That is correct. I have severe food allergies and my mom has a severe allergy to all animal dander.

By the time we are old enough to buy our own ticket we are well versed in how to stay healthy while traveling. :)

does the cat get groped...errr....i mean "patted down" by TSA too?

To MmmMmmBeer....

.. yes, but it likes it :-)

In a way you are correct. I have traveled with a chihuahua before and they ordered me to take the dog out of the carrier, they ran their hands over her, and had me turn her over to make sure there was nothing strapped (or taped, I imagine) to her belly. I am asthmatic and while I'm not allergic to either cats or dogs, I am allergic to many of the scents in perfumes, colognes, and deoderants. Unfortunately, while not a large number of flights have animals in the cabin, all of them have more than one person wearing perfume or cologne, and preferably all adults at least are wearing deoderants. Anyone who gets severe allergic reactions to anything should take precautions such as antihistamines before traveling, and if you get life-threatening reactions, you should have an "Epi-kit" and know how to use it. According to this article it doesn't matter if there are animals on the flight or not, the dander WILL be there.

Em, I had kitty Rachel with me one time. I took her out of her carrier and put her in the middle seat with the tray table down. My aisle seatmate was a kindred soul and obligingly put up her newspaper when the flight attendant came around. Everyone had a good time.

Um, maybe we shouldn't "restructure the world around people with cats." From my point of view, and I have transported dogs via cargo safely, the health of paying passengers should be the first priority. And, yes, I am allergic to cats and I would ask to be moved if I were seated anywhere near one as otherwise my eyes would swell up like melons.

So you're fine with a smoker sitting next to you blowing smoke in your face the whole flight? For someone with even moderate allergies, it's the same thing. They will be miserable with runny nose, coughing, sneezing, congestion and for severe cases it can be life threatening just like a nut allergy.

Since you can't keep all of your pets allergens to yourself, much like a smoker can't restrict the smoke to himself, then you have no right to make me physically ill.

I grew up with pets, I'm a pet lover, but my wife has severe allergies to pets. No one has the right to make her physically ill in an environment she can't escape.

If you want to know why anything happens, follow the money. The reason pets are allowed on the plane is that most airlines charge a couple extra bucks for them and the health of the passengers be dammed. Kind of funny that pet allergies are much more common, but you can't get a peanut on the flight. I'll bet you could bring all the peanuts you wanted if the airline charged $50 per passenger.

sorry you want to live in a bubble and subject the rest of it to that bubble as well...

Whatever happened to common sense??? I have no problem rearranging the seating to help accomodate someone with an allergy however, to tell me that your rights trump mine... really? are you that special?

Emily-1145636 - Were you one of those travelers who claimed their dog as a service dog so that it could travel with you? That drives me crazy that people abuse that system like that. I have a friend with a Yorkie and she does that too.

"... we can't restructure the world around people with allergies." What a glib statement.

I'm not asking you to restructure the world, but when you're on a plane with hundreds of people who can't go anywhere else for a while, you have to make accommodation for people with allergies -- either peanuts or pets. I'm sure you'd rather we all just stayed home, but as a paying passenger, I think I have the right not to have to sneeze and wheeze my way through a flight because you prefer to keep your pet in the cabin with you.

Geez, filled with rage much, people? No, I paid for my dog to fly with me, although he is a therapy pet. And, yes I think the world is a little over-accommodating to tiny groups of people with issues...it's like the peanuts on planes debate (should airlines stop serving peanuts because some people are allergic?). The author points out that many would have a reaction to someone who has pet hair on their clothing...so should we have them wear haz-mat suits? And Susan, I did accommodate these whiny people: when I was asked if I'd be willing to switch seats, I agreed, so long as I got the same type of seat I had booked originally. I guess my point is that cats on planes are really rare, but this article is trying to make it into some crazy problem that's sweeping the nation. Like I said, you'd never know my dog was on board.

So my complaint is "whiny" but yours is legitimate?

You have a therapy "pet" but don't think we should make accommodation for "tiny groups" of people?

I certainly accept that some must bring their therapy animals on board with them, and would simply ask to be seated away from them. However, I assure you that I would be aware that your dog was aboard and would regret that my allergic reaction might cause you annoyance.

Those who have no therapeutic reason to have their pets in the cabin really don't need the same accommodation.

I agreed, so long as I got the same

Nice caveat Emily. So you're saying you wouldn't have been so accommodating otherwise? A song comes to mind....Oh, it's "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper.

"tiny groups of people with issues" - Our issues are breathing, not a pet preference or taste preference, but continuing to stay alive by breathing! Suggesting an epi-pen is fine to keep us alive but possibly not. If I am in the situation that I have to use an epi-pen or even my nebulizer, it is something that effects me for several days not just for a few minutes. I certainly don't condone any type of animal abuse but since when do animals have more rights than human beings? I choose not to go to dog parks, I am extremely cautious when I go to the zoo and if a friend has cats I meet them at a restaurant or invite them to my place. These are places and choices I would never impose on someone else but I should have the right to purchase an airline ticket and have a reasonable expectation of arriving at my destination healthy!

The problem is not so much with the cats on the plane as it is with owners who ignore the accompanying rules. As one poster bragged about flaunting the rules and taking her cat out of its carrier to let it play on the middle seat. What about the person on the next flight that may be assigned to that seat and is allergic to cats. There is good reason why the pets are supposed to remain in their carriers when being transported in the plane cabin. So long as people can not be bothered to obey rules designed fr the comfort of all passengers, then pets should not be allowed in the cabin on flights.

