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Home » Travel » Why Are There So Many Animals In Airline Cabins?
Travel

Why Are There So Many Animals In Airline Cabins?

Matthew Klint Posted onMarch 19, 2018November 14, 2023 40 Comments

a black dog with a stick in its mouth

An honest question: why are there so many animals in airline cabins? How did people ever get by without them in the past?

As near as I can tell, this is a uniquely American issue. I never see pets in cabins anywhere else in the world I fly in, even in Western Europe where many pets are treated royally.

It wasn’t that long ago that even in the USA, passengers left their furry friends at home or checked them in the underbelly of the plane.

A couple things changed. One, federal law changed to allow service animals and emotional support animals onboard. Second, airlines saw a way to monetize a new wave of consumer demand: bring your pet onboard.

I’m not making any social commentary here, directly at least. Sometimes change is needed. We may have “gotten by” with smoking on airplanes in the past, but it was harmful. Change was not only appropriate, but necessary.

We hear from some that they literally cannot survive without their emotional support animal sitting on their lap. Perhaps ESAs are simply a new form of medicine far more effective than Dramamine.

And yet it is not just about ESAs and service animals. Indeed, it is people who seemingly cannot be separated from their dog (usually) or other pet for just a few hours.

I don’t own any pets (my beautiful collie died nearly two decades ago and we never replaced her). I simply cannot relate nor understand the need to have them nearby at all times. How about you?

Is this just part of an “evolving” society that values pets more or something else?

I’m asking these questions for another article I am working on. Your input is appreciated, especially if you travel with a pet.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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40 Comments

  1. Andy K Reply
    March 19, 2018 at 2:31 pm

    You are really onto something here. Namely, that ESAs are complete BS and as long as society tolerates and coddles such behavior, it will only become more common. Your readers have pointed out before that serious and real anxiety problems exist and they are no doubt helped by ESAs. The real question is to what extent society should bend to the needs of another person’s anxiety. This never used to be a problem — if you were afraid to fly you either sucked it up and got on board, or you opted to take the train. I agree with this view, however this is now seen as “discriminatory.”

    • Eric Reply
      March 19, 2018 at 6:21 pm

      Why don’t you guys consider the obvious answer. Many people own pets. More and more people are traveling by airlines each year. Airlines continue to set records and offer inexpensive tickets with bigger aircrafts. Does anyone see the correlation? More people who own pets are thus traveling. I fail to see how traveling with your pet is insensitive to other travelers with allergies. If you have such a severe allergy to “anything” then you shouldn’t be flying because a passenger who owns a pet can potentially have a significant amount of animal hair on his/her clothes and cause a serious medical emergency. The same can be said with peanuts, don’t put your self in that situation and expect 250 people to cater to you. If I had my way I would ban alcohol on the plane because it causes way more issues than pets. Unfortunately you cant fill out a preference sheet and expect everyone to adhere to it.

      Andy- please go to Walter Reed and talk to some veterans who actually have problems. Yes some people absuse ESA, but this is American. Name something that isn’t abused. It’s insulting to people who have served this country and have real medical needs to assume they are all faking.

      • JRG Reply
        March 19, 2018 at 7:53 pm

        So my asthma, diagnosed after and as a result of 31 years of military service, is trumped by my fellow veteran with a dog. Not so easy, is it.

        An actual animal next to me, as opposed to a dog lover with dog hair, is a different situation. I know that as an asthmatic.

        • Gary Reply
          March 20, 2018 at 10:27 pm

          JRG- thank you for 31 years of service. However as i’m sure you know because your an asthmatic, you body is actually responding to an IgE type 1 hypersensitivity reaction due to the pet allergen. Simply sitting next to an individual carrying an excessive amount of pet dander can cause the exact same reaction as the animal in the airplane. Your body simply doesn’t care where the vector is coming from but the fact it is causing chronic inflammation in your lungs.

          Your right, it is not so easy but should we as a society automatically assume that a veteran is faking it because he/she requires a ESA to function better in society. How would you feel if people questioned your asthma? Your doctor prescribed you presumably a combination of an inhaler /oral steroids to manage your asthma. If you couldn’t travel with that specific therapy then your symptoms might worsen. The same goes for people with PTSD (the ESA is their medication). What society doesn’t understand is that not all Veterans need a service dog because they are physically functional but a ESA can help with mental illness. This therapy is much safer for our Veterans opposed to trying to manage neurotransmitters pharmacologically. There is plenty of his research if you look at the Va website.

