Pets in the Cabin - Coming soon on Virgin Australia

[PERLHR]

I stopped flying Virgin and its associated airlines (SIA etc) and gave up my Platinum status so I dont have to sit in aircraft that have had animals in them. Am allergic and simply dont want to sit next to dogs/cats

Yeah I kinda get that. It does seem a bit odd still to me that is acceptable. Some time ago before animals allowed in cabin generally when flying Virgin Biz there was a service dog sitting at row 2 with their handler. Lovely dog. However it did cross my mind that if other biz pax had serious allergies especially in the smaller cabin what then? It's not that VA through the app informed biz pax. It's a hard one. Is it like nuts in the cabin? The eating type ...not the human type of which there are many more

 

[Chicken]

if other biz pax had serious allergies especially in the smaller cabin what then? It's not that VA through the app informed biz pax.

This is a myth.

Virgin already specified that pets can only sit in seats 18A, 18F, 20A, or 20F, so just sit somewhere else.

 

[Beano]

This is a myth.

Virgin already specified that pets can only sit in seats 18A, 18F, 20A, or 20F, so just sit somewhere else.

So! First in best served! If 5 PAXs want to take pets, one is going to be dissapointed.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yeah I kinda get that. It does seem a bit odd still to me that is acceptable. Some time ago before animals allowed in cabin generally when flying Virgin Biz there was a service dog sitting at row 2 with their handler. Lovely dog. However it did cross my mind that if other biz pax had serious allergies especially in the smaller cabin what then? It's not that VA through the app informed biz pax. It's a hard one. Is it like nuts in the cabin? The eating type ...not the human type of which there are many more

Then the passenger with the allergy is usually required to fly another flight. The service dog takes preference.

This is a myth.

Virgin already specified that pets can only sit in seats 18A, 18F, 20A, or 20F, so just sit somewhere else.

Pets yes, but service dogs can fly I. The premium cabin, they’re not pets

 

[PERLHR]

Then the passenger with the allergy is usually required to fly another flight. The service dog takes preference.

That though could be awkward maybe? Bags all loaded, connections to be made...slots to be fulfilled. .service dog happily sat. Fine if VA advise in advance. Question is do they? By the way playing devil's advocate here....I love dogs.

 

[Eastwick20]

That though could be awkward maybe? Bags all loaded, connections to be made...slots to be fulfilled. .service dog happily sat. Fine if VA advise in advance. Question is do they? By the way playing devil's advocate here....I love dogs.

Yes I work with someone who would have had to leave the aircraft if they boarded to find a service dog sitting in the J cabin with them as they are severely allergic to dogs

One would think that the airline has reasonable advance notice on most occasions when a service dog is confirmed to fly and should do all possible to notify especially in the smaller J cabin ( also I love dogs too )

 

[simmomelb]

Good lord, so many of you get triggered every time VA launches a new pet-friendly route. There will be more; prepare yourselves
Service dogs exist everywhere and have done so for years. How about the person who requires them? Yes, I understand allergies, but what are you going to do, not leave your home? Dogs are an important part of our lives, and in some cases, a requirement.

 

[Happy Dude]

I stopped flying Virgin and its associated airlines (SIA etc) and gave up my Platinum status so I dont have to sit in aircraft that have had animals in them. Am allergic and simply dont want to sit next to dogs/cats

As a Platinum, you wouldn't be sitting "next to them" or within at least 13 rows. If you were within that distance then you're in IRROPS or not using your status properly. If you're in Rows 1-5 and allergic to something in Row 18 -20, then you have my sympathies.

I once saw a service dog in 3A from 3D. I'm still yet to see a pet onboard but, thanks to my status, always use priority boarding and haven't been beyond Row 5 for years.

 

[Warks]

I mentioned elsewhere we sat next to a big burly guy with a cat on a flight from IST to BKK last week. He was supposed to keep it in its carrier under the seat in front (Turkish Airlines) but he used to sneak it out and have it on his lap under a blanket for most of the flight. It was a Sphinx cat so no fur allergies but it was my first time travelling close to a domestic pet in flight. He said his wife had the other cat but had to sit separate from him some rows away. Mrs Warks sat next to him and as she loves cats quite enjoyed herself.

Not quite the same as a Rottweiler sitting in someone's lap I guess...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That though could be awkward maybe? Bags all loaded, connections to be made...slots to be fulfilled. .service dog happily sat. Fine if VA advise in advance. Question is do they? By the way playing devil's advocate here....I love dogs.

Either one passenger or the other has to disembark if the flight is full. Why should the pax with the service animal?

It happens in the US, and the passenger with the allergy is usually the one offloaded.

Wven if the passenger with the allergy elects to stay on board rather than arrive home hours later, the airline may refuse carriage and offload the passenger. You don’t want a diversion.

