offend anyone and I did not have to deal with kennel cough and all the other problems that arise when a dog is left in a kennel. Give us senior citizens a break==I am on a small pension and shop bargain fares as it is..it means no visits to my family in my "golden years" when I have to pay more than double fares.

by senior pet lover on Wednesday, March 11, 2009

I was a flight attendant for 34 years. I have had many pets on my flights and not a problem with one of them or complaints from the other passengers about the pets. I have to say though I have certainly mediated a lot of complaints lodged by passengers against other passengers! There are always the crying babies (ears are the biggest cause of this), parents have your baby drink on assent and decent. Stinky diapers fit in there too. Unrulely children who kick others seats, stand on their seats or parents laps and " play"with the person ahead of them aren't appreciated either. Loud passengers, intoxicated passengers, passengers with body oders, and people with their music so loud that even though using earphones can be heard rows away aren't a popular group either.
How about some of the food that is brought on board that stinks up the whole plane? If someone is allergic to the pet we can certainly reseat them, I'm sure the person sitting next the the passenger who overflows into their seat would gladly change. The truth of the matter is, in my view, charging for a pet to fly under the seat is discrimination. That passenger does give up the right to bring on the typical carry on luggage and children under two fly for free, and we all love it when we get to sit next to them right? Animals are some peoples children and this is so unfair to them! Animal parents fight for your rights! My best wishes to you!

by flight attendant on Tuesday, December 23, 2008

To maryh, you're a nut-job. So...after your asthma attack, you kill the pet, but how does their death ease your breathing? Do you skin the animal right there?

by boutros on Wednesday, December 10, 2008

According to the American Airlines website, they still charge "only" $200 round trip for an in-cabin pet. Hope it stays that way or goes down!

by rosebird on Monday, December 08, 2008

I admit, it does not seem right to threaten people with allergies or phobias with the sudden appearance of an animal neighbor in the closed environment of an airplane. At the same time, lots of other plane behavior is arguably just as rude. What about extremely large or tall passengers who take up more room? Or sick children who cry, preventing other travelers from working or sleeping? Or, in the new era of luggage fees, people who use all the available overhead space? Maybe we need more sensitive seating formulae, more differentiated cabin areas and some general rule changes about carry-ons. For example, what about a special cabin area for people with pets and another for people with babies, separated by partitions from sensitive travelers? A pressurized cabin below deck for pets? Airlines could easily make money off these services. But we also need a lot more tolerance and consideration for our fellow passengers.

by poodlepower on Monday, December 01, 2008

I think it is absolutely crazy that people have to pay these crazy prices to bring there dogs with them. I am about to get a small dog and have already bought holiday tickets with Delta and if i get a dog before i go i dont know what im going to do. but 10 lbs of animal should not equal the price of another human ticket. Stupidity at its best. Kudos to AirTran!

by ncgapeach on Monday, December 01, 2008

Don't blame the airines. The reason that Frontier banned them is because a stupid passenger fed her kitty some stinkin' cat food during the flight, stunk up the entire plane. Then, the kitty proceeded to poop it out and stink it up even more. So, as a result of such selfishness, no one else is allowed to take pets in cabin on Frontier.

by Freqflyer on Wednesday, November 26, 2008

I'd kill any animal that was placed next to me on a plane, if I could survive my asthma attack first.

by maryh on Wednesday, November 26, 2008

I've traveled with my well-behaved small dog several times. I have to pay as much for her as my ticket (sometimes more), for the privilage of NOT bringing a carryon, and NO extra work for the airline. No one even notices her. The fees are ridiculous, and something's got to give. Screaming babies travel for free on their parent's laps, and everyone has to deal with that. While I'd happily move seats if I was sitting next to someone who was allergic and don't want to anyone to suffer, my dogs should be able to travel inconspicously without paying exorbitant fares.

by agilityvet on Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Listen, I don't have kids and don't think it's right to penalize me for being responsible in my choices. When I am ready to have kids, I will fly with them but for now, people need to be tolerant to other's lifestyles that don't involve a spouse and kids. I am fine with changing my travel plans for allergic customers but my dog sleeps in his bag for the entire flight and peolple, including airline personnel, have no idea that he's there! His six pounds is less than most other carry on bags but you want to charge me $350 for him? Please is the only thing that I can think of to say that won't get this post deleted.

by PetGirl on Wednesday, November 26, 2008

I have traveled with my cat for years when heading home for the holidays. I always carried her on the plane in a soft carrier. And I never paid for a pet ticket for her. When I boarded the plane I would have the mesh side facing in to my body. The crew never noticed her. I would place her under the seat in front of me and let the people sitting around me know that she was there on the odd chance she would make a noise, which she never did. At the end of the flight, everyone around me always wanted to see her and all commented that she was very well behaved. With the new changes in carry-ons bags however, I'll doubt I will be able to fly her for free anymore.

by lestat84nyc on Wednesday, November 26, 2008

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