Should companion animals be allowed in the human cargo hold on Australian domestic flights?

[Quickstatus]

Small dogs and cats?
Not sure about cabin crew trained in animal first aid or whether an aircraft should be diverted if animal medical emergency occurs

 

[woodborer]

Not sure there is anyway to get to the dog if they are in the hold.
But, snub nose dogs probably shouldn't fly at all.

 

[Steady]

I took a puppy from PER to DPO, it went on the QF flight I was on and it was cheap ($62.50 Feb 2018) - not sure how he managed to pay $1100-

 

[Quickstatus]

The brachycephalics have particular problems with breathing and temperature regulation.

Apart from this,
What are the issues surrounding animals in human cargo hold?

I’m not sure how the fees are assessed but as it is “freight” it would be weight and volume and sector/s flown. But I don’t think it cost $1100 for that sector. Possibly it included the owner’s fares as well.

 

[Denali]

Have we learned nothing from the US and animals on a plane? I feel very bad for this man losing his pet but I dont want to see pets onboard.

I took a puppy from PER to DPO, it went on the QF flight I was on and it was cheap ($62.50 Feb 2018) - not sure how he managed to pay $1100-

Niece flew her Rhodesian Ridgeback from Darwin to Sydney and it was about $900 by memory. (edit: She used JetPets, picked up from her house and delivered to her mums in Sydney)


I would also say if it was my pet, knowing the breed has breathing issues, I would have hired a car and drove SYD-MELB. But thats me.

Very sad for the pet owner, that poor animal and his family.

 

[Quickstatus]

I think so long as it is strictly regulated, I don’t see a problem. But the problem is that carry ons are not regulated let alone “strictly”.

 

[Steady]

I was transporting the puppy for miss Steady and she found this site - the puppy had to travel on the flights I was taking, it needed a vet check/certificate etc - I had a look at the invoice prior to quoting the cost - might be worth getting a quote from them for anyone needing to take a pet with them.

 

[robtemt]

I really do feel for the owner. Our dogs are our children, and I'd love to have my Labrador on my flight with me. But I would hate to have everyone else's pets in the cabin, and do not want to see us going down the same route as the US -

If my pet had a well-known risk of flying, as mentioned above, I would have driven.

The suggestion that QF (or any airline) should have a vet on any flight accepting a pet is a bit absurd.

 

[Jos888]

Many airlines will not fly snub nosed dogs at all.. SIA is one of them.

 

[robtemt]

Apologies. I should clarify, if someone has a service animal (a certified, registered, trained guide dog..... not an emotional support possum), I totally endorse that.

 

[p--and--t]

I would suspect without documentary evidence the claim he paid "$1,100 for the dog alone" is total BS.

Not sure the holds of any jet are currently fitted out in such a way a vet would be safe and/or comfortable (unless he was thinking of future project sunrise bunk beds )

Another media beat-up being short on facts/common sense.

 

[Quickstatus]

I do think apart from accredited SA (service animals), companion animals of a strictly enforced size and weight (size and weight of enclosing crate) should be allowed (and counts toward carry on luggage).

Emotional support animals can be specifically excluded by regulation.

 

[tgh]

So my pet python in my shoulder bad would be ok ?
He would need to pop out to er stretch his legs every now and then …. deep vein thrombosis and all that..

 

[Quickstatus]

So my pet python in my shoulder bad would be ok ?
He would need to pop out to er stretch his legs every now and then …. deep vein thrombosis and all that..

Maybe he is actually a goanna if he has legs.
So long as it can fit into an approved secure crate of a certain max size and total weight, then why not - has to be secured for the duration of flight and tucked in under the seat in front.

But the airline could easily also say cabin animals are only to be dogs and cats. Really its up to the airline subject to any regulatory umbrella.

 

[p--and--t]

Lots of differing views and will always be the case.

Guess I'm a bit old fashioned but my tolerance for any animals (other than cough sapiens) in the main cabin is limited to well trained and behaved dogs for the certified blind.

I would suspect here are many millions of "nervous" flyers travelling every day would would not even give a second thought to demanding a support animal travel with them.

Too many (as particularly in the US case) dreamt up reasons real/imagined/fraudulent for their pet to ride alongside them for free.

 

[Quickstatus]

ESA can be specifically excluded in any regulations. Only Accredited service animals can be out of crate. And then there are pets which have to be housed in a secure approved crate. No need for the ESA palava.

 

[robtemt]

So my pet python in my shoulder bad would be ok ?
He would need to pop out to er stretch his legs every now and then …. deep vein thrombosis and all that..

Have we learned nothing from Hollywood?!?!

 

[tgh]

But wait ...there is more

I mentioned this wonderful concept to a friend who has a very special companion, a fruit bat.
I suggested that it might not be accepted and she opined that she would sue their n**s off if the rat in the bag could fly and her mate could not.
She pointed out that all it needed was a small rail below the luggage racks..

I can just see it now.. the plane loaded for take off headed to the bat convention in PERth…...

 

[Quickstatus]

Just a small rail in the crate that fits under the seat in front.

But Easy for the airline to say dogs and cats only in crate in human cargo compartment everything else is freight.

 

[theblank]

I am all for airlines to offer a vets on board service to take care of the pets. Just add the cost of the vet to the price of the ticket.