Uh, Susan, the airlines are not accommodating me. I paid a lot of money for my dog to fly. Most airlines allow small pets in the cabin for a fee, whether they are therapy pets or not, so long as they remain in their carrier and under the seat. That is exactly what I did. Yes, some people are whiny, that's a fact. And, dugby, I don't have to move, they can move the other person, but often they would ask me to move...they can't make me move because they allowed my pet to fly, so they have to ask my permission. NO, I would not move to a middle seat if I had reserved a window, sorry if that is my "true colors", it's only fair. I paid to fly too, if you have a problem with the airline's pet policy, take it up with the airline.

Thank you, JS. I am an animal lover, with two large dogs and a cat, and I adore them - but if I were to travel with any of them I would never dream of taking them out of the carrier and imposing them on the other people in the cabin like that. Some pet owners are completely insensitive to the fact that there are other people in this world who do not think "kitty Rachel" is all that.

(Another example: Some people are scared to death of dogs. These folks do not typically wear a name tag or t-shirt alerting you of this fact. Thus, when I have my dogs out of the house, they are on leashes and I do my best not to permit them to walk up to strangers, unless those strangers are already beckoning them.) Simple courtesy, folks.

By the way, I never even told the airlines that my dog is a therapy pet because it's not relavent...small dogs and cats are allowed in carriers, under seats in the cabin. And he's not therapy for me, I take him to hospitals and nursing homes as a volunteer..how's that for true colors, dugby. Your issues are with the airline's pet policy and with those not following the rules of the airline. I follow those rules and I am accomodating when asked to move, so don't jump down my throat.

Emily - How often do you take your dog to nursing homes, schools, hospitals, etc?

I want everyone to read the ridiculous description of a pet that can qualify as a service pet for an airline and decide if you want someone who's mental health is managed by a small dog to sit next to you on a plane. Seriously...we take away people's fingernail clippers and tweezers as being considered dangerous, but someone who's sitting on the edge of mental collapse, but has a small furry animal that keeps them centered enough is safe to fly.

"Emotional support animals
Emotional support animals are considered to be service animals. However, a customer traveling with an emotional support animal will need to have documentation on letterhead from a licensed mental health professional, dated within the past 12 months, stating that the customer is under professional care for a mental-health-related disability, and that the animal’s assistance is essential to his or her mental health."

Susan, you're not understanding me. It doesn't matter that he's a therapy pet, I regret ever mentioning it. ANY dog under a certain weight, with an up-to-date rabies vaccine can travel in the cabin, when reserved and paid for, and kept in a regulation carrier under the seat. Almost every airline allows 2 dogs per flight, WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE THERAPY PETS. I take him 2-3 times a month to visit patients, not that it matters, like I said.

Sorry, guess my last comment was meant for stMiller.

Um, Emily, I'm not the one questioning your therapy pet. I'm the one questioning your use of the terms "whiny" and your statement that the world is over-accommodating to "tiny groups of people" in referring to people with allergies. If you take your therapy pet to hospitals and nursing homes, then I would think you'd have a little more appreciation for accommodation.

I'm sorry if you felt that my use of the word "accommodation" was an insult. To me, accommodation means human beings working with other human beings to try and meet each others needs. I did assume that your therapy pet was accompanying you to meet your personal needs, but as you pointed out, this wasn't the case. It was kind of you to make accommodation for an allergy sufferer, and reasonable to expect to be seated in the same type of airline seat.

It's not an insult, I merely objected to people saying that I wasn't accommodating, and I clarified that I meant my other comment to go to another responder. You may not be whiny, but trust me, there are a lot of whiny people out there who look for any reason to complain about anything.

Emily,

I wasn't questioning you on whether your pet as a therapy pet was allowed on a plane. I was just asking about you taking your dog to hospitals, etc since you said it was a therapy pet. Therapy pets and service pets are different classes of pets to an airline, so after that I was just mentioning to anyone interested how ridiculous the concept of a service pet is outside of guide dogs, etc.

I'm 1K on UAL and flight every single week. I know how many pets are allowed on planes, etc. I'm fine with someone bringing a pet on a plane if they pay for it. I just dislike that people like my friend Joy abuse the service pet thing.

In terms or the allergies, I definitely do not think that it is "whiny" for someone to be looking out for their safety and also wanting to live as normal a life as possible. I think that a person can make a case either way on the argument and I don't mind giving up peanuts on flights, or saying that pets can fly in separate (but safe) sections of the planes. I do also think though that that is a potentially slippery slope. Where do you draw the line? This year its peanuts and pets, but what about someone allergic to wool? No wool clothes on planes? I get both sides of the argument and I do believe you're being insensitive to "tiny groups of people", etc.

I mean don't your "kind" qualify as a "tiny group of people"? Meaning the people that want to bring dogs on planes and who have the dysfunction of not being able to leave a pet at home or in the care of someone else? The airlines are accommodating to your kind. Why do you get accommodation of another group doesn't?

Emily-

You are wrong about the definition of your pet. A service dog is a working dog which provides safety and protection when out in the public. For example a seeing eye dog is to guide and protect and be the eyes of his owner. Your taking your personal pet on a flight does not mean he is a service dog, since you explained that the dog visits hospitals etc and was not needed by you for support shows a certain deceitfulness. One day due to my severe allergies as well as entering the world of blindness I will make sure it is hypoallergenic for the benefit of all.

aswiftmom, please read my other posts before you call me deceitful. I know he's not a guide dog, I never tried to get any perks in any way. He flew as a pet, not a therapy pet. He IS called a therapy pet, I have the certificate and his hankerchief that says "I am a therapy pet", for when he visits hospitals, etc. DOGS ARE ALLOWED ON PLANES WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE A THERAPY OR GUIDE DOGS, he flew as a dog, I paid a fee...just read above before dishing insults, otherwise you look stupid and unkind.

