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

 

[p--and--t]

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.

Correction "the pet owners ticket"

 

[samh004]

Interesting thread, thought it was going to be something else.

WRT this particular case, if he wants to pay a vet to travel with his animal (nothing is free) – notwithstanding the issue of how the vet would get into the cargo hold mid-flight – then I don't mind the idea. It should be the pet owners cost.

On the broader topic of companion animals vs support animals vs guide dogs, I sit firmly in the camp that only guide dogs that have been accredited by certain organisations (up to the airline to choose) should be flying in the passenger cabin. Anything else, take a bus/boat/car. The absurdity of the things you see Americans bringing on planes has to end.

 

[Quickstatus]

Service animals in cabin outside of crate. Non service animals must be secure inside crate in human cabin but has a maximum size and weight. Otherwise freight. This eliminates the ridiculous emotional support loophole

 

[Deleted member]

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…...

fruit bats have an unfortunate odour issue which I suspect would be more of an issue

 

[Quickstatus]

Easy to exclude all companion animals except for dogs cats budgies hamster. carpet pythons and drop bears Ok

 

[Quickstatus]

Reaction to animals in human cargo hold:

 

[p--and--t]

Reaction to animals in human cargo hold:

Interesting to contrast the Southwest airline's attitude on pets to other attitudes with respect to the airlines responsibility for allergies (one of several similar articles)

Peanuts can kill – boycott airlines that serve them on board

www.ft.com

Allegedly SQ was forced by similar threats to stop serving peanuts in Y on their flights.

 

[Steady]

No cages used for these small pets

 

[Quickstatus]

But their heads are covered so it’s docile and they have a tie around their necks do they can’t fly off.
Don’t tell the Americans

 

[tgh]

What kind of animal do you actually envisage carrying qs ?
Do you think the rspca would condone a pup in a bag under the seat for ?? hours
What if it throws up.. or goes to the toilet… or has a conniption like the bulldog ?

We have shipped many mutts interstate and it is usually ok .
We always make an effort to personally deliver the mutt and to remind the forwarders to take care.
Sadly the airlines sometimes treat them like inanimate freight and leave them out in the sun and or rain , this sometimes has very unfortunate results.

I can just imagine the pandemonium when a little kid slips the hood off the hawk in the picture and it starts flying laps of the plane.

add: We learned very early to habituate young show dogs to a crate, they come to see their crate as their (mobile) home.
Folks with everyday mutts considering air freight can make it all less stressful by having the dog spend time in the crate over the preceding weeks

 

[Quickstatus]

I would personally only do dogs and cats but open to any companion animal that can fit into soft crates.

Pup won’t go in bag, there are suitable small soft crates where they can stand up and move around and are small enough to fit under Y seat in front

 

[Lynda2475]

Nope, Guide Dogs (or assiatnce dogs which are also labradors) certified by Guide Dogs Australia only. One can trust these animals have been properly trained and wont interfere with the comfort and safety of other passengers.

Im highly allergic to cats and I dont want to spend a flight being unable to breath properly and breaking out in an itchy hives becasue someone was too lazy to get a pet sitter for their moggy, or send it with a pet courier company.

 

[Quickstatus]

Im not sure cos they are too lazy, lots of pet owners prefer to travel with their pets.
So long as you have med cert to say you are cat allergic, the airline could easily make arrangements either for you or the cat.

Airlines have separated the allergic passenger and animal as far as possible within the cabin, limited the number of animals within the cabin, booked allergic passenger on later flights or arranged for the animal to go freight. There are options and its nothing new.

Pet suitable carry crates limit the amount of allergen dispersal.

I understand that WN do not do pets in cargo holds

 

[Quickstatus]

WN Pet policy:

 

[jase05]

Nope, Guide Dogs (or assiatnce dogs which are also labradors) certified by Guide Dogs Australia only. One can trust these animals have been properly trained and wont interfere with the comfort and safety of other passengers.

Im highly allergic to cats and I dont want to spend a flight being unable to breath properly and breaking out in an itchy hives becasue someone was too lazy to get a pet sitter for their moggy, or send it with a pet courier company.

Agree with this 100%.

 

[jase05]

WN Pet policy:

View attachment 203256

I hope no Australian airlines ever go down this path

 

[Quickstatus]

I don't see it either, but you never know

 

[RooFlyer]

C’mon. Get with the program!

 

[Quickstatus]

I dont see the Falcons paying attention to the safety briefing.....

 

[kelvedon]

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.

Yes, and the Vet has to travel in the cargo hold to monitor the animal.