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Original poster

To want to take my 12kg dog in the plane cabin

377 replies

BettyBoomer · 30/09/2023 12:13

I’m going to Europe this summer and I’d like to take my dog but I dont want to put the dog in the hold. There are a number of airlines that allow dogs in the cabin if they are under 10kg (KLM, AirFrance, ITA air).

does anyone know of an airline from UK to Europe that would take a 12kg dog?

thanks!

OP posts:
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9
smallshinybutton · 30/09/2023 14:21

Flickersy · 30/09/2023 14:18

If their allergy to a dog is as severe as a peanut allergy (this is vanishingly rare) then they'd need to get the next flight.

Otherwise it's a case of taking an antihistamine and sitting further away.

Show quote history

Why would the person with the allergy have to get off?!

The dog can't be allowed on the flight if someone is allergic to it

SophieStew · 30/09/2023 14:21

@Ascendant15 If it's any consolation (it probably isn't) I totally support your need to travel with a support animal.

A plane is public transport exactly the same as a train or bus. I don't see why people with a range of disabilities shouldn't be able to travel with their dogs. Or other support animals.

So long as they aren't support spiders of course...

cuddlebear · 30/09/2023 14:22

smallshinybutton · 30/09/2023 14:21

Why would the person with the allergy have to get off?!

The dog can't be allowed on the flight if someone is allergic to it

Show quote history

But the airline couldn't be seen to discriminate against the person with the disability who had their dog with them.

Competing disabilities is an interesting area of law.

Tydolla · 30/09/2023 14:22

I know some people are hating the idea but I hate flying and personally would love the distraction or a cute doggo on a flight! 😂

And I’m more of a cat person!

Reugny · 30/09/2023 14:22

C1N1C · 30/09/2023 13:49

Yeah, I had no luck with my emotional support snake...

It wasn't an alligator?

gerrithedom · 30/09/2023 14:23

.

To want to take my 12kg dog in the plane cabin
LikeARainstorm · 30/09/2023 14:23

Wouldn't it be cruel to a dog to take them on a flight? The pressure, the noise, the cramped space? Would you put your dog under that kind of stress if not unavoidable?

I have a child allergic to nuts and dogs so the cabin crew make the nut announcement when we fly; I really don't know what we'd do if we saw a dog in the boarding queue! You don't want a medical emergency mid-air so I wouldn't like to take the risk. I'm very glad I haven't ever encountered this situation and had no idea airlines in other countries allow it so much more freely than the UK. What if the dog is badly behaved, untrained or reactive to another dog on board? Imagine how wrong things could go if someone brought an aggressive dog on a flight. Or a bouncy one that the owner insists is just playing and only wants to say hello! On trains you can move carriage, on ferries go out on deck but a plane is totally different and there are so many bad dog owners this seems like a nightmare scenario.

Flickersy · 30/09/2023 14:23

smallshinybutton · 30/09/2023 14:21

Why would the person with the allergy have to get off?!

The dog can't be allowed on the flight if someone is allergic to it

Show quote history

Because the person with the dog may not voluntarily wait for the next flight.

If they do, fine. If not they can't be forced to leave as they're not doing anything wrong.

TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 30/09/2023 14:23

Taylorswiftserastour · 30/09/2023 13:22

What's your dog going to do in Europe? Woof at the Sistine chapel?

Snort!

VeridicalVagabond · 30/09/2023 14:24

I sat next to a very polite Labrador on a flight once, he was far better behaved than several children and adults I've been forced to sit next to, and smelled better.

However I think you might be SOL for a non service dog OP, ferry is probably far easier and cheaper!

Flickersy · 30/09/2023 14:25

ASCCM · 30/09/2023 14:19

You mean the dog can get on the next flight, right?

Show quote history

No, the person with the dog who is adhering to the conditions of carriage can't be forcibly removed if they don't want to be.

Therefore if the person with an allergy can't take that flight they would need to get the next one.

Mummyoflittledragon · 30/09/2023 14:26

SM4713 · 30/09/2023 14:09

Oh dear. I'm gone down a complete rabbit hole of googling animals on planes 😂

😭😭 thank you for brightening my day. 😃

ASCCM · 30/09/2023 14:26

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smallshinybutton · 30/09/2023 14:27

cuddlebear · 30/09/2023 14:22

But the airline couldn't be seen to discriminate against the person with the disability who had their dog with them.