Well, maybe some of those "whiny" people out there are just tired of being written off as inconsequential by those of you fortunate enough not to be allergic to animals. And trust me, there are a lot of people out there who think that allergy sufferers are a bunch of hypochondriacs and psychosomatics.

BTW, I love animals, and it is a great sadness in my life that I cannot be around them. I sincerely appreciate the work of your therapy pet. We could go round and round like this forever, but you're right -- this is something to take up with the airlines.

Susan, I have a good friend who is very allergic and she did some research on dogs...apparently there are a few breeds that produce little to no dander and do not shed....the names escape me right now. Just a thought, animals bring so much to a household and family, it's a shame to be unable to enjoy them.

Mozzie,

You are extremely selfish. You might love your pet but not everyone likes cats. Many are allergic. Keep the animal in the cage and under the seat where it belongs.

Consider others.

Come on people, get off Emily.....allergy sufferers are whiny and demanding. Its a simple fact.

Mozzie, you can let your little cat out anytime.....most normal folks enjoy the company of an animal.

cindy...If a person doesn't like animals, they do not count. There is usually something wrong mentally with folks that don't like animals.

Some day when you are wheezing, remember the insensitive, stupid comment you made!

Actually we can. You can ship the animals in the cargo compartment. Airlines do it all the time. No animal absolutely "has" to travel in the passenger section with the owner. It's a "nice to do", but is not mandatory. I would love to bring my three Greyhounds on board with me too, but it is not possible, therefore they would have to travel in the cargo compartment. Cats can do the same thing. It's only a "nice to have" trick to put them in the passenger section. Let the fly with the other animals. They aren't special.

You're not special either!

Jo - Actually it can be quite unsafe for an animal to fly in the cargo department. And some airlines forbid it during certain times of the year. Its forbidden for a reason. If I ever have to bring my cats on a plane they will fly with me, not the cargo department.

It's not a big deal, it's just a news item.

Not really even a news item. It's where we are with an expanding population that is increasingly mobile and entitled and prone to drama to get its way. You get a whole lot of different folks on a flying bus, some of whom will be pet owners, some of whom will be allergic to everything under the sun, some of whom will have kids in tow, some will board and be invisible. Just the way it is when your ticket costs less than a week's worth of groceries for a family of 4. Don't like being with 280 strangers on a plane for a couple of hours, don't fly.

Amen!

My problem is with those who bathe themselves in perfume or after shaving lotions. Instant reaction for me.

forget animals, Tranq the passengers

Sue - I agree with you... my mother's former husband is so allergic to cats that when I went to visit I had to put my clothes directly into the suit case from the laundry or just a hug would set off his allergies.

He dealt with it though and even stayed at my house once, cats and all.

Yeah, well, Sue -- it ain't all about you, either. It always amazes me how many people are so cavalier about people with allergies -- as if it's something we can control or even as if it's all in our heads. Lots of us can't use allergy medications due to other health conditions.

Airplane travel is bad enough with all its issues -- cramped space, unhappy children, tired travellers. When you're on a plane, you ARE in a bubble, like it or not. It would be really nice if allergy sufferers didn't have to contend with your live animals under the seat next to us.

People who are highly allergic to cat dander can take all the preventative measures (prescription allergy medicines, albuterol inhalers, staying away from animals etc.), but that isn't sufficient when you are crammed into an airline cabin where cats are or have been.

Being miserable on the flight itself is one thing (itching, swelling, watery eyes, a asthma attack), but cat dander exposure can cause problems for days afterwards (e.g. triggering my sinus inflammation and headaches).

Many more people are allergic to cats than to dogs, so it makes sense to ban cats from flight cabins while allowing small dogs and service dogs onboard. Still, the flight attendants must try harder to grant requests to be seated far from pets if this creates a health hazard.

Let's hear it for pet-free, children-free flights!

My son is highly allergic to cats and an allergic reaction generally triggers an asthma attack. He takes a daily allergy medicine and travels with additional allergy meds and an epi-pen in case of a severe attack. So he "deals with it" to the very best of his ability. But even if he does not have a life-threatening asthma attack, he can expect to have a reaction that, among other unpleasant things, includes a very painful rash on the INSIDE of his eyelids that will last several days after a flight. @Susieinwisconsin, try dealing with that.

I don't have to even bring my cat on board with me for someone to have an allergic reaction. My kitties are all over my luggage, my clothes, and my purse. Now if someone thinks I'm going out of my way to clean my purse and luggage they're nuts. As far as I'm concerned, I have to deal with people who have too much perfume, people who haven't had a bath in months, people who pass gas, (there are some really bad ones) peoples kids who scream and cry, kids that kick my seat and old men who drink too much and put there faces right up to mine, then you can put up with my cat dander. Was on a bus once in Florida and someone either passed gas or had an accident, but do you think they driver stopped to let us get some air! No way we had to deal with it and I can tell you I was on the verge of vomiting it was so vile. So bring your meds and a mask if you need to. I have to!