  2. Harold Reply
    March 19, 2018 at 2:40 pm

    I love animals. I love them so much that I became a vegetarian six years ago. Cat videos make me laugh. When my girlfriend’s dog passed away two months ago I cried more than she did. Yesterday afternoon we stayed at the Echo Park just to see the ducks in the water. We travel often and we never ever want to bring an animal with us when we travel. To me it is a selfish behavior- those who traveling with animals put their needs as the top priority, without considering if this is what the pet wants, or without considering whether other passengers would be allergic to your pet.

  3. Brian Cohen Reply
    March 19, 2018 at 2:48 pm

    I am working on a similar article, Matthew — but probably on a slightly different angle.

    Perhaps we should join forces and co-write it together…?!?

    • Matthew Reply
      March 19, 2018 at 2:52 pm

      I would welcome that, Brian.

      • Brian Cohen Reply
        March 19, 2018 at 4:04 pm

        Let’s do it.

        Please contact me…

        • Matt Reply
          March 20, 2018 at 6:58 pm

          Can y’all lead the suit against animals in the cabin based on the egg-shell skull doctrine? Many have been bitten/injured, plenty of cases out there, ripe for the picking.

          – the rest of the world should not be forced to contort itself to the unusual sensitivity of a tiny minority

          – these people know they are putting themselves in an environment that triggers them, so why should they be given extra protections not available to everyone else (flying animal for free, people being moved to “accommodate”, FA disputes, etc.)

          – these egg-shell skulls should not get to dictate the new norms in society just because they cannot cope otherwise; that’s long been a tenant of society and law

          – treat it as it is (and what they call it), a mental disability, a group of people who, we know, is held to the same standard of conduct as people without disabilities, so when the dog bites someone, they are liable as anyone else, and with the increase in incidents, should be addressed legally

          – since there are so many people who fly for business, how is it that none of them need ESAs? If this is a numbers game, that doesn’t make sense… could it be that they’ve been able to put their sensitivities behind them and move on? Novel thought?

          – ban animals from flights; then we’ll see just how important the dog/vacation is when you have to choose to drive there or, gasp, leave the dog in the cargo for a couple hours

          You should be in on the suit for all the bite victims on planes! I’ll clerk for you.

  4. Christian Reply
    March 19, 2018 at 2:55 pm

    My wife wants to have an Emotional Support Cigarette on her flight. It calms and soothes her.

    • Heather Reply
      March 19, 2018 at 6:34 pm

      As a former smoker, I understand your wife’s desire.

    • J Munene Reply
      March 20, 2018 at 10:29 am

      Worth a shot. If others can abuse the system, why not her?

  5. Daniel Schwarz Reply
    March 19, 2018 at 3:01 pm

    When we decided to adapt a dog the primary condition was the size and weight to be allowed to fly in cabins, bcause we have families in Germany and Argentina and travel in between twice a year.
    And yes we adopted him and now our dog is part of the family, and therefore we travels with us. We accept to be limited in travel modes and destinations, we knew it before. Anyway could you imagine to send your child or wife down in the luggage compartment? I cannot.

    Most airlines ban them from premium cabins or whole aircraft types. After some unpleasant experiences we are mostly going with Lufthansa now – welcomed in premium, friendly service and attitude towards our fluffy one and lowest rates of all transatlantic carriers.

    Regarding in West Europe we can just travel by car or train which is less stressful for pets.

    • Lance Reply
      March 19, 2018 at 3:49 pm

      I am sorry, Daniel, but your dog is not the same as a child or wife. At some point it became acceptable to treat animals as people (fur babies, for example) and this blurring of lines is what has led to this drama. Enough is enough.

      • Harold Reply
        March 19, 2018 at 4:02 pm

        Agreed. Pets are not your kids or wife/ husband. If you decide to treat your pet like a family member, that is fine. Make sure you treat other animals as good as your pet. Daniel, can you imagine when you eat pork/ chicken meat, how a pig or chicken is killed? My point: don’t pick and choose the animal you want to treat as a family member, and your pet is not better than any other animal on the planet. Your pet is not your kid or better half.

        • 747always Reply
          March 20, 2018 at 12:15 am

          Found the vegan

      • JRG Reply
        March 19, 2018 at 4:03 pm

        Agree. Totally.

