Is the image of pets transported on a plane misleading?

@Roman *********

I looked and can't find a single airline that lets them fly free, and many only allow dogs as esa. No cats.

I have an ESA cat and service dog. I'd rather cargo the dog because she's bomb proof but I actually need her lol 🤷‍♀️

@Carlos ********

This is false. All airliners including regional turboprops have pressurised cargo holds and are carefully monitored.

If it wasn’t, 100% of animals transported would die.

@Roman *********

prop planes fly at lower altitudes and would be better for the animal. And heat and pressurazation on a jet is overflow from the cabin. Max temp would be ~ 23⁰c 🥶

@Carlos ********

Our A320’s had cargo hold heaters. ~23c sounds about right for a cabin temp.

The 787 was even more advanced and had multiple zones including a specific hold that could even be turned into a fridge for perishables. Certainly not a design afterthought!

More likely a small turboprop would be noiser, bumpier and have a less sophisticated heating system such as the cabin air vents you mention.

The level of pressurisation you experience would be about the same between turbo props and airliners (8000ft) regardless of how high the plane actually flys. The latest long haul 787/a350’s are pressurised to an even lower altitude (6000ft) which might be a consideration to what airline you choose compared to an older a.

@Roman *********

That's encouraging to know. Thanks for the enlightenment,( I always thought it was torture. Sensitive ears not clearing, pressure and surroundings of chaos)So do they sedate the animals or don't they? 🤔

@Carlos ********

No problem. Just trying to clear up some misconceptions.

The pressures and discomfort on the ears is a good point I dont have any answers on.

Some animals were lightly sedated with a xanax like medication for anxiety. Most were not was my understanding and that it required extra steps.

@Tracey *******

agree... I am planning to move and it's been extremely difficult for me to make sense of how to proceed

@Roman *********

Others mentioned the fact that the cargo area gets loud and cold during flights, which can be traumatizing for animals. Some commercial airlines have even reported deaths from animals suffering from heart failure, erratic breathing and attempting to escape their crates.

@Jo *********

I agree and don’t deny deaths and injuries occur. Even people die on a very regular basis flying due to these same factors!

This is a valid issue and why the suitability of transporting a particular animal needs to be done on a case by case basis and avoided where possible.

At least where I worked the animal was assessed by a Vet before and after every sector. Time spent on the ramp (noisy/fumes) was also planned and minimised.

Temperature in the cargo hold (at least on the Airbus A320) is selectable and able to be set/monitored by the flightcrew. No doubt the case for other modern airliners.

Flight crew are explicitly made aware if animals are being transported and have procedures to follow when that is the case. Ive even seen live fish, birds and even bees loaded!

Never been in a cargo hold during flight but wouldn’t be surprised if it was quieter than the cabin due to the amount of bags. It still is insulated the same as the cabin.

Not trying to dispute you, just worked in the industry and know some of the dedicated teams who look after the animals at airports. They take their jobs very seriously.

@Roman *********

is never said that or suggested that. Maybe you should consider a new hobby called honesty

@Roman *********

Hear hear. Dogs and cats don't have the same awareness of time as we do. When they are stuffed into a dark box, they have no idea if they will see their and get fed again. If at the other end they greet their owner with a wagging tail, it's not because they enjoyed the trip, it's relief that they are not going to starve to death. Transporting a pet is not to be taken lightly, and the welfare of the animal has to be the number one consideration, not the comfort of the owner.

@Lynnette ******

sure because I care about the welfare of animals. that’s brilliant

@Andy *********

some animals in the best of situations are going to freak out under the best care because they are afraid and don’t understand.

You are sensationalizing and painting a picture that is not entirely true to the context.

Bad things happen yes, but you’re overly generalizing.

@Brian ********

No but others are getting their knickers in a twist over a photo of dogs being evacuated. Guess you didn't watch the Canadian video of the dog in the hold behind a tarp. I am not sensationalizing anything.

@Andy *********

this is clearly a short range transport because of aircraft size. Do you experience the animals in the photo under duress? They are clearly labeled, comfortable and on average okay.

@Andy *********

It is naieto speak for all rather than your own. It IS NOT, WAS NOT stressful for my pets.

I, unlike you, stated nothing more.

And now you want to add feral animals into it... 🙄

We are done with this conversation. Your ignorance cannot be competed wirh.

@Vin ********

If you are done, then click on my profile and block me. The feral dog you dismissed was a 6 month old pup that the local American oil company wanted shot within 12 hours. I had seen how the local police took out a dog with mange with a Webley revolver: 4 shots at point blank because they couldn't shoot straight. I rescued the dog and it went onto live another 18 happy years in the UK with its mate. The head vet felt the dog needed to be sedated for the trip.

@Lynnette ******

Pets die every year following air transport. Airlines even lose pets. Unless the pet is a support animal,they should not be flown on long haul holiday flights merely for the gratification of the owner. Book into kennels like other people. The animals will be happier there than 20 hours of terror. And jet airlines are not quiet when you have walloping RR or PW engines 6 foot from your head.

@Lynnette ******

No, you just made up a false argument, what is called a strawman. You ignored whst i stated about support animals. You didn't read what I stated. You are based I see in the UK. Minimum transit from UK to Thailand is 12 hours. If traveling from North America, travel times easily exceed 20 hours. You are unaware of US government statistics of pet deaths and injuries during and just after a US domestic flight. Between 2010 and 2020, 250 pets died on US domestic flights, another 170 were injured. 20 were lost by the airlines. I've no reason to suppose US airlines are worse than European, Middle Eastern and Asian carriers. I suspect they are towards the top of the safety spectrum. Extrapolating to global flights by all carriers and that's hundreds of animals per year. You are not aware of this. This group is not for your ranty posts attacking others for non thailand related postings. In the words of Michael Caine, calm down.

@Andy *********

well things have changed in 40 years. There are pet relocation specialists, research has shown sedating dogs is dangerous as it affects the animals ability to regulate their body temperature, airlines have great systems in place for transporting pet crates.

@Lynnette ******

sadly I got felted by COVID and now seldom fly upper class. Especially now that most of my flying is international. Tickets are routinely 20x. That is money my kids will need for university, sigh.

@Lynnette ******

you posted this take responsibility