I am very happy to hear that SW is finally allowing small pets on board! I have travelled with my cats via other airlines for the last four years. I travel with them to cat shows, to visit my relatives, and for vacations. I always bathe my cats before I go, which cuts way down on allergens. The dander, created as the cat grooms itself, is what people are allergic to. Bathing the animal cuts way down on that issue. Some breeds of cats and dogs are less 'allergenic' than other breeds. Mine is one of those. As to the odor and the noise, unless I specifically tell someone I have a cat with me, they do not even know it. My cats ususally sleep through the flight, and have never made a 'smelly' mess in their carrier. I also know how to prepare them properly for the flight. And I keep a portable litterbox and tent in my other carryon bag that I can set up in a rest room in the airport in case we are travelling for a long period of time. That helps prevent any unwelcome deposits on the plane. Those of you who think this is a disaster because of your allergies have probably flown with pets on board with other airlines without even knowing it. American, Continental, Delta, United, and several others also allow pets on board...... And all of them require that the pet remain in the carrier for the duration of the flight. An animal confined to a carrier under the seat is not very likely to be speading dander around the cabin.... Just my 2 cents.......
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