      • Sexy_kitten7 Reply
        March 19, 2018 at 9:19 pm

        I agree. Legally pets are property. Heck, even corporations have more rights than animals. While fluffy may be a human in your eyes, that argument wouldn’t stand up in a court of law, a court of equity, or even a court of public opinion! Sorry.

  6. Conway Reply
    March 19, 2018 at 3:10 pm

    I don’t know that people have really changed all the much…. I suspect the influx of pets is due more to people being able to bring them for free by exploiting the ESA loop hole. By bringing their pets (for free) on their trip, people also avoid the cost/hassle of finding alternative boarding or pet sitting services if they had left their animals behind.

  7. Nick Reply
    March 19, 2018 at 3:11 pm

    Given all the controversy, I’m surprised that United’s license to transport pets hasn’t been revoked.

    • Andy K Reply
      March 19, 2018 at 5:18 pm

      Lol that would actually solve a lot of problems for United.

  8. Richard Reply
    March 19, 2018 at 3:28 pm

    It’s Americans being 100% American. The rules say they can do it, so lots are happy to ignore the spirit of the rules because the exact verbiage is vague enough.

  9. Lance Reply
    March 19, 2018 at 3:48 pm

    Airlines, seriously, should not transport any animals. Period. If you are so reliant on your pet that you can’t spend a couple of hours in a plane, then you should drive or sail. 99.99% of people are not, but rather are entitled. I know people who have bought the fake service dog vest to avoid paying the fee. It’s repulsive. Someone needs to stand up and say “no more.”

  10. JRG Reply
    March 19, 2018 at 4:02 pm

    As an asthmatic I have to vote for no animals in the silver tube we are all confined in. Just is not fair to put the love of the animal above the physical health of others.

    • Harold Reply
      March 19, 2018 at 4:10 pm

      Right. Like I said those selfish people traveling with pets don’t consider other people’s health. I don’t eat meat and I love animal, but I do put human’s health over animals health. Animals are not people. We have no reason to treat animals better than other people: your mom, dad, better half…etc.

  11. Sexy_kitten7 Reply
    March 19, 2018 at 4:29 pm

    I am also an animal lover but ESAs should have never been granted federal protection under ACAA. That really created this mess. Pet owners can either pay a $100 fee per ticket or get their vet to write a note for free. It’s a no brainer. Heck I’d do it if I ever needed to transport my non-existent pet! To be fair, it’s well within the realms of “travel hacking” so shouldn’t we be applauding these cunning souls? LOL

    • Andy K Reply
      March 19, 2018 at 5:24 pm

      Username check out.

  12. Jinxed_K Reply
    March 19, 2018 at 6:47 pm

    I’ve seen service animals at the airport but no animals on any of my recent flights.
    Is this something that’s more common on certain carriers or regions?

    I also have to bring up the other side of this where people get very uncomfortable/anxious around animals and they seem to be the ones being deplaned when they asked to switch seats if they end up next to one in the plane.
    Would it be feasible to split flights into with animals and no animals like we have smoking/non smoking areas? Although I’m certain denying boarding to a service animal like a seeing eye dog in this way will violate the ADA…

  13. Gary Reply
    March 19, 2018 at 7:03 pm

    I think we should just have people like Matthew check and make sure passengers who need a seeing eye dog are really blind. You never know if that letter is fake. If they pass your eye test we can put them in a new 3rd class cabin to avoid everyone who has problems with animals on the aircraft. I’m sure all the veterans and people with actually disabilities wont mind at all.

    • VEronika Reply
      March 20, 2018 at 7:48 am

      Is there ban of service dogs mentioned anywhere in the article? I might be blind, but all I see are ESA and pets…

      • Gary Reply
        March 20, 2018 at 9:57 pm

        VEronika I do believe you are blind. “I have to vote for no animals in the silver tube” and “Airlines, seriously, should not transport any animals. Period.” I stopped at two, but I think you get the point

  14. emercycrite Reply
    March 19, 2018 at 7:46 pm

    “As near as I can tell, this is a uniquely American issue. I never see pets in cabins anywhere else in the world I fly in, even in Western Europe where many pets are treated royally.”

    Same here. I’ve never seen a pet travel with its owner in the passenger cabin in all the travel I’ve done on Australian and Asian airlines.

    Falcons are permitted onboard many of the Gulf airlines.

  15. Joe Q Reply
    March 19, 2018 at 7:59 pm

    It’s quite interesting how this varies as in other comments this seems to be a quite US specific issue.