As bad as that trip from hell had to be, it would not kill you. Someone with extreme allergies to cats can develop life threatening attacks that can kill even though they have brought the necessary medications with them. There is a world of difference between what you are talking about and the subject of this article. There are people allergic to perfumes also and people who just don't know how to wear perfume. They think everyone within two blocks has to smell it and just the unsanitary folks who don't know what a bath is. But extreme allergies are nothing to snub your nose at. I don't have them, but am sensitive to people that do. Besides, who wants pet hair all over their clothes, purse and luggage anyway? It's a sign of being sloppy and you can bet it will get on someone's else's luggage. Just because someone didn't respect you, doesn't mean you should not respect others. Put your cat in the cargo hold, clean your clothes and purse, and no one will worry about your cat on board.

On the contrary my home is very clean, as I used to clean homes for a living. I also have 25 kitties who live here and with all the people who have been in here they have all commented how clean my home is and how there is no litter box odors. I also shave them twice a yr so it is not the fur on my luggage or purse but the dander. Now if you think I'm going to sterilize my bedroom and keep my cats out of there and also sterilize my purse and luggage and make sure I don't pick up any cats before I leave the house everyday or when I travel just cause I may run into someone who is allergic then you are sadly mistaken. There is no way I am going to live my life around all those people that are allergic. As for putting my cat in cargo,well there have been many animals who have died in a cargo hold, but if you wish to travel in there be my guest.

If you have 25 kitties in youre home, you have made my point!! No wonder. I'd rather travel in the cargo hold than travel with you -- especially with all the cat dander and hair you must be bringing on board -- and I don't even have allergies!! God lady, 25 kitties!! The Kittie Police need to visit your house. You have a kittie hoarding problem and I'd bet there are laws where you are about the number of cats you have. No one is asking you to live around the problems of people that are allergic to cats. Just to have some respect for them instead of thumbing your nose at them like you did in your previous note. But to turn your logic around, why should others have to turn their lives around to be subjected to someone who lives with 25 damn cats and doesn't have the sense to know when enough is enough? You are the one that needs to be in the cargo hold--with your cats! geez lady, get a kennel license! However, you should sell tickets to see 25 bald cats running around your house. Be my guest at doing that. You and the bald cats would go together. Geez!!

My grandma had over 150 cats at one time... She was not a hoarder. She saved them got them fixed and found homes for the ones she could. If she couldnt find a home for one then she kept it. She has a big house and several acres of land. Most of the time the cats were outdoors so her house was always quite clean. All were kept up to date on vaccinations also. She saved hundreds of cats over the years. Maybe Norskejente does the same thing?

Most of us only do it as a very last resort - what , stuff ourselves in a box and cover ourselves with a blanket....sorry - couldn't resist

Only when the sales guy sitting next to me gets a little too friendly :)

Great advice, annetea. I did exactly the same thing with my cats. I tried as much as I could to be considerate to my fellow passengers. I even carried antihistamines for other people. I never handed them out but I was on the lookout for anyone having trouble. I suffer from allergies and have used an inhaler, mostly due to mold. As a kid, my doctors couldn't tell me whether I had asthma or bronchitis, but I did have problems for a long time.

I don't want to bother people but I was not going to give my cats away, nor would I put them in cargo. Folks can do their own research about the number of pet deaths due to accidents while pets are being transported.

What? I can barely understand what you're trying to say. Your comment is riddled with errors.

Emily

what "wrench bender" said wasn't too difficult to understand - they basically don't want cats on the plane...

they probably wouldn't be too excited about having some tight azz like you on the plane either and would think you should stay in the farm yard as well...

My point was, it's pathetic how badly written his comment is...and it was my way of not agreeing with what he was trying to say. I guess having standards for writing is being "tight-azzed". This world is going to pot and our education system is failing most people. Thanks for the insult, too. I'd rather be around animals than people like you any day, but I don't have much choice in the matter.

Well Emily - I'm sure you do spend most of your time around animals and I'm certain they complain about it...

Any tolerant person - which I'm sure is not a word in your vocabulary - might assume from "wrench benders" writng that they might be a foreign immigrant....or give them the benefit of the doubt.

Bottom line - in your own words .."it was my way of not agreeing with what he was saying"...guess that contradicted your earlier statement "I could barely understand what you are trying to say"

You don't have to thank me for my insult. ...with your snot azz, elitist attitude, I'm sure you must get weary of thankng people for their insults to you on a daily basis.

Wrench bender, if you think cats are bad, sit next to someone who hasn't had a bath in months. I'd rather have my eyes well up than to be bent over the whole flight vomiting.

b dune, Maybe they should put a ban on ignorant people and if that were the case you'd never fly again! I'd rather sit next to a skunk than someone like you!

Norskejente

wel, thanks for the lovely shout out....that was so nice

"a ban on ignorant people"....you got me that time..ouch!

as for you sitting next to a skunk.....I'm sure it won't be your first time...you have had family reunions havn't you?

and if you do a need a skunk on short notice -check and see when Emily is flying...

you two with your snooty elitist attitudes should be a perfect match....

Recommended for KIDS also, get them sadated , and put them under the seats

Amen!

cheapster, Bingo let's make it a law!

same for Peanut lovers But just one person objects and Peanuts are Banned

I remember the last peanut article that was posted. The majority of the people said banning peanuts was the way to go because of allergies, but based on what I've read so far, it seems banning cats for the same reason isn't something that the same majority agrees with. Lovely how many hypocrites there are in this world.

Personally I don't think either one should be banned.

