No more free rides: US seeks to limit
emotional support animals on planes
Guardian [UK] and Agencies,
by
Joanna Walters
Original Article
Posted By: Ribicon,
1/23/2020 10:34:18 AM
Some animal lovers and nervous fliers may squawk but the US government wants a definitive “neigh” to the question of passengers bringing rabbits, turtles, birds, miniature horses and other unusual emotional support animals on planes in future, especially free of charge. Even cats could be running out of lives to while away under passengers’ seats at 30,000 feet. The US Department of Transportation on Wednesday proposed that only specially trained dogs qualify as service animals, which must be allowed in a passenger plane cabin at no charge. Airlines may be able to let passengers bring other animals on board, but hefty fees would apply.
Reply 1 - Posted by:
zephyrgirl 1/23/2020 10:43:54 AM (No. 296014)
Next they need to do something about the people who fly nearly naked, drunk, filthy, stoned, or psychotic.
35 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
DVC 1/23/2020 10:47:00 AM (No. 296017)
Excellent news. The height of insanity was when they decided that emotional support horses (apparently particularly small horses, but horses nevertheless) were approved by at least some airlines. That this EVER passed any muster is proof that we have a lot of really, really stupid, cowed people in decision making positions for the airlines. I can't see why a normal domestic cat which can fit under a seat in a carrier would not be OK, in addition to small dogs. Of course, someone will want their mountain lion, or tiger to fly.
It would seem that small cats or dogs, in proper boxes or shipping crates should be OK, Beyond that, while I am an animal lover, people need to find some other way to take their animal with them.
13 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
earlybird 1/23/2020 10:47:57 AM (No. 296018)
This got to be a major scam. In many cases, a stunt.
20 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
earlybird 1/23/2020 10:49:44 AM (No. 296019)
About those emotional support animals, imagine getting on a plane when one had a major allergy to cats (I have) and without warning being subjected to being cooped up with one or more of them for a prolonged period...
22 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
Venturer 1/23/2020 10:49:49 AM (No. 296020)
I travel with my wife for emotional support, but they charge me for a seat for her.
46 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
Clinger 1/23/2020 10:52:40 AM (No. 296022)
My porcupine is going to be devastated when he finds out.
22 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
zzzghy 1/23/2020 10:54:33 AM (No. 296027)
Pebbles the emotional support hamster, and Flirty the mini horse.
And people wonder why I hate people.
16 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
Sandpiper 1/23/2020 10:59:33 AM (No. 296034)
The overuse of “support” animals has actually made it more difficult for people who really do have genuinely trained animals, such as seeing-eye dogs, to help them get around.
19 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
JimJr 1/23/2020 11:28:21 AM (No. 296073)
Where the "emotional support" animal was going:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7HFXgyTya0
1 person likes this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
MDConservative 1/23/2020 11:38:25 AM (No. 296086)
No one has a "right" to fly. If they are emotionally unable to the "stress", then walk, take the bus, or Uber. This has gone beyond silly.
Next to be regulated ought to be the clowns who board planes festooned with overstuffed back/front packs who swing them around like a 500 pound human in the narrow aisles, or the overloaded mom dragging a car seat behind her roller bag, baby diaper bag, and stroller. Meanwhile the goof at the gate hassles someone carrying a 100-calorie packet of cookies for having too many "personal items".
15 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
padiva 1/23/2020 11:40:48 AM (No. 296089)
What good is a support animal doing while it is in a cage under the seat?
These people need to find another way to travel.
14 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
J F Ackerman 1/23/2020 11:46:36 AM (No. 296094)
Allowing these animals in the cabin of an airliner is an outrage to people who have serious allergies to them- not to mention the fleas, hair, and pet diseases they leave behind. They banned peanuts. Ban animals.
22 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
MeiDei 1/23/2020 12:10:36 PM (No. 296125)
All good posts above.
Alcohol used to be the emotional support for some, possibly a xanax-like pill for anxiety/panic would be better than a mini horse, duck, parrot etc., presuming they skip the alcohol with any medication.
