Traveling with Pets

Hi there,

I know VS don't allow pets in the cabin as a rule, but does anyone know if they've ever stretched the rul a wee bit...ie: totally broken it!

Some of you may know that we're emigrating to NZ next year, and we'll be taking our cat with us. I'd resigned to the fact that she'd have to go in cargo, but then I was reading that some airlines actually allow pets in the cabin! I had a look at some airlines, but as we're coming from EDI (we could always get the train down to LHR) we're not keen on having more than one or two stops.

We'd love to go VS most of the way, but then we've got the problem of getting to Auckland on another airline. Anyhoo, what's the chance of VS letting me buy a J ticket for my cat?

OK, I've just realised that this sounds really stupid....but she's my baby!

Anyone have any ideas of routes with airlines that do allow pets in the cabin?

Milliemoo

Hi,

I may be wrong but, as far as I am aware most airlines will not allow pets other than guide dogs in the cabin. I have certainly never heard of cats being allowed. (I am sure that the rule is often broken for certain celebrity's minature dogs! and followed by a hefty charge!)

Airlines take carraige of pets very seriously and a phone call to flying club will enlighten as to virgins policy and procedures.

A friend of mine took 2 dogs to australia and the airline were excellent and ensured him that the animals would be on the same flight as him. Just before departure someone from the airline came onto the plane to reassure him that the dogs had been loaded, and the same thing happened at his stop over. They also asked if he would like to visit the dogs when they changed planes!

A good route that I would recommend would be Virgin to Los Angeles and then Air New Zealand from there. This is particularly good if you want to break the journey as LA is a good place to spend a couple of days.

Hope this helps.

Neil.

As much as I love cats & dogs, without my allergy medicines, I can have pretty bad allergic reactions to some breeds, even though I had a cat for 15 years (though which exact breeds still hasn't been precisely determined, I think it goes on the hair type more than anything).

Don't get me wrong, as a cat lover I really sympathise with your problem, but selfishly speaking, it's a good thing for me that they're not allowed in the cabin.

Cheers

Michael

Hi,

I know, I was gobsmacked when I read that some airlines allow pets in cabin.... I think it was Delta and Lufthansa that were being discussed.

Totally see where your coming from with the allergy thing. I'm also allergic to cats, but so long as I'm carefull (eg: don't touch my eyes after stroking the cat) and take anti-hestimines, I'm OK.

We were looking at the LAX routing (with a stop off for us in LAS, as the cat would be on a different flight in cargo) but wondered if a simialr routing was available with an airline that allows pets in the cabin.

hummmmmmm just been looking at Delta again (BTW did you know you can take a pot-bellied pig as hand luggage! ) and I'm not sure you can take pets from the UK. It only mentions pets TO the UK, I'm guessing because of our strict quarrantine rules. Off to long at some more routings.

Milliemoo

Originally posted by MilliemooTotally see where your coming from with the allergy thing. I'm also allergic to cats, but so long as I'm carefull (eg: don't touch my eyes after stroking the cat) and take anti-hestimines, I'm OK.

TBH, it doesn't matter how careful I am, if it's the wrong type of cat/dog, I can have severe breathing difficulties, so I guess I just have to breathe in some of the dander (even came down with pneumonia as a result - before I started with medication!) [:0] If I know I'm going to be in contact with cats & dogs, I can adjust the meds accordingly in advance - and touch wood, haven't had a serious episode since I started the meds.

On the plus side, I can personally vouch for the extraordinary care provided in the ER of the Queen Of The Valley Hospital in Napa

Cheers

Michael

[mitchja]

I've just noticed that there's a new section appeared on the VS web site regarding Assistance dogs flying in VS cabins with PAX here. It mentions that it has been deemed by various organisations that the max. time an assistance dog to travel in the A/C cabin is 10 hrs.

All other flying pets (only dogs, cats and ferrets) must travel in the cargo hold. VS info on this is here (no max flying time specified for this though)

Regards

Originally posted by mitchja
I've just noticed that there's a new section appeared on the VS web site regarding Assistance dogs flying in VS cabins with PAX here. It mentions that it has been deemed by various organisations that the max. time an assistance dog to travel in the A/C cabin is 10 hrs.

Interesting - a very laudible move, but I've just fired off an email to see if they'll be letting pax on the JFK/EWR/IAD/BOS/MIA/MCO routes know about this in advance.

I know how those that have nut allergies must feel now!

Cheers

Michael

Milliemoo - is your cat an "emotional support" animal? [8D]

Read on...(extract from an old e-mail someone sent me)

While trapped on the tarmac recently, I was reading the passenger safety manual and noticed that one of the stipulations for those of us in the emergency exit row was that we couldn't be traveling with an "emotional support animal." Curious as to what this category might include, I asked the flight attendant. "I'm not sure," she answered quizzically. "I think it means monkeys -- you know, the little ones that fetch your keys and things."

