Increasing demand to bring pets in plane cabins

[thomas]

When a JAL airliner collided with a Coast Guard plane on 2 January, all human passengers on the Airbus 350 were safely evacuated. Not so lucky were two pets that travelled in the plane's cargo hold. The terrible accident has led to an appeal by passengers to Japanese airlines to allow pets in the cabin. Several international carriers stated that bringing their pets into the cabin was standard: Korean Airlines, for example, started the service a long time ago. Lufthansa allows pet dogs and cats even on long-distance hauls.

Photo credit: Mainichi - Yasuhiro Kawabe​

Cats and small dogs, including the carrier, mustn't weigh more than seven kilos. Up to two pets can accompany one passenger. One of my former students relocated to Germany, bringing his Shiba dog into the cabin. I remember his dogs spent a few weeks with a relative in the countryside to lose weight.

In Japan, Kitakyushu-based Star Flyer started allowing pets on all domestic flights on 15 January. According to an airline public relations official, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the new service. "As demand for flights fell and we were trying to come up with ways to improve our services, we decided to cater to customers' needs who wish to fly with their pets," they explained. [...] Star Flyer introduced pet in-cabin services in March 2022 on some flights between Kitakyushu and Haneda in the first such attempt in the country. The carrier has since served passengers with pets in some 350 cases, and since it didn't receive any complaints from other customers, it decided to introduced the service on all flights on all of the carriers' five domestic routes. Star Flyer allows small dogs and cats that can fit in a 50-centimeter-by-40 cm-by 40 cm carrier and charges 50,000 yen (about $340) per pet. Passengers will need to make a reservation for the pet four days prior to the flight.

However:

Furthermore, the airline clearly states that the passengers will not be able to evacuate the aircraft with their pets in an emergency, and asks them to sign a waiver. A PR official said, "We can't allow customers to evacuate with their pets as the transport ministry's guidelines state that passengers are to evacuate without carrying their belongings."

Demand for pets to be in plane cabins increases after Tokyo airport runway collision - The Mainichi

TOKYO -- Two pets died after being left behind in the Japan Airlines Co. plane cargo hold in the Jan. 2 aircraft collision and subsequent fire at Toky

mainichi.jp

 

[mdchachi]

When a JAL airliner collided with a Coast Guard plane on 2 January, all human passengers on the Airbus 350 were safely evacuated. Not so lucky were two pets that travelled in the plane's cargo hold. The terrible accident has led to an appeal by passengers to Japanese airlines to allow pets in the cabin. Several international carriers stated that bringing their pets into the cabin was standard: Korean Airlines, for example, started the service a long time ago. Lufthansa allows pet dogs and cats even on long-distance hauls.

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Photo credit: Mainichi - Yasuhiro Kawabe​

Cats and small dogs, including the carrier, mustn't weigh more than seven kilos. Up to two pets can accompany one passenger. One of my former students relocated to Germany, bringing his Shiba dog into the cabin. I remember his dogs spent a few weeks with a relative in the countryside to lose weight.






However:

Demand for pets to be in plane cabins increases after Tokyo airport runway collision - The Mainichi

TOKYO -- Two pets died after being left behind in the Japan Airlines Co. plane cargo hold in the Jan. 2 aircraft collision and subsequent fire at Toky

mainichi.jp

I doubt anybody would follow that evacuate without your pets policy.

 

[johnnyG]

Passengers with pets in the cabin should have to sign off that they will leave the pet behind in the event of an emergency.

 

[thomas]

Passengers with pets in the cabin should have to sign off that they will leave the pet behind in the event of an emergency.

The article mentioned that some airlines ask pet owners to sign such a waiver. Would you leave your dog behind? I know I couldn't.

 

[mdchachi]

Passengers with pets in the cabin should have to sign off that they will leave the pet behind in the event of an emergency.

They already "sign off." Just by purchasing a ticket you agree to all the various terms and conditions in the contract. Regardless unless somebody can prove you caused harm by grabbing your pet before jumping on the emergency slide I don't think there would be any consequence to saving your pet.

 

[salyavin]

As the slide is inflatable one concern about things like bags and high heals causing damage to the slide. Perhaps there is concern about pets claws or such as they panic?

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

People who have allergies to animals should be considered as well. If I had to sit on a plane next to a cat, especially an international one, I might not make it to my destination. Also, some people have a genuine fear of dogs. Imagine the terror of a 14 hour flight sitting next to the living embodiment of some of your nightmares!

This is not an airplane story, but the first time I went to Japan I stayed in a house with cats and had to go to the hospital for asthma, as I didn't bring my inhaler along. I almost never need the thing.

Yeah, I don't agree with the idea of bringing pets on flights.

 

[mdchachi]

People who have allergies to animals should be considered as well. If I had to sit on a plane next to a cat, especially an international one, I might not make it to my destination. Also, some people have a genuine fear of dogs. Imagine the terror of a 14 hour flight sitting next to the living embodiment of some of your nightmares!

This is not an airplane story, but the first time I went to Japan I stayed in a house with cats and had to go to the hospital for asthma, as I didn't bring my inhaler along. I almost never need the thing.

Yeah, I don't agree with the idea of bringing pets on flights.

One of the worst nights in my life was in my friend's girlfriend's apartment in Frankfort. I had brought my own sleeping bag so retreated inside until it was over my head and I tried to maintain a cat-free atmosphere away from her fluffy shedding cat. Fortunately I've never needed an inhaler but cats cause me to wheeze and make my eyes watery and itchy and my nose run.