Excuse me, but it wasn't "just one person," and some people actually die if they come in contact with peanuts. I'm not one of them, but I have no problem banning peanuts on airplanes, because I certainly don't want to see someone go into anaphylactic shock due to airplane snacks.

For pete's sake, are your peanuts so important to you that you can't do without them for the duration of an airplane flight?

I wonder what constitutes reported allergies. Is this only medically treated or people that have had emergency response? I have been on at least three flights now and had issues but no doctor was called and I didn't "complain"; I simply informed the staff. My daughter was on a flight and had to be moved because of a cat, I can't believe that my family makes up 4 of the 25. My guess these are just extreme examples and polite requests to move and inform staff there is an allergy are not included.

<begin sarcasm>

Solution: Make all people wear bio-hazard suits prior to and while on an airplane! And it must be all passengers, it would be a real shame to discriminate against those with allergies and suggest they be responsible for themselves and wear bio-suits if they choose to fly instead of choosing to drive, rent a car, ride a bus, take a train, take a boat, etc.

</end sarcasm>

Flying is not a "right", it is a choice. If someone has severe allergies to peanuts, cat hair, or anything else, it is their choice if they want to fly or not. They have zero "right" to fly and zero "right" to try to tell businesses how to run their business. If someone doesn't like or agree with the policies and practices of a business, then don't use them. It's as simple as that.

Here, here, Buff Daddy!

Too many people in our society have this notion of "entitlement." I try to be sympathetic about things like this, but I also believe that people need to realize that it is impossible for government, businesses, or the service industry to satisfy every individual need. There has to be some level of personal responsibility.

Here's my sarcastic 2 cents on this topic: If the airlines are going to ban pets and peanuts because some people are allergic to these items, then I would argue that people that are sneezing, coughing, and hacking should also be banned from getting on the plane because I don't want their viral respiratory infection!!

1st off LISA - it's 25 people in 2 years who actually needed immediate medical attention at that one small airport in Tempe AZ! Why don't we tally up all the airports before you decide it's no big deal? That number doesn't include the ones who get off the plane and suffer for days and weeks after.

and Buff Daddy - nice to have some compassion for the suffering of your fellow human. They banned smoking which is actually far less immediately dangerous and life threatening. if you want to compare the cats to something compare it to cigarette smoke. In the same way you can't stop the smoke from the person next to you getting into your system, we can't stop the dander. Why should people be allowed to endanger the life of others just so they can take their pet on vacation. It's ridiculous and SERIOUSLY if you want to talk about entitlement - why are you entitled to risk my life so you can travel with your pet? because I was born with allergies I should not be able to travel by air. WTF kind of crazy thinking is that? Given the choice between endangering the health of 1000s of people or asking people to live without their pet for a few days the choice should be clear. And if you can't see that i'm sorry for your soul.

Here, here back to you Seriously! The fact that it is impossible to ban everything someone could have an allergy to, along with the fact that cat owners are typically covered in cat hair, is really why I side with not banning cats. I am not a pet person at all really, just not a fan of dogs and cats, I'd rather not see them period, much less on a plane with me, but to ban them because of an allergy that banning them won't get rid of (due to the owners being covered in cat hair) is just silly to me.

Fancy, you're telling me someone with a life threatening allergy gets on a plane that allows pets, and I'm supposed to have compassion for them making a life threatening mistake that they knew they were making before they stepped on the plane? Really? Come on, give me a break. They knowingly took the risk, I have no sympathy for that, just like if I thought I had wings and could fly and jumped off a cliff, you'd have no sympathy for me.

As to entitlement, you couldn't be more wrong. Airlines are a business. That business says they allow pets on the plane. Not one person in this thread has the power, right, or entitlement to tell a business how they should run their business. If the airline said no pets, I'd be fine with that as well. I am siding with the business deciding how to run their business. It's the self-entitled crowd trying to tell the businesses that they should accommodate their requests, no matter how absurd or impossible those requests may be. It's the self-entitled crowd thinking they have the "right" to fly, when no such right exists. We all have a "choice" to fly or not fly and currently I am choosing to not fly due to the new screening procedures. I have no "right" to tell them they shouldn't do the "pat-downs", so I am doing what I can do, and that is choosing not to fly. Same goes in this one for people with severe allergies. Choose not to fly and move on. Expecting and/or demanding a business change their practices due to a non-existent "right" that someone granted themselves is just silly.

So no, I'm not risking your life if you choose to fly. I don't own an airline, so it isn't my call to make. You however, are knowingly and voluntarily risking your life if you choose to fly. Hey, I'll never be Mr. America. Life isn't fair. That's a lesson I'm currently teaching my soon-to-be-teenager. He doesn't understand/believe it just yet, but he's a kid, so that's expected from a child. However, there's no way I'll let him become an adult without understanding that fact. Life isn't fair, we do our best and move on.

Taking your argument to its logical extreme, it would also be a business's "right" not to serve a person of a certain race, religion or gender. Since when do businesses have more rights than individuals? Your argument that a business can do business however it wants is not true. Businesses are subject to all manner of safety, environmental and civil rights legislation, and although too much regulation can stifle innovation, too little can lead to people dying. So I say, hooray that we don't live in your libertarian fantasy land, because it would be a hellhole.

Your arguments were used when cigarette smoking was banned in restaurants, grocery stores and hospitals, too. Let those of us with life-threatening allergies just stay home if they didn't like it. Well, news flash: my right to breathe and pursue a normal life superseded your right to smoke wherever you wanted. It ended up being that way for smoking; it may possibly end up that way for cats on planes, too, who knows?