 

[drron]

So! First in best served! If 5 PAXs want to take pets, one is going to be dissapointed.

It’s like us guys in wheelchairs. On a 737 they can limit it to 2 wheelchairs in the hold Third time is unlucky.

 

[Beano]

I wonder how paraplegic teams manage? Perhaps not a 737!

 

[Quickstatus]

So! First in best served! If 5 PAXs want to take pets, one is going to be dissapointed.

Pets need to be booked ahead by calling the number.
So the airline will at any time know the number of pets on a flight.
Just like trying to snare the last Classic reward in F. If someone else grabs the last one then it's sitting in the back with the Y classic reward.

And just like bassinet seats. Some babies may miss out - and the ones who miss out may be the lap baby in Y on a long haul with no separate ticket.

It's a pity though that the policy limits eligible pets to cats and dogs. They should allow pocket pets like a hamster, Guinea pig or hedgehog.

 

[PERLHR]

Good lord, so many of you get triggered every time VA launches a new pet-friendly route. There will be more; prepare yourselves
Service dogs exist everywhere and have done so for years. How about the person who requires them? Yes, I understand allergies, but what are you going to do, not leave your home? Dogs are an important part of our lives, and in some cases, a requirement.

You do know that some people can have severe anaphylaxis after close proximity to dogs and cats don't you? Closed environment at FL 350 not recommended.

However the point being muted is do VA advise guests of the accompanying dog. It's not about the obvious benefits and good work that service dogs do.

We know that down the back dogs are seat allocated and pax probably have more or greater opportunities to move and sit away. Not so much in business.

I wonder what the VA risk plan says about it all. VA could easily advise pax in advance as the dogs don't just turn up but are identified in bookings as far as I am made aware.

 

[PERLHR]

Either one passenger or the other has to disembark if the flight is full. Why should the pax with the service animal?

It happens in the US, and the passenger with the allergy is usually the one offloaded.

Wven if the passenger with the allergy elects to stay on board rather than arrive home hours later, the airline may refuse carriage and offload the passenger. You don’t want a diversion.

I am not saying it should be the service dog and handler. I'm saying VA should have the capability of advising pax however in advance that a service dog with be in biz cabin...

Meanwhile my mutt says.."can I fly biz on VA even though I'm not a service dog..can I be one....I fancy that!"

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You do know that some people can have severe anaphylaxis after close proximity to dogs and cats don't you? Closed environment at FL 350 not recommended.

However the point being muted is do VA advise guests of the accompanying dog. It's not about the obvious benefits and good work that service dogs do.

We know that down the back dogs are seat allocated and pax probably have more or greater opportunities to move and sit away. Not so much in business.

I wonder what the VA risk plan says about it all. VA could easily advise pax in advance as the dogs don't just turn up but are identified in bookings as far as I am made aware.

The US DOT - and presumably the courts agree given the US’s keenness to litigate - have stated that pet dander is everywhere and an airline cabin is no exception. So there is no special carve-out of special provisions for aircraft.

Perhaps there’s less risk given the HEPA filters. If they can filter out Covid, why not pet dander?

I’m certain I’ve left cat and dog hairs and dander behind in every flight I’ve taken.

 

[Beano]

The US DOT - and presumably the courts agree given the US’s keenness to litigate - have stated that pet dander is everywhere and an airline cabin is no exception. So there is no special carve-out of special provisions for aircraft.

Perhaps there’s less risk given the HEPA filters. If they can filter out Covid, why not pet dander?

I’m certain I’ve left cat and dog hairs and dander behind in every flight I’ve taken.

It could be the dosage? No doubt there are all sorts of allergens around us but when in close proximity to the source it is a different matter.

 

[Chicken]

Good lord, so many of you get triggered every time VA launches a new pet-friendly route.

Yep.

Firstly, VA would have thought about the whole thing with guide dogs, and come up with a SOP for this, since this would have been a scenario for the last however many decades, since well before this pet flying thing. (not that I trust that VA would even do the right thing, since as recent as this happened). Somehow, people here assume that VA does not have a SOP for something which has been happening for the last 30 or so years.

Secondly, I wonder how do people walk down the streets on a Sat morning, since every cafe and pub got dogs hanging outside these premises.

 

[Beano]

Yep.

Firstly, VA would have thought about the whole thing with guide dogs, and come up with a SOP for this, since this would have been a scenario for the last however many decades, since well before this pet flying thing. (not that I trust that VA would even do the right thing, since as recent as this happened). Somehow, people here assume that VA does not have a SOP for something which has been happening for the last 30 or so years.

Secondly, I wonder how do people walk down the streets on a Sat morning, since every cafe and pub got dogs hanging outside these premises.

That's the thing, walking by! Can you walk by in an aircraft? Presumably those likely to be affected avoid animals in public.