Cat’s Banned From Flying in Cabin

You should do a little more research and educate yourself before you make such ignorant statements. You are wrong, you must pay extra (min. $125 depending on airline) to fly cats with you. So, that makes my seat more expensive than what you paid. Peanuts are not banned either, wrong again. Try flying Delta, plenty of peanuts.

You should do a little more research and educate yourself before you make such ignorant statements. You are wrong, you must pay extra (min. $125 depending on airline) to fly cats with you. So, that makes my seat more expensive than what you paid. Peanuts are not banned either, wrong again. Try flying Delta, plenty of peanuts.

yes, pets should be banned in airline cabins, period. I don't want cat dander, cat pee, cat feces beside my seat or under or near it for 6 to 8 hours. I paid for my seat, your cat didn't, you only paid for your own butt.
peanuts/peanut products are banned.

Think of all the peanut allergies and they still allow peanuts on planes. What if someone dropped one and a child picked it up and ate it. There's always someone wanting to complain about our cats.

I'm from the UK where government regulations state that no animals (except for guide dogs) are allowed to travel in the cabin. This applies to all flights irrespective of the airline's individual policies so that people don't try to smuggle pets in their hand luggage to avoid the 6 months rabies quarantine. Since the Pet Travel Scheme was introduced quarantine is no longer necessary, but pets still have to travel as cargo.

I've read the horror stories about pets being transported as cargo, or their carriers being dumped on the conveyor belts along with luggage. So when I moved overseas from the UK and wanted to take my 17 year old cat with me, I was very worried for her. My vet reassured me that she would travel in the hold which is a temperature controlled area away from where the luggage is stored. He also advised me that sedation was a bad idea, because if there is any air-turbulence during the flight a drowsy cat couldn't steady themselves in their carrier and that's how some get injured. Another problem with sedation is that it makes it difficult for cats to regulate their body temperature which can be dangerous at high altitudes. I'm pleased to say that my cat was fine after a 5 hour flight and suffered no ill effects whatsoever. She accompanied me on 2 other international flights six months later and again I was pleased at how well she was looked after.

I know a lot of British ex-pats who've transported their pets overseas as cargo and none have experienced any problems. I recently moved back to the UK and had no qualms about my current two cats travelling as cargo.

Again, I'm just speaking from my own experience but it's my understanding that not all planes meet IATA pet transport regulations. I know that my travel dates had to be decided on getting a flight on a plane with a pressurised hold. Most airlines have a one pet in the cabin per flight regulation, so couldn't people with allergies simply choose a flight date when there are no pets on board?

I've often wondered about the medical basis for the claim that people with allergies can be adversely affected by pets in the cabin. I personally think it's a lame excuse put forward just to stop people bringing pets on board. In my experience pets are often better behaved than some kids, or passengers who've taken advantage of the drinks trolley.

I hope Canada doesn't impose a ban on pets in the cabin. This should be a decision for individual airlines to make for themselves.

I would check with the airline each time to be sure cats are allowed in the cabin. Who knows when rules may change. If one airline bans carry-on pets it could go either way. Some may promote pets and others who now allow may change their policy.

Thanks, Elisa, for the great article. Although I have no plans to travel with a pet anytime soon, I have relatives who travel frequently and won't fly with an airline unless their furkid is with them in the cabin. The link you provided was spot on! I bookmarked it and am sending it off to others I know who travel with pets.

I, too, have witnessed the callous treatment of animals in crates. The handlers I've seen have been totally irresponsible and the airline staff even less interested. They don't seem to "get it" when it comes to transporting animals. How many horror stories have we read/seen about animals freezing in the cargo hold? We can only hope that airlines continue to recognize that animals have rights too and will continue to provide for them.

Over the years I have had many cats and dogs fly coast to coast in the cargo hold of a plane.
Whenever I schedule an animal to fly , the stress begins since I have heard way too many horror stories.

I have some stories of my own such as the time I watched my new puppy being off loaded from a plane. His crate was put on the luggage carrier and then all of the other passengers luggage was thrown on top of his crate. I watched in horror as each bag was thrown on top, what if the crate collapsed? Surely with each bag that landed on top of the crate my puppy must have been terrified. Then when I went to the luggage department to pick him up, I was told he was not on the plane. I explained that I saw him being taken off the plane, and no one seemed concerned. he was found two hours later his crate sitting by the exit door on the floor, anyone could have reached down and picked up his carrier on the way out of the building.

On another flight I had a kitten who was to fly from Seattle to Los Angeles, and they forgot to put her on the plane twice, I spent the entire night waiting at the airport. No one seemed concerned except me.

Many breeders will no longer ship animals in the cargo hold, for good reason. If we choose to buy from these breeders we have to fly to pick up the kitten and carry it in the plane.

Flying animals in the US is big business, and airlines will have to make a choice, either way I am sure it will affect their bottom line.

After the experiences that I have had, I am looking at breeders that are only a couple of states away so I can drive and pick up a cat rather than take any more chances. The new Pet Airways may be our only option in the future.

Thanks, Elisa, for another informative post. Does this apply to internal flights in North America? International flights are different as I understand it when the cat goes in the hold. Although there may be exceptions.