Cheap traveloptions such as cheapairplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, discounttravel deals, and cheap vacation packages arevalued by just about everyone, whereas the desirability of allowing pets totravel in passenger cabins is debatable depending on whether you are a petlover or someone who suffers from pet allergies.
All major airlines allow pets of a small enough size to bebrought into the cabin on domestic flights by passengers for a fee. Some allow only cats and dogs while othersalso allow birds and rabbits.
Pets must be transported inside carriers that can fit underthe seat in front of the passenger bringing the pet aboard. The fee airlines charge for this privilegerange from a low of $75 charged by AirTran Airways to $200 on a Delta Air Linesoverseas flight. Amtrak prohibits petson trains.
Congress is considering a bill that would require Amtrak todesignate at least one car where pets would be allowed. The bill includes language whereby Amtrakcould collect an unspecified fee for each pet.
Millions of pet lovers may be pleased with this proposedlegislation but allergy sufferers who travel by train will feel otherwise. Between 15 to 30 percent of people withallergies experience allergic reactions to cats and dogs.
When cat or dog allergens are inhaled by sensitive people,severe breathing problems, such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath,can result in as few as 15 to 30 minutes. Intense face, neck, or upper chest rashes are also possible.
Up to 30 percent of people suffering from asthma can suffera severe asthma attack when exposed to cats.
Airlines should limit the number of pets allowed on planes,and establish policies to enable passengers with allergies to switch seats,according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
Alaska Airlines limits a maximum of one pet in a firstclass cabin and five in the main cabin.
JetBlue reports that it is carrying an increasing number ofpets on its planes but limits them to four per flight. If a passenger reports a pet allergy to an inflight crew member upon boarding that person will try to create a buffer zoneand place the passenger as far away as possible from any animal on board.
United Airlines has a three pet limit per flight. Pets are required to remain in their kennelthroughout the duration of the flight which United claims mitigates mostconcerns customers have about allergies.
Airlines forbid or restrict pets in the cabin oninternational flights. While US Airwaysallows dogs, cats, and birds on domestic flights, they are prohibited onflights to and from various Caribbean destinations, Europe, the Middle East,and South America.
Spirit Airlines follows the same policy on domestic flightsbut forbids birds on flights to and from Puerto Rico and St. Thomas, U.S.Virgin Islands. Hawaiian Airlines willnot allow pets on flights from outside the state to land in Hawaii because ofanimal quarantine laws.
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