Pets in Airplane Cabins: An Unnecessary Allergic Hazard

Filed in archive Pet Allergies on February 22, 2010

© ♪_Lisa_♪

Such is the title of the editorial written in the recent issue of The Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Bringing your pets inside the airline cabin pose threats to those with pet allergies: discomfort, asthma attacks or in some even a life-threatening reaction like anaphylaxis.

It's understandable that owners prefer to keep their small pets close when travelling and that airlines are keen to compete
for their business. But about 1 in 10 people have allergies to animals.1 Many will have an allergic reaction when they're trapped in an enclosed space, often for hours, close to an animal.

Although uncommon, severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis or an exacerbation of asthma, are serious under the best of circumstances. On an airplane, at high altitude and isolated from access to emergency medical care, the consequences can be much more dangerous.

The above editorial is the response to Air Canada's decision last summer to start allowing small pets, including cats, dogs and birds, to travel in the passenger cabin. (Many United States airlines have similar policies.)