She was wrong. But the correct answer is equally bizarre.

The Air Carrier Access Act of 1990 guaranteed passage for service animals on domestic flights -- namely the guide dogs of passengers with vision or hearing impairments. But last year the Department of Transportation expanded the definition of service animals to include creatures that provide emotional, psychological, or any other kind of nonphysical support. Monkeys, cats, guinea pigs all may qualify -- just about any animal that doesn't pose "safety and/or public health concerns, [such as] snakes, other reptiles, ferrets, rodents, and spiders." The DOT does insist, however, that more unusual animals "such as miniature horses, pigs, and monkeys," be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. (last year an American Airlines flight crew had a much-publicised run-in with a particularly problematic comfort creature: a 70-pound miniature horse with horrifically loose bowels...)

To fly with an emotional support animal, passengers may be asked to produce an affidavit from a licensed professional confirming their mental health disability. Because the animals fly for free, this certification is designed to prevent people from trying to pass off a house pet as a support animal to avoid paying the fee for bringing a domestic animal onboard.


:D:D

oohhhhhhhh interesting

Milliemoo

I can adjust the meds accordingly in advance - and touch wood, haven't had a serious episode since I started the meds.


Cheers

Michael

These 'meds' would be blue in colour would they?[}:)]

Originally posted by PatDavies
These 'meds' would be blue in colour would they?[}:)]

ROTFL - nah, those are standard rations (and luckily my prescription meds don't have any stated adverse reaction to alcohol )

Cheers

Michael

[Scrooge]

I have seen pet's on AA aircraft.

You can take pets on board AA craft and most US carriers, on internal flights and I believe only if they fit in a pet carrier.

No as much as i'd love to have a cat on board (they'll only be sleeping no doubt anyway knowing cats) they have to go in the hold.

Consult a vet before taking your moggies out regarding how long they can be in the hold for, the size of the box, food etc and if they may need any sedatives.

And you never know you could end up on Airport!

[Decker]

Pat

Enough with the MCuth Viagra insinuations already... [:o)]

Cool ..... I'm gonna be on TV!

Milliemoo

Originally posted by Decker
Pat

Enough with the MCuth Viagra insinuations already... [:o)]

Decker

I was thinking of blue liquid medication in cocktail glasses:D

But now you mention it..............

How does a thread go from pets to Mike on Viagra?[:0]

There is a difference between pets and petting!![:I]

Originally posted by Decker
Enough with the MCuth Viagra insinuations already... [:o)]

Oi! I can assure you, I need no medical assistance in that regard [:p];) (TMI perchance)

Originally posted by PatDavies
I was thinking of blue liquid medication in cocktail glasses:D

Of course you were [y]

Originally posted by PatDavies
But now you mention it..............

Now, don't you start [:p]

Cheers

Michael

Originally posted by mcuth
I've just fired off an email to see if they'll be letting pax on the JFK/EWR/IAD/BOS/MIA/MCO routes know about this in advance.

Reply's back in - precis: pax will be advised at check-in if they are likely to be sat close to an assistance dog. If pax request it, every effort will be made to move the pax with the allergy to another part of the aircraft in the same class. Assistance dog owners are apparently advised to groom their dog thoroughly before travel, to minimise the chance of causing an allergic reaction in another passenger.

I'm actually not sure how close I have to be to a dog to suffer a reaction (hmmm, and then there's the recycling of air in the cabin isn't there...?). Still, I'm happy with that reply - seems they've already thought of allergy folks - nice work VS [y][y][y]

Cheers

Michael

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by slinky09
You can take pets on board AA craft and most US carriers, on internal flights and I believe only if they fit in a pet carrier.

Well don't know about the container,but I seem to remember the dog sitting in the owners lap..

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by Jonathan
How does a thread go from pets to Mike on Viagra?[:0]

There is a difference between pets and petting!![:I]

Welcome to the wonderful world of V-Flyer

[preiffer]

Umm... without dragging the topic down too far;

Given that the animal is likely to consider the entire cabin it's "bathroom" after a 12 hour flight & lots of water (and food!?)

I'd be a little concerned about the toilet arrangements onboard, should I end up sat next to someone's pet. [:0]

Paul, I'm glad you said it because I'd been thinking the same all through this discussion. Without dragging the topic down even further I really couldn't bear to sit in the same cabin if a dog or cat had done its business even if it were cleared up straight away.

Sorry if anyone is about to have dinner[xx(]

ewwwwwwwwwwwwww [xx(]

I know the company we're looking at to take Millie to NZ won't feed her 12 hrs before the flight and she'll only have water during the trip. This is to prevent any * ahhhemm * accidents [:I]

I would assume that pax with 'carry-on pets' would do the same thing, but there's always going to be some muppet who gives his Great Dane a Tripe Vindaloo before boarding! [:0]

Milliemoo