Pets on a plane: should they stay in the cargo hold?

by Chris Gray Faust on March 11, 2010


Traveling with pets has become big business. More and more, you see hotels rolling out the red carpet for dogs, cats and other pets with special packages and welcoming treats. And I can’t seem to board a plane these days without seeing someone carrying a small animal in a case with them.

But a group of Canadian doctors want to kick animals out of the main cabin, saying they pose too much of an allergy risk to other passengers.

A New York Times story today quotes Dr Matthew B. Stanbrook, deputy scientific editor for the Canadian Medical Association Journal, as saying that ”1 in 10 people have allergies to animals,” and that exposure to dogs and cats in a small space such as an airplane cabin can “set off an asthma attack or a life-threatening reaction.”

And in an opinion piece for that medical journal written last week, Stanbrook and other doctors wrote, unequivocally: “Pets can be accommodated comfortably and safely in airplane cargo holds, which is where they belong. Airlines must choose to put the needs of their human passengers first, or be forced to do so.”

Personally I’ve never brought my cats on a plane, mostly because I’d hate to hear the racket that might ensue if they were in the main cabin (and I’m not always comfortable drugging them). But if I needed to have them flown, I’d definitely pay the extra fees to have them with me . While I know people who have put their pets in the cargo hold with no problems, I’ve always been leery of the extreme temperatures that the animals could be exposed to. Plus you always read those stories of animals escaping and getting lost in the plane and traveling halfway around the world before someone finds them (I know, I read way too much).

Yet I can see where the doctors are coming from. I have friends with pet allergies so severe that their face swells up when they enter a room where a cat is. It’s not that they don’t like the animals; it’s that they physically can’t cope with the dander. The opinion piece from the doctors doesn’t contain any statistics; I’d be interested to know many people have suffered allergy attacks when flying.

Perhaps the best solution is that proposed by Pet Airways, which started service last year. This is an airline that ONLY transports pets, in a main cabin specially designed for pet carriers. An attendant checks on the “pawssengers” every 15 minutes and the animals are given potty breaks before and after the flight. Drawbacks? It’s pricey – fares start at $149 and it’s only in 10 U.S. cities. Still, what a great alternative for someone doing a corporate cross-country move. (I’d love to talk to someone who has used this service: if you have, write me a comment or send me an email at chris@caroundtheworld.com)

What do you think? Should people be forced to check their pets in cargo instead of bringing them into the main cabin?

Chris Gray Faust is the former travel editor at USA TODAY. Visit her blog, Chris Around the World for a daily serving of her travel insights and news.

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Tagged as: airlines, pets

  • Kairho

    How about some science instead of speculation?

    For example, exactly (ok, statistically) how many times has an animal “set off an asthma attack or a life-threatening reaction?” How many times without an animal in the cabin? And how does that compare to similar situations such as overbearing perfume and BO?

  • laura townsend elion

    YUP! “Nuf said. Children can be bad enough (and I have one), the idea of a cat running terrfied through a plane during an evacuation is insane – (not to mention how irritated it would be during a water landing!)

  • http://www.caroundtheworld.com Chris Gray Faust

    Kairho – I’d be interested in some statistics too. Canadians airlines are just starting to allow animals in the cabins, whereas American carriers have been doing it for years. I’d be interested to know how many serious incidents have taken place.

  • baasbaas

    I have taken my Shih-Tzu with me to Germany from Florida and back several times. She has always been in the hold. It is temperate, dark and the motors drone. I am sure she sleeps most of the way. Never a problem. And even on such a long trip her carrier was always clean. She did head for the nearest exit at the arrival airport to relieve herself……but not before. Not even when going through customs.
    I would not want my pet in the cabin with me. They would clamor for attention and that could annoy my fellow passengers.

  • http://www.vegtravel.com Donna

    I would never ever put a dog or a cat in cargo. That is where all the mishaps (usually death related) go on. If you can’t take your pet in the cabin get a pet sitter.
    You should not be taking pets on the plane unless there is no option-like moving. It is very stressful for the animal.

  • Chris

    Just wondering…I cannot have peanuts on a flight because someone may have a pnut allergy, but I have seen folks with cat allergies being forced to take an alternate flight to avoid being on a plane with a cat. On another note, if the airline charges you a hefty pet fee to have your pet in the cabin, then they shouldn’t consider that your carryon.