7 people like this.
Reply 14 - Posted by:
2assume 1/23/2020 12:28:34 PM (No. 296145)
In regards to service and support animals.
Please ask people to have documentation on their person that proves these animals are legit.
I am tired of seeing puppies in shopping carts because store owners allow it to happen fearful of lawsuits.
9 people like this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
konocti95 1/23/2020 12:29:45 PM (No. 296146)
Ernst Blofeld was unavailable for comment.
3 people like this.
Reply 16 - Posted by:
texaspast 1/23/2020 12:33:07 PM (No. 296153)
And can we do something about the bad children whose parents refuse to make behave? I'd rather share a ride with a support German Shepherd than a demon child that kicks on my seat for several hours, screams a lot, throws things over the seat, etc.
6 people like this.
Reply 17 - Posted by:
udanja99 1/23/2020 12:39:46 PM (No. 296162)
Exactly, #13, and I’ve been saying it since this whole ridiculous craze started - if you’re afraid of flying but have to do it anyway, any GP will prescribe you 3-4 Xanax to get you there and back. I used to be afraid of flying and would take a pill as soon as my flight began to board. By the time we took off, I was usually asleep. Fortunately, I got over my fear about 15 years ago.
6 people like this.
Reply 18 - Posted by:
TXknitter 1/23/2020 12:52:48 PM (No. 296176)
Exactly #4. I also see little to consideration from animal lovers when discussing this issue. I guess, #4, nobody cares when you have not united as some sort of lobbying group to get special status!
I have also seen animals who were so scared and uncomfortable on some of these flights. It is too bad their owners could not get past missing them and so put them in such a position.
3 people like this.
Reply 19 - Posted by:
John Farson 1/23/2020 1:10:06 PM (No. 296187)
Rabbits,cats, patriots. I have found that a couple of Xanax works best for me, plus I don’t have to clean up po before I get off the plane.
2 people like this.
Reply 20 - Posted by:
HPmatt 1/23/2020 1:26:56 PM (No. 296215)
I disagree with most of the posters - this is the Airlines hiding behind this - in order to charge $250 for every pet you bring on board, even if it is in a crate and fits in your tiny underseat area. The airlines are making BILLIONS in profits from bag fees, this is just an extension of that, and a clever way to hide behind pot-bellied pigs, small ponys, etc. The rule should allow passengers to bring on board a pet in a crate, for a small fee. And special priority to true service dogs.
2 people like this.
Reply 21 - Posted by:
anniebc 1/23/2020 1:27:10 PM (No. 296217)
There are veterans out here who jump through hoops to get animal support for real reasons; so I'm glad this is happening to fake snowflakes.
6 people like this.
Adults in charge...…. for once.
3 people like this.
Reply 23 - Posted by:
Hugh Akston 1/23/2020 3:25:47 PM (No. 296348)
12/30/01...the last time I flew...and I was still under 50. Haven't flown for work or vacation since.
2 people like this.
Reply 24 - Posted by:
JHHolliday 1/23/2020 5:29:42 PM (No. 296503)
As some posters have noted, the huge increase in claiming support animals comes mostly from scammers trying to dodge paying extra to ship their pets. As usual, the con artists have managed to make it harder for those with a legitimate need.
2 people like this.
I am allergic to dogs and certainly don't want to sit next to one or their owner. I stopping flying because it's no fun. My "pet" peeve is women who bring tiny dogs in stores in their purses. It is against the law to bring a non-service animal in grocery stores and they are not suppose to be in grocery carts. People are just anal, not the animal's fault.
2 people like this.
Reply 26 - Posted by:
VirtuDawg 1/24/2020 12:19:17 AM (No. 296770)
What, no more support HORSES allowed on commercial airlines!! What horror!!
1 person likes this.
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Comments:
The proposed change comes not as a proper reaction to monumental cultural stupidity, but as an aid to the airline industry, which is missing out on charging $100 a pop on the animals courtesy of their freeloading owners.