It seems too soon to make a determination of this issue, since all we have is anecdotal evidence, but if hundreds of people a year are having to seek medical attention because of flying near a cat then, yeah, I'd say we have a problem. This is an issue worth studying.

DRK, please show me where in the constitution it says you have the "right" to fly or the "right" to tell business owners how to run their businesses. I'll save you the trouble, it's not in there. Granting yourself an imaginary "right" doesn't make it a real "right" in the real world.

But let's simplify this to an extreme. Let's say I own Delta airlines (I don't of course, but let's play). I determine that cats on planes won't affect allergy sufferers since cat owners covered in cat hair are allowed to fly, so I see a ban of cats as silly. Now you think you have the "right" to tell me how to run my airline? That is way, way too funny and absurd of a position to take on this matter. Buy an airline and you can run it however you like, but until that time, all you can do is sit on your hands and complain that life isn't fair and use imaginary made up fairy tale "rights" as your reasoning for complaining.

I say they ban perfume and cologne from flights because some people are allergic to them.

If you have that severe of an allergy to something then you take the risk of having an attack anytime you leave your house. Your used car, the bus, the taxi, the restaurant, the grocery store, the park. Keeping peanuts from being served on a plane doesnt make much sense either because someone could have ate a bag of peanuts on the way to the airport. You cant keep the people traveling from eating peanuts, just like you cant keep them from petting their pet right before they leave and get dander on their clothes. And alot of people that take their cats on a flight are not on vacation. They could easily be moving cross country. I always leave my cats home when I go on vacation but if I were moving cross country then my cats would be flying with me in the cabin.

Sure thing, buffdaddy! Article 1, Section 8. Congress has the power to "regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes". And as a US citizen, I have the right to petition Congress for redress of grievances. That is in the Bill of Rights, first amendment. So, yeah, I do have the right to ask Congress to regulate businesses., and Congress does in fact possess that power. There! Glad we got that out of the way.

And by the way, I am not one of those unfortunate people who is terribly allergic to cats or perfume. I do not wish to ban cats, dogs, guinea pigs (yes, I have flown with guinea pigs, they behaved themselves quite well) or anything else. I just think that if there are sufficient numbers of people having significant problems, it is an issue that needs investigation. One solution to this might be airlines cleaning their cabins better or buying planes with better air circulation. Improving cleanliness and air circulation on planes would make them a much healthier environment and one where it would be less hazardous to allergy sufferers. Also, flu transmission would be decreased. The airlines could grandfather the older planes and make a gradual switchover, but in the end, everyone would be healthier. And there could still be kitties in the sky.

DRK, thank you! Honesty is rare, so I commend you for being honest. If you notice though, by your own admission, you only have the right to petition Congress, you don't actually have the right to fly or the right to tell the business how it will run. Congress can tell a business how to run, but that isn't you, me, or anyone in this thread. So all of our "rights" on this topic are simply that we can petition Congress. That's it, that's the only "right" we have on the matter.

Believe it or not, I don't really disagree with your thinking on pets. My issue is more towards those that think they have the "right" to fly, when no such right exists. And of course those same people think they have the right to tell business how to run their business. Self-entitlement is at an all time high and it annoys those of us who understand how the real world works.

Francy Pants - MedAire is an international company with offices located in Tempe, Arizona. It does not serve only one airport in Tempe (actually located in Phoenix). The airport if Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, with more than 1200 flights a day and more than 100,000 passengers. This is hardly a small airport. This is only one of the many airports that MedAire serves. Therefore, the 25 incidents did not originate from one small airport in Tempe, Arizona. I find it difficult to take anything you say seriously if you can't even get the basic information right.

Actually, they are not just cats. There are 5 in my family and they are simply little kids who walk on four feet and happen to be hairy.

When I had open heart surgery, Duff slept on my chest, right over my heart for many weeks. He never did it before, hasn't since. He knew that spot needed extra attention.

If you'd put aside your anger long enough to fetch up some learning, you would find irrefutable evidence that companions animals help people live longer, fuller lives. Do you know any humans that know when a seizure is coming? Can smell cancer cells? Will be there through thick and thin, no whining, no judging, no trying to get even?

Yes that makes sense except for one thing. You can loose weight and become not so obese that you need two seats, and peanuts are sedentary and one does not need to be worried that a peanut may somehow forced down one's throat. Cat dander on the other hand spreads easily and if you are only one seat away that can be very dangerous! I am a cat allergy sufferer and luckily i have never encountered one in the many times i have flown but i am nervous now for what happens if i do. my allergic reaction are terrible, i get an asthma attack essentially, and i do not have asthma so i cannot simply breathe in my non-existent inhaler. I am not asking someone to take care of me but rather have consideration of my vulnerable.

If your fat does what? Did you mean you're? Also, I don't want a plain seat, I like some decoration.

Thank you, Missoula! Me too.

(and if we could make everyone understand that we don't need to use an apostrophe when spelling a plural noun, then I would be soooo happy!)

Unfortunately, those of us allergic passengers can't choose not to breathe.

You can be susceptible severe reaction and still not be prescribed an epi pen. In normal situations, you can leave. Obviously, you don't have that option on an airplane. As far as I know, pet-free flights are not yet offered, and even if they were, they would have to be pet-free planes that NEVER allow pets on that flight to be effective.

How does one compromise a life and death situation? I guess it is easy fior someone to say "Don't over-react", when they don't have a reaction, but for those of us who have a reaction, it's a-pardon the expression-stupid statement.