Competing disabilities is an interesting area of law.

Show quote history

Ah I see. Yes assistance dog is different. Hmm.. I suppose its not often it occurs that two sets of needs would conflict so much

waterlego · 30/09/2023 14:27

I love dogs and would be delighted to find myself sitting next to a Great Dane on a flight.

But dogs on planes isn’t a great idea in general because of the need to consider the other human passengers- phobias, allergies etc. And I would worry about how it feels to the dog- could the pressure create ear pain as it can for humans? I suspect my dog wouldn’t like flying.

We have taken Ddog to Europe a few times- by car and Eurotunnel. A PP asked why you would take a pet on a holiday to Europe… in our case, we used to go away for three weeks with our caravan to stay in beautiful countryside with forests and rivers to explore. Plus lots of exciting new smells for DDog to enjoy, and plenty of other dogs to make friends with on the campsite. It was really no different to taking him with us on a UK camping holiday except the weather was better.

Assistance dogs are a different matter obviously and should be allowed on flights. I would still worry about their ears though and would hope there was something the owners could do to help with that.

Also interested to know about toileting on a long flight. Agree with PP that most adult dogs are trained to only wee/poo outside so it wouldn’t occur to them to do it on a plane. So if you’re on a long flight, how would you encourage the dog to have a wee?

LikeARainstorm · 30/09/2023 14:27

Flickersy · 30/09/2023 14:18

If their allergy to a dog is as severe as a peanut allergy (this is vanishingly rare) then they'd need to get the next flight.

Otherwise it's a case of taking an antihistamine and sitting further away.

Show quote history

Allergies don't work like that. They're unpredictable. You can be mildly allergic to something (or not at all!) and one day have a massive reaction to it with no warning. Someone allergic to dogs could take their antihistamine and hope, but they could become severely ill in the air quite unexpectedly which is a risk to them and might mean the plane has to make an emergency landing.

cuddlebear · 30/09/2023 14:28

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You aren't understanding. It isn't the dog that is taking priority. It's their disabled owner.

Flickersy · 30/09/2023 14:28

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It's not "a dog". It's "another passenger who has a dog".

It's not a dog vs a person, it's a person vs a person.

margotrose · 30/09/2023 14:28

If you're only going to Europe, why can't you drive or take the train over?

No need to take your dog on a plane at all.

Caffeineislife · 30/09/2023 14:28

If this does become a regular thing with people wanting to take pets on airlines, I'm sure the airlines will find a way to absolutely rinse every penny out of it.

There will be different pet carrier dimensions and requirements for every airline (Ryanair will of course decide that all pets must stand on 2 legs for the entire flight so they dont take up as much space). £££ for use of the under seat space for a pet, £££ to choose your under space seat and if you dont choose your pet will be randomly assigned an under seat space as far away from you as possible. £££ cleaning fee. £££ pet meals. £££ pet lounge.

It will be cheaper to put them in kennels for the week by the time the airlines have finished.

Pineappleshakethetree · 30/09/2023 14:30

Amazing!
Do most of you know that a dog has been on the plane prior to check for explosives and things?

I would rather deal with a dog than screaming kids, drunk idiots and people that throw up and fart.

gamerchick · 30/09/2023 14:30

Think I'd rather be on a plane with a load of toddlers than a dog.

What happens if it needs a crap? Do you just let it go and clean it up off the floor?

YayGoMe · 30/09/2023 14:31

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SophieStew · 30/09/2023 14:32

LikeARainstorm · 30/09/2023 14:27

Allergies don't work like that. They're unpredictable. You can be mildly allergic to something (or not at all!) and one day have a massive reaction to it with no warning. Someone allergic to dogs could take their antihistamine and hope, but they could become severely ill in the air quite unexpectedly which is a risk to them and might mean the plane has to make an emergency landing.

Show quote history

If I had such an unpredictable and potentially serious allergy, I would choose not to get on that flight. I wouldn't expect the disabled person with a dog to have to change if they cannot travel without the animal.