I am not so sure it is always about trying to save on the pet fee, but rather that some people just don't want their precious little darlings to have to stay in a pet carrier! In Europe, I have never seen an animal in the passenger compartment of the plane. I did see a Guide dog for the Blind being placed in a dog carrier and presumably taken to the hold, whilst the blind passenger was escorted on to the plane by staff.
Given that the FAA requires all passageways to be clear and everything and everyone to be restrained in order to minimise the chances of injury in an accident, I am curious as to how they square this. ~Surely the possibility of a dog running frantically round the cabin in an accident could impede evacuation, or worse could be like a speeding bullet in an accident such as Sioux City.
Frankly, I don't think even service dogs should be unrestrained. The example of needing the dog to spot the seizure is curious. So, the dog spots an impending seizure. What then? Perhaps in the home, he might warn the owner who can call an ambulance, or put themselves in a comfortable position. What exactly will the dog or owner do at 30,000 feet? I would expect that a FA could spot a seizure too and react accordingly. Unless the dog was going to get a teeth guard, put the passenger in the recovery position, and stroke her forehead in a reassuring manner, I think he should be in a carrier.
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