I have a reaction to cats and I love cats, I have a reaction to dogs and I love dogs. I also have a reaction to peanuts and I loved peanuts. I haven't had a orange since 1948, I can't be around one being peeled even. I don't over react, I just avoid them now, but as for animals on a plane, how does one avoid them? The air is recirculated throughout the plane.

I would say if you have life threatening allergies, don't fly. Why expose yourself to allergies on an airplane if you are allergic. All airlines say whether they allow pets in the cabin or not, find an airline such as "Southwest" who do not allow animals in the cabin. That would solve your problem and then you could gripe about something else, such as the woman with too much perfume on!

Don: Your point is valid. People should always take preference over animals, sorry, but we really have to keep perspective in life.

My compromise statement was intended for most people really, because most do not have your serious issues, they just want to make things an issue to give importance to themselves....IMO.

BTW: The cargo area is not so different we have our military people use...as someone who spent time in them...good enough for military, good enough for Rover and Fluffy.

Don, if a person has an allergy that is that life-threatening the answer may be not to travel. The article said that the cat dander was on the seats from people's clothes -- not likely that we're all going to dry clean our clothes before a trip and dress ourselves in the dry cleaner's bathroom.

I took a cat on a trip once when I moved from L.A. to the east coast. I kept the cat in the case on my lap, put the case under the floor when the food arrived, and carried him off. I would have done anything necessary to accommodate an allergic person.

HonoHI, military personnel who understand why they are in the cargo area, who are fit and dressed for the experience are not at all comparable to a cat or dog who sits in their crate alone and wonders why their home has disappeared and the world has become so loud and scary. Animals don't understand that they are on a flight and the experience will end.

Anon: Don, as a human has the right to travel, the same as you, me or anyone. The general rule in America is to adapt so those with issues can function on an equal basis. From wheelchairs and multi-lingual help at gates.

Good for you being aware that your cat may cause problems and are willing to work it out.

The military/pet statement does not fly, (PUNNY, HUH?), you are putting animals on the same level as humans, when that is done you are projecting too much human qualities...the pets will be fine.

Anonymous-The experience the dog or cat will have in the cargo is not quite that extreme. The animal is already agitated, because they're already not at home. They had to get to the airport, and I'm betting at least 1-2 hours early, so unless a person lived a 5 minute walk from their local airport, they probably had to travel to the airport. So the animal would have had to get there to. And they are obviously not at their home. And if the animal is going to be in cargo, they're going to have to get into the carrier before they go up to the check-in, which the person would probably put off until as late as possible, but still, that at least 1-2 hours that dog or cat was sitting in a cage, realizing they're not at their home in a strange place. So the animal is agitated way before you even turn them over to airline personnel, and definitely knows it's not at home.

But what I believe HonoHI is attempting to point out is that the cargo area on a commercial airliner is very similar to military planes that military personnel are in(?) And therefore I think the point to be made if that is the case is that if this area is safe enough for people (on military planes) then it should be safe enough for the animals in the cargo hold who are in locked, travel cases. The military personnel aren't running around the plane with oxygen masks on or anything...and you're right, I wouldn't compare my Marine brother with my dog any day...my dog can run way faster, for much longer, and is in overall way better shape! :)

They're different species, you can't compare them on physical attributes like that anyway!

Cat hair on a person is generally not a problem, unless you are hugging and sniffing them. Most of us choose not to fondle strangers on planes. Now a cat, freaks out and hair goes flying. Everywhere. It moves around, and the hair floats everywhere. So the person four seats ahead of you with a little Mr Whiskers and Mr. PookeyKitty won't impact an asthma sufferer. However, the cat freaking out, spewing it's spit soaked hair on everyone will cause an asthma attack.

So if we could all leave the precious little fur babies at home, the real people can travel, explore the world, conduct business, make memories at Disney, all while breathing and not being covered in cat hair.

As far as the 'business can't be told what to do', asthma should be covered under the ADA. I don't see putting animals in cargo as some big inhibitor to making money for an airline.

Just an FYI if you put asthma under ADA then you would have to ban perfume and cologne also... and lots of food products. Its hard to control what people bring on their flight to eat or spray on themselves before coming to the airport.

Speaking of that, there is nothing ruder to the nose than someone who smokes then tries to cover it with loud perfume. I personally have refused to shake hands, (usually a car salesman or so), because the colonge started watering my eyes before they even got to me.

T Pisces : HonoHl

I'll buy that and add all short hydrocarbons to your list. I found that peanuts raised my sensitivity to short hydrocarbons to an extremely high level.

I no longer can take a plane, ride a bus, stay in hotels, motels. Haven’t tried a train but suspect a problem and avoid finding out. I can't get into a new car or be in a place that sells carpets and other smelly things i.e. smelly candles, soap isles in stores. I have to avoid a lot of people because of fragrances in perfumes, soaps, deodorants, hair spray etc, they all add up.

Don- The biggest problem with people is that have lost the art of courtesy. When a pet is more valued than a human beings health, is the greatest sign of the loss of human kindness. I have become severely asthmatic to the point of an attack can be life threatening even with all my meds. I will not stay home like some have mentioned. If my mother passes away I will be on that plane. That is far more important than a pet! I am also going blind at a young age and have looked into hypoallergenic seeing eye dog. The woman above mentioned that her pet visits the elderly. That is not the same as a working dog taking care of a human being. I love animals but I love people more.

