Dogs & Aeroplanes

[Keepingthepeace9]

Sorry folks, another thread about dogs & this time the question is do you agree with a recent suggestion the UK becomes similar to countries like France & America where small dogs can travel in the cabin with their owners.

Despite having absolutely nothing against dogs or their owners I can't begin to stress how much I disagree with this for countless reasons. This of course is with the exception of assistance dogs. Are you for or against the idea?
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FWIW they didn't go in the bulk where I worked (widebody, long haul) probably for exactly the reasons you mention.

Animals etc went the (air conditioned) aft hold.

Visiting relatives, moving abroad, and well, actually, plenty of reasons that are not really any of your business.

I love how you guys get all riled up for something that isn't even a possibility in this country.

What a sad perspective on life that is! I actually try and be a considerate person and think about the needs of people around me - so yes I do care about a stranger’s nut allergy. I find it incredibly worrisome that someone would care about a dog more than a person - yes even a stranger.

Absolutely not

Humans come first.
I know we’ve become a society that’s overly tolerant of dogs but why should ticket-paying people with allergies and phobias (despite the sneering about these they are not a bad personality trait they are serious conditions) have to suffer in the worst way because some loon can’t leave their dog at home or go by the traditional routes?

I love dogs, but so many dog owners have become totally insufferable. I’m guessing they “like dogs more than people” because they like someone who is obedient, does as they’re told and doesn’t answer back, and the complexity of human relationships don’t fit with this.

This would have been late 90s. United airlines, so long flights to America. No idea about other airlines or times. I often had to stack bags around crates to try and keep them secure and ask crew for water. Hated it.

Aircraft mechanic here - the animal carrying section of a cargo hold will be heated. There's no "oxygen monitoring" on any aircraft I've seen, the air conditioning packs provide an enormous amount of fresh air - more than enough to not only provide sufficient breathing air to all the passengers, but to pressurise the aircraft and accommodate for any leaks around door seals etc (these can be substantial in some cases). There is so much air produced that the aircrafts outflow valve - the component that regulated the cabin pressure - is almost always releasing air pressure instead of holding it in.

Most animals die from mishandling such as being left in hot conditions on the ramp.

I’m guessing they “like dogs more than people” because they like someone who is obedient, does as they’re told and doesn’t answer back, and the complexity of human relationships don’t fit with this.

Absolutely! So many dog owners are misanthropes and it is playing out on this thread!

Speak for yourself

Many of us do care about others and accept that living in the world requires consideration for more than just ourselves.

If you don’t care about someone’s else’s kid or peanut allergy then fine - but you have absolutely no right for anyone to show care, respect or consideration for you or your child. They can push in front of you in queues, barge you out the way, spit on your child, thump either of you and steal your plane seat. Because why should they care about you, right?

Agree with absolutely all that, and yep it's temperatures on the ramp at some airports that can be highly problematic.

It’s already allowed elsewhere and I have been on many flights with cats and dogs with no issues. I think it’s a great idea. I would expect that low cost airlines would still be banning pets as they are now (so if you are allergic you could choose Ryanair), but at least there would be an option on BA, KLM etc

They should make a film called "Dogs on a Plane" with Samuel L. Jackson.

The same way it holds its bladder for over 8 hours during the day or overnight!

Yeah I don’t have kids myself but I am frequently appalled at the way some talk about other peoples kids and the general lack of regard for children.

I am vegan, I sponsor endangered species charities,and I care about the welfare of animals, but still humans > pets , even if that human is a stranger.

Dogs don't not wee for 8hrs during the day <unless they have neglectful owners who them alone all day>. Obviously during the night they don't go but that is their routine so unless booked a night flight they'd surely need a wee after a couple of hours.

What is wrong with a crate in the hold, surely it's the same as a crate in the boot?

That's nonsense.

My dog saves his wee for his walks, other than going last thing before bed. This means he doesn't wee between about 7am - 4.30pm some days.

If he wants to go out during the day, he can, as one of us is usually about. But he usually doesn't want to.

Mine can happily go 8+ hours during the day without a wee, even if I let him out into the garden every hour.

When a dog is crated in the boot, they can see, hear and smell their humans. Not remotely comparable to being shut in a crate in the cargo hold.

Dog and cat allergies can trigger asthma attacks which can be very dangerous

A dog in a crate in the hold wouldn't pee either.
And yes, plenty of dogs don't wee for long stretches of time occasionally.
Dogs crated at the vet or dogs who hate the rain and rather hold for example. My own small dog can go 12-13h if its pouring rain. Maybe even more, I don't know, each time he finally lifted the wee embargo, it was because I forced him out.

Also, whats wrong with a crate in the hold you ask: well, Its horrendously expensive. I looked it up when I emigrated years ago, I was quoted £1700 for a 90min flight.

They can.

However dogs and cats are already allowed in the cabin on flights the world over. It's nothing new.

And so can many other things...

Also, dogs can already travel by train, bus, tube, boat, uber and yet, the number of people dying because of a dog in-the-coach-related asthma attacks seems to be very low (although according to mumsnet its probably the first cause of death in the country)

It has been mentioned in a previous thread there is a diagnosis for people with this view. They have no conscience & 'don't care' about people for example dying due to a nut allergy.

What happens if you have a severe allergy that triggers asthma and find yourself sitting near a dog or cat? Do the airline move you/them?

No, they let you die and send a voucher for a free Costa coffee to your family.

I assume they’d just have to rely on the goodwill of other passengers willing to swap seats with you if the plane was full. Or if there was spare seats obviously move you to one of them.

Personally I would not like to be sat next to or behind/in front of a dog they can be so unpredictable- licking, scratching or biting randomly.

There was one on a train in front of me and it kept coming into the aisle and then moving into my seat area. I told the owner to get her dog away from me and she looked all shocked. It was on a leash but it clearly still had room to roam to the surrounding seats and it was sniffing people who completely ignored it but the owner didn’t take the hint.

She did move it when I asked but then it came back a few minutes later while she was too busy scrolling on her phone. Very annoying.

I just packed my stuff up and moved to another carriage that had spare unreserved seats . Not so easy to do that on a plane of course.

Well he maybe needs to drink more. To not let a dog out for a wee for 8hrs is unusual.