  • Desmond

    It takes one death due to acute allergic reaction to make the difference. As a physician who treats acute asthma, things can get very bad very quickly. Does an airplane carry all the necessary drugs and ventilators? Of course not. Let’s keep pets in the hold and not lose any allergic passengers. There may not be enough time to divert to nearest airfield.

  • KF

    I’ve had to fly with cats on two occasions – both when when a cross-country move was involved. One cat was fine and slept the entire flight, the cat did not enjoy it, even when given cat tranquilizers. I agree with those who posted that pets should travel only when a move is involved. Flying is extremely stressful for pets – lots of new noises, smells, and people. There should be some consideration for allergies and also just common courtesy as well as safety – the passengers around you may not be animal lovers, so pets should not be taken out of carriers (it’s against the rules anyhow). Do you want to be responsible for your pet panicking and biting someone?

  • http://jwilliamsphd@gmail.com Eagle Lover

    Airlines have a duty to provide safe, airconditioned/heated cargo space for pets. They also have a duty to provide safe seating for humans, including those allergic to pets. US airlines should have a consistent pet transport policy that it well communicated to the public. Although I love animals, I would never bring my dog into a confined area where persons with canine allergies might be adversely affected. About ten years ago, I boarded a United Airlines transatlantic flight and found my seatmate had a large cat in her lap. Its fur could be seen floating in the light from the window. I politely informed the flight attendant that I was allergic to cats and would like another seat. She extremely rudely replied that if I really had a cat allergy the captain should remove me from the plane. In the end, she moved the cat and its mistress to Business Class and seated me next to a very very large man who spilled a great amount of flesh into my seating space. When showing me to the new seat, the flight attendant laughed maliciously, saying, “Well, I found you a place with no cats.” I guess that she was a cat lover. I have not flown United Airlines since, especially avoiding the carrier on my many overseas flights.

  • Henry Mensch

    yes … the question i’m asking, too, is “where’s the science?” americans are the first to sue everyone in sight at the slightest mishap, but they’ve been flying with animals in the cabin for years. i’d rather put the children (and some of the adults) in the cargo section–they’re usually less well-behaved than any pet on board.

  • Janet

    Actually, I am seeing pets much less frequently these days. With the increased fees to bring them aboard (they can be more than the owner’s flight in cases) I haven’t see a pet for awhile. Nor am I bothered by these paying customers who at least don’t kick your seat back. I have yet to hear of a medical emergency on board for this reason, and my allergies and asthma have been far more affected by people with particularly strong fragrance. As far as what happens in an evacuation, let’s get real. This is such a rare occurance that this is a non-issue. I do believe that pets should not be flown along casually, but for those relocating, it really is the best option. I have flown cats both in cargo and in the cabin with long-distance relocations and the stress on my pet and myself was so much better in the cabin.

  • Responsible

    On a recent US Airways flight a woman boarded my plane with a cat on a leash, headed towards a seat behind me. The cat leapt on to the seat beside me and was headed towards me and I shrank away from the cat. Then came the yelling ” This is a service cat. Don’t you dare to cringe, you b**tch!!!”. I said nothing thinking that if this is a service cat, then she has emotional issues, and I should be compassionate. But, that does not mean that I should be verbally abused. Other passengers told me that she was going on an on about me shrinking away from the cat, throughout the flight.

    Partway through the flight, the cat wandered up the aisle and relieved itself. It wandered back and relieved itself again. The woman was non-chalant about this. The cat later settled beside my feet. It was sitting there quietly, so I made sure that it is not disturbed. But then, it relieved itself again beside my feet. The smell was awful!!! The woman did absolutely nothing. She had the audacity to blame me. For what?! Moving my arm away? The boy sitting in the aisle seat in front of me unknowingly, stepped in the cat feces. At no time did the flight crew ask this woman to contain her cat. (Well, I suppose that one cannot control a cat’s bowel movement). :)

    So tell me, where does the animal’s right end and my right as a human being begin? Do I dare to hope for a reasonable flight? Go ahead love animals all you want. Just don’t lose perspective.

    I was a pet owner. I was responsible. I made sure that mine did not cause undue distress to other people.

