Well, snakes might be a bit of a stretch, but you never know. As cash-strapped airlines seek new ways of making money from passengers, two airlines having turned to enticing people to travel with the family pet.
Air Canada will once again start allowing passengers to bring a small dog, or cat in the cabin starting July 1, 2009. The pet must weigh under 10 kilograms. The charge will be an additional $50 on flights within North America, or $100 for other international flights. Air Canada will allow a maximum of two to four pets on a flight, and they claim they will try to seat passengers with allergies away from the animals. (I am sure gate agents and flight attendants will love this additional job.)
And Southwest Airlines is allowing pets for the first time, for a flat $75 one-way charge. The airline is also stating only small dogs and cats will be allowed, and will allow up to five animals per flight. The airline is not planning any particular seating rules or designated areas for passengers with pets, except saying that they cannot be seated in exit rows.
While both airlines are saying that their new policies were made with pet owners in mind, it seems pretty clear that the policies were also made with their bottom lines in mind. This is pure extra revenue for airlines, and in fact, on some discounted flights the pet may pay more than a child.
Also, a small pet carrier takes up less room than many carry-on bags, and in fact, because an animal must be put under the seat in front of its owner, the dog or cat in question doesn’t even add to the overcrowding in the overhead compartment.
Actually, my guess would be that more people bringing pets might reduce crowding in the overhead bins, because carrying a pet reduces your ability to also carry a large carry-on bag.
As to potential snakes, while that idea might be somewhat tongue-in-cheek, there are people who own pet snakes, lizards, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. And with the airlines looking for any potential revenue opportunities, it seems like a reasonable chance that at some point some airline will decide for $50 to $100 each way they can expand the definition of pet.
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