Over the years, more and more airlines are allowing pet owners to travel with their pets. This has resulted in a massive improvement in the pet travel culture. However, with the increase of pet travel also brings the increase of pet allergies while traveling.
For many, allergies can easily be triggered when a pet is on board, even if it is quite a distance from the victim. A person who is allergic to pet dander faces a lot of challenges when flying under these circumstances.
What are Pet Allergy Symptoms?
Whether there are personal protection dogs on board or cats, the chances of allergy-sensitive people getting sick are many. Pet allergies are pretty common in the U.S. and almost 10% of the population suffers from it. Due to the increasing number of airlines offering pet boarding, it is quite obvious that people who have allergies or asthma need to be more prepared.
The many clear symptoms that a person is indeed suffering from pet allergies include:
- Itchy eyes
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Chest tightening
- Wheezing
- Hives
- Shortness of breath
Knowing these symptoms is just one part of being proactive with allergies. Having the proper medications for relieving the symptoms is important for a relaxing flight.
Traveling with a Family Protection Dog or Pet
The reason that more airlines are allowing pets on board is to meet their customers’ requirements. People with their family protection dogs as pets consider them their family. Therefore, when they are travelling to another place, they want their companions to be with them. There is a small fee that pet owners have to pay in order to get their pets boarded on the flight.
Additionally, apart from those who want their pets to be with them during their trip, there are many people who need pets for emotional support. For such people, airlines allow pets without additional charges as they need to accommodate emotionally unstable passengers as well. Then there are service dogs that are also part of many flights and can be boarded without an additional fee.
Pet Dander Safety Measures When Flying
Allergies can take a turn for the worst, especially if the afflicted is on board and doesn’t have the right aid. There is also a chance that even if there is no pet, German Shepherd protections dogs or any other dog on board, allergies can easily be caused by the dander that is left on the seats and on other passengers’ clothes. Therefore, it is important for both the passengers and the airlines to take necessary safety measures to avoid any emergencies during the flight.
Fortunately, American Airlines offers a sound solution to those with pet allergies. If you or someone you are travelling with has a pet allergy, the airline will allow you to be reseated to another part of the plane that is farthest from the pet. In the case that there are no seats left, the airlines will put the passenger on the next flight without any extra charges. Hopefully, this solution will help keep all the passengers happy as they will be able to travel in comfort and with complete peace of mind.