    I wrote to US Airways. They apologized and advised that if this were to happen again, I could be moved to another seat IF AVAILABLE. But, bottomline, they are not responsible for another passenger’s behaviour.

    I am a frequent business traveller. I take several flights a week and am often sleep deprived. I don’t have the luxury to take another flight. Yes, I gladly put up with crying children.

    Travel with your animals if you must. But please be considerate. Please take responsibility for your pet . Just because your pet is cute to you does not mean that I have the same urge to touch it or pet it. So please keep the animals in the carrier. Please be kind to your fellow human beings the same way you are kind to your animals.

  • B Johnson

    Sat Apr 10 2010 I was flying from Mexico to British Columbia. I was unaware that the couple in front of me were travelling with a cat. An hour into the flight I started to develop an allergic reation and took some benedryl but could not figure out what I was reacting to until a couple of hours later. My lips, tonque, cheek and throat swelled and I had to use my epi-pen. Then I saw the cat. The people in front of me had it on their laps, not in a case, and were hiding it from the stewardess every time she went by. I was offered a drink of water which I could not swallow or maybe move to another seat. (a little late I’d say) Maybe the cat should have been moved. 2 more hours till landing. and one epi pen left. I never knew animals could travel in the passenger cabin and feel that the passengers should be warned, especially the ones in close proximity although I doubt if it would make a difference. I am highly allergic to some cats (not all) and this one nearly did me in.
    Cat even got thru customs before me.

  • Mary

    Well me and my mom are thinking about going to Atlanta to Nashvile to Wahington DC. so thats alot of driving. So me and her were thinking about just taking a plane (now to the point). We want to take our toy poodle Bear in a carryon bagb on the plane. I have asthma, (sevire asthma) and Bear is hypoallerginic(meaning he dosent shed and dosent mess with your allegries ao asthma) but i want to let his head poke out so i could not find my local airport rules about pets.I live in Memphis TN and we were counted the 7 city with alot of pets.I’m thinking there would be some rules I’ll just kep looking.

  • Kambid01

    NO!  I would never let my pet out of my sight an into the hands of an airline empoyee.  This means my pets will never ride in a cargo hold  Read on:

    Jack The Cat was rescued from the NYCACC by Karen Pascoe several years ago (along with Barry, who has become his brother). After 22 years of living in NYC, Karen got a great new job offer in Cali, and decided that it was time for her and the boys to go out west. And so the story begins…Karen, Jack and Barry were supposed to take flight 177 on 8/25/11. Jack was in his kennel along with my other… cat Barry. They cleared security and Karen said goodbye to them as the American Airlines handler was putting the plastic ties around the kennel door.Karen went back to the passenger area to get something to eat. She received a call at 6:04 pm from an American Airlines employee letting her know that one of her cats was missing. She began working with Valerie Latty from Customer Service who took her to inbound baggage claim where Jack was lost.Inbound baggage claim is a HUGE area… and Jack was nowhere to be seen. After checking for over an hour (missing flight 177 and being re-booked onto flight 17), she boarded the later flight, assured that they would call her as soon as Jack was found. Karen was given the following number to contact American Airlines at Central Baggage Service: 972-425-6565. She has left several messages and had not yet been contacted by anyone in that office at the time this page was put up (Sunday 8/28 at 530p EDT). She was also told by Valerie Latty that she would receive a proactive call from Customer Service on Friday, 8/26 – and she did not receive a call from them until Monday 8/29.The supervisor for the inbound baggage area is Anthony Gallo, who did not responded to her emails from the day after Jack was lost through that weekend. The woman who first alerted her to the cat being lost didn’t respond when she followed up with her, either. INDEED, Karen heard NOTHING from American Airlines until Sunday 8/28 at approximately noon ET (66 hours after the she was informed that Jack was missing). At that time, the AA Baggage Manager at JFK (not sure if that is her correct title) “Andy” called and said that yes, they were looking, but they had not yet been able to get humane traps. The manager also informed Karen that “the last time this happened, it took about a month to find the cat.” REALLY?!?We started this page at 530p EDT on Sunday 8/28. Everything that has happened since is chronicled here.

  • http://www.playairport.co.uk playmobil airport

    This really needs a lot of time to think about. Putting pet on cargo would be bad for them too. Maybe the only solution for this is to take some extra effort of knowing who has allergies in animals and schedule them on a different airplane.

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