    A pet in the cabin on a plane would be an event in Australia. And would be seen as worse then any screaming child etc.

  16. travlermb Reply
    March 20, 2018 at 2:16 pm

    Just on a United flight Saturday IAD-BDL. In the waiting area, woman with mid-size dog with a “service animal “ vest. This dog was jumping on her and other people. It was clearly NOT a trained service dog. Trained service animals are quiet and docile guiding their owners. Trained service dogs DO NOT jump on their owners or others.

  17. LAXJeff Reply
    March 20, 2018 at 2:56 pm

    I was going thru security at LAX last week and a dog ran right past me into the terminal toward an escalator, turned around and shit in front of everyone on the floor. Its horrified owner chased after it and then realized he had a mess to pick up. Then the dog decided to sprint toward the far end of the terminal past people. I wish I was quick enough to record the entire incident but I was putting away my ID as I watched this transpire.

    This was a full size dog. This dog has zero business being inside of an airport let alone boarding a flight with people.

    Dogs are animals. They should not be on a plane unless they are small enough to go under the seat. That leaves a very small amount of them that should be flying in the cabin.

  18. dotti Reply
    March 20, 2018 at 9:31 pm

    I have been on AF –CDG-Marseille and a french woman with a dog and 3 carryon bags sat next to me!! In an exit row!!! I had a purse and a small (cabin friendly) roller bag… The GA made me and another american check our roller bags..but this woman got to have her 3 bags and a dog!!! AF not friendly to americans… not the first time this has happened!!

  19. dotti Reply
    March 20, 2018 at 9:33 pm

    And what about the large dogs on the seats in the lounges (sky club and prioity lounges) not good and they feed them from their plates. I saw a large dog(big poodle) help himself to someones plate in the table near him!!

  20. Dan Reply
    March 20, 2018 at 11:13 pm

    Pet ownership as a whole is up overall as measured by % of households with a pet. AVMA tracks this in an annual survey, I think. Petco/PetSmart rode this wave for the last three-odd decades. So with more people owning pets, you’re certainly more likely to see them on planes in general.

    As well, Millennials are now the primary pet-owning demographic per AVMA (https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/170515g.aspx), and may be more inclined to bring pets with them? Cost concerns of having to hire a dog-sitter, a generation raised with dogs indoors rather than sending Rover out to the dog-house at night, etc.

  21. MeanMeosh Reply
    March 22, 2018 at 10:45 pm

    As someone who’s had pets literally my entire life, I don’t get the whole “can’t travel without them” thing either. That might have something to do with the fact that I’ve had a grand total of one animal (a St. Bernard – imagine trying to fly with one of those as an ESA) that actively enjoyed traveling.

    As for my current cat, he detests traveling so much, if I tried to fly with him, he’d probably skin me alive before we ever left the airport. Which is why he goes to the kennel when we’re out of town…

  22. Anne Reply
    July 11, 2019 at 4:39 am

    There has to be a sensible middle ground to this situation. I think carrying pets along on flight during vacations should be the last resort. There are kennels and other pet boarding services available in every country. However, if you are moving from one country to another for good, then I guess you have a pretty valid reason and right to take your pets along. We have all had screaming babies and snoring/farting adults mess with sleep on our flights. Not all pets adapt to friends or neighbors. As far as my experience goes- I have two shy cats who are just the sweetest at home. The moment they are taken out of our house, they get nervous and meow incessantly, or sometimes, freeze in fear. They are not ferocious (can’t catch a fly to save their lives) but I try not to take them out of my house, unless it is a vet visit. I even tried paying a pet-sitter, who did a crappy job in spite of charging me an unreasonable amount. Once, I got on an Uber, where the driver drove with windows open and AC turned off as he could not afford to get complaints from his next passengers about the “cat smell” in the cab. I was ok with it. I can’t speak for people who have emotional support animals as I do not really know how necessary they are. Once I left my cats at a boarding facility for 2 weeks. They gave the boarding staff a tough time, refused to eat any food, and became skinny and weak when I went to pick them up. I will definitely take them along with me if I am moving to another country and I have no options to move them by any other means of transport. If I do that, I will carry them with me in the cabin, as I would not want them to go through the stress they might experience while being in the cargo hold. Also, airlines could come up with other options, like pet cabins (read somewhere) so that pets, pet owners and others can fly safely and peacefully. Honestly, I would not mind paying double my flight ticket money to have some option like that.

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