Should Airlines Ban Pets from the Cabin?

Airports

That was the case on a United Airlines flight from Houston to Seattle on April 7th, 2024. One Reddit user, who claimed to have been on the five-hour Flight 422 captured the untidy episode on camera.

 I am going to discuss whether or not pets should be allowed in aircraft cabins and touch on a number of significant topics, each with its own set of pros and cons. Passenger safety, health issues, emotional support, and logistical difficulties, are all taken into account in this conversation.

We All Have Emotions

Some people can have anxiety or feel stressed when it comes to flying on an aircraft. That’s where emotional support animals come to help. Animals like that can reduce their owners’ anxiety and provide significant comfort, which can enhance overall passenger well-being and indirectly contribute to a calmer cabin environment. 

However, not all animals are well-behaved or trained for the confined space of an aircraft cabin. Unpredictable behavior, such as barking, growling, or moving around, can disturb other passengers and create safety hazards. There have been situations when a disturbed dog in an aircraft bites another passenger or cabin crew member. 

In 2019, on an American Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, to Greensboro, North Carolina, a flight attendant was bitten by a passenger’s emotional support dog. It all started when the passenger with the emotional support dog became ill during the flight. The flight attendant leaned inside the seat-back to assist the passenger in finding the air sickness bag, the dog bit him, seemingly feeling threatened by his presence. Such accident required a trip to the hospital and five stitches after the plane landed.

As such accidents do happen, there is a way to make your furry friend feel less anxious or stressed during the flight. Veterinarians can prescribe trazodone, gabapentin, and alprazolam for your dog to reduce anxiety and make your flight more enjoyable.

Health Issues

When it comes to health, some passengers may have severe allergies to animal fur, which can cause respiratory issues or other allergic reactions during the flight, potentially requiring medical attention. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) statistics show that somewhere between 10%–20% of the world’s population is allergic to cats and dogs. However, when we are travelling, we often take needed medication with us. It is always recommended to keep your medication close to you so there would be a possibility to take them when necessary and put them in your luggage to be accessed easily in case of a medical emergency.

Dog-friendly Airports 

Another thing that comes into consideration is logistics. If people decide to travel with their furry family members, they have to make sure that the airport they are going to have spaces created for animals, where they could walk around and do their potty business. From personal research, it seems that the idea of dog-friendly airports is more common in the United States of America than in Europe.

Here is a list of the top 10 airports in the US that are dog-friendly:

1. Denver International Airport
2. Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport
3. Los Angeles International Airport
4. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
5. Reno-Tahoe International Airport
6. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
7. Washington Dulles International Airport
8. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
9. Philadelphia International Airport
10. John F. Kennedy International Airport

 As it was previously noted, the idea of a dog-friendly relief areas is not that common in Europe but it appears this is about to change as some airports are embracing such idea. Here are a few airports in Europe that do have pet relief areas:

•   Helsinki Airport (Finland)
•   Istanbul Airport (Turkey)
•   Palma de Mallorca Airport (Spain)
•   Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (Italy)

Then there are airports in Europe that don’t have relief areas installed inside the airports, but you can easily get outside, and you will find a grassy area away from the terminal by doing a 1–2-minute walk.

•   Czech Republic – Václav Havel Airport Prague
•   France – Marseille Provence Airport
•   Greece – Athens International Airport
•   Italy – Catania–Fontanarossa Airport
•   Latvia – Riga International Airport
•   Malta – Malta International Airport
•   Romania – Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport
•   Spain – Tenerife South Airport

Airports are noticing that more and more people are travelling with their pets and pet relief areas are needed. Also, providing such areas to travelers can gain popularity. Therefore, more airports are considering installing them inside.

When the time to board an aircraft comes, we must think about timing and space. Passengers with their animals might need extra time to board the plane and ask cabin crew for special assistance, which can affect turnaround times and scheduling. Aircraft cabins can have limited space and accommodating animals will require an extra room. Therefore, travellers with their animals may need specific seating arrangements, such as bulkhead seats or areas with more floor space which requires careful planning.

Considering all these aspects, flying with an animal can be challenging but any flight without or with an animal can become a challenge. If you are well-prepared, these challenges won’t be too big of a problem. Therefore, in my humble opinion, animals shouldn’t be banned from the cabin. I would encourage more airlines and airports to create possibilities for travellers to fly with their furry friends, as such services will help gain popularity and attract more people to the airports, as well as become a good profit opportunity for the airlines and airports.