My, what a hateful comment, JM3KY. I hope the KY in your name doesn't mean Kentucky -- I'd be sad to think that you are part of the Appalachian people. You find a cat disgusting -- well, did you read the article and see where it said that the cat dander is on seats from people's clothing? Shall all the cat owners strip naked for your comfort?

Perhaps you could volunteer to ride in the cargo area. That way you could avoid cats and people would be spared your unpleasant outlook.

Strip naked, now there's a thought! We could eliminate TSA gropes and full body scanners and cat dander all at the same time! Nudist Airlines!

Sheesh, JM3KY -- don't you think you're overreacting just a bit?

I'm an allergy sufferer too, and have made my own comments above about not wanting to fly on a plane with animals, but your ridiculous comments about people's personal lives are completely over the top. Please try to calm down.

What if there are snakes on a plane?

Well, I've had it! Enough is enough! I have had it with these monkey fighting snakes on this Monday through Friday plane! (the TV version, for Tyler ;)

If your asthma is so severe, have you considered never leaving your house?

Why is your need to have your pet with you more important than Sherrie's need to not have an asthma attack?

It's called accommodation, and responsible humans try to practice it. Those of us with allergies try to do all we can to avoid allergens, but to instruct us never to leave our house is pretty arrogant and self-centered.

Why must the person that is allergic must change travel plans? The one with the cat/dog/boa should be told cargo is the only option because someone, a paying customer, has health issues. Either cargo for Spot, or re-schedule the owner and pet.

This problem is completely avoidable.

FAA should require airlines to require passengers that choose to fly with pets to pre-book so those that are affected can call ahead and arrange flights without animals on board. The ones I've dealt with say check with the gate agent. That's not helpful. FAA says only 25 folks have reported issues in-flight over 2 years. I'm sure many more had issues but didn't report.

So what will the FAA require of me?

There is not a doubt in my mind that I am covered in cat dander all the time. The sleep with me, cuddle when I'm in my reading chair, and sleep on the furniture. It's got to get stirred up when I sweep the floor.

Do I go through decontamination? Put on some special garment?

The world is full of hazards people. Planes have crashed and been blown up. That has not stopped everyone from flying. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed by natural gas leaks. How many people have moved to isolated areas where there are no gas lines.

Why must the person that is allergic must change travel plans? The one with the cat/dog/boa should be told cargo is the only option because someone, a paying customer, has health issues. Either cargo for Spot, or re-schedule the owner and pet

Just an FYI. People pay for pets to be on planes. Therefore the pet is basically a paying customer. And the fee for a pet is almost as much (if not more on shorter flights) than the plane ticket for the owner.

You are absolutely right. Not to mention that they have cut down on the number of times the air is recirculated throughout the cabin, which is why one is more likely to catch a cold or the flu when flying now.

If this whole pet dander fuss accomplishes anything, it would be nice if it made the airlines clean their planes between flights.

Good for you Bees. And yes, you have the right to have cats, and if the residue on your clothes bothers some, they must be ready for it also. You can not wear a sign that says you have cats, smoke or slather on the perfume, the one that is bothered must be able to move away if needed.

Finally! Someone has pointed our what all the 'poor-me's-I'm-allergic' have ignored : ". . . you better have your inhalers and Epi pens handy. . ."

In the body of the article it states : "Prudent cat-allergic air travelers would do well to keep their EpiPens and other drugs handy. . ."

Duh! Anyone with any medical condition is prudent to be prepared. Do diabetics run around without some form of glucose handy? Don't people with killer headaches have their meds with them? I know folks with panic disorders who would never leave the house without alprazolam or like medication.

Most of us with allergies do travel with our medications. I have never been prescribed an epi-pen but if trapped next to a cat for a 5 hr flight between LA and New York I would be in severe trouble. As I stated in a previous post the effects of the medications are not done and over with as soon as we are off the plane. Most have many side-effects from sleepiness to raised heart-rates. We take them to stay alive but most of us prefer to avoid taking and anything that causes us to take them.

Niki's right -- allergy medications are not the panacea non-allergy sufferers seem to think they are. Some allergy sufferers don't even have prescription medication, because they're not routinely exposed to the allergen that causes the adverse reaction. Those of us who do would infinitely rather avoid the allergen than take the antidote.

Does a diabetic take insulin just so he/she can then binge on sugar snacks? I don't think so. Telling an allergy sufferer to just bring medication and all will be well is simplistic and unhelpful.

A few amimals have died in cargo...although I do not have the facts/numbers on that. Animals also die being run-over by cars, eating poison, locked in cars and amimal-on-animal fights. Everything has to be kept in perspective.

I don't trust the airlines with the safety of my animals. I can control what happens at home for the most part, but once you put your pet in the hands of someone you don't know you have no control over what happens to them and all you need is some creep who hates animals putting your pets in danger.

LC: It is good you are a responsible pet owner...a lot are not. And if you do not trust the cargo/ramp people, then you must do something else. But you and others must also give consideration to others that may be effected by your pet. But I doubt you have much to fear from workers handling your pet during transit...it's the drunk pilots....

CAL: But it makes such a good urban ledgend...kinda like the straw/tree/tornado/hurricane thing.

Hmmm. Not been in many tornadoes, have you?

It is astounding what fluctuations of barometric pressure and 200+ mph winds can do.

I've been around tornadoes all my life and been in a few. It still amazes me.

Just two tornadoes, but several typhoons in Asia...Typhoon Omar was tough on Guam. Several in Thailand, PI, etc. Roofs torn off, washers tumbling up the street like dice.