To everyone with allergies to pets- I am truly sorry that you suffer with these ailments.
However, I am a college student attending one of the top veterinary schools in the county, and I travel with my pet 7+ times per year. Having dealt with several different family members and friends whom have allergies to pets, I know from experience that with proper bathing and grooming prior to contact, even a person with the most severe allergies will experience dramatically subdued reactions.
I understand that it is not ideal to be traveling in a closed cabin with something that you feel is life- threatening. I also understand that if the owner takes proper care of their animal, it is likely that you will experience little to no reaction in-flight. Frequent flyers such as myself, take particular offense to those who suggest all animals are a health hazard. Rather than ranting obnoxiously about "poor you", perhaps you should take the proper measures prior to a flight to be sure you do not have to encounter a pet on board. All flights have a maximum number of pets allowed in the cabin at one time- this is for the reason you are all complaining about- PEOPLES' ALLERGIES. IF you do not wish to fly aboard a flight on which a pet is present, call the airline the day before your departure and ask if there are pets onboard. IF YOUR LIFE IS AT RISK, as so many of you suggest, then reschedule your flight. Pay the fees necessary to SAVE YOUR LIFE.
You are all so overly dramatic about your sensitivity to pets, and yet you put your own life at risk by not taking precautionary measures. Regardless of the airline's decision, you are making the decision to fly, knowing of your own allergies and knowing of the risk. It's equivalent to someone going to the tanning bed who has a history of skin cancer and knows the statistical increase of threat once exposing yourself to ultraviolet light.
In regards to the person who responded with the remark about oxygen masks being laughable, obviously you find your life laughable- because those are the options you have. If you want to laugh at it, then you clearly care more about complaining than you do about your actual health. To the person who said SW's decision to implement pet travel was "asinine", then I suggest you look up the definition to this word, because according to statistics, their purchase traffic percentage has increased by 11.3% since this change. In their eyes- the only thing stupid about the change is that it didn't happen sooner.
So to those of you complaining- your complaints are selfish and satiable- simply take the measures necessary prior to flight to prevent any adverse reactions. A lack of assertion on your part is the only blame that can be placed if allergies do arise.
Thank you and goodnight.
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