Pet policies on airlines can make travel difficult for allergy sufferers

People with pet dander allergies need to bring their medication when they travel in case there is a cat or dog on their plane.

For the estimated 10 percent of people in America who have pet dander allergies and the 20 to 30 percent of asthma sufferers whose symptoms are triggered by animals, traveling via airplane can be an uncomfortable and potentially dangerous experience. That’s because most of the country’s large airlines permit passengers to keep their pets on board with them right in the cabin.

In an interview with USA Today, Bozeman, Montana, resident Tamara Hall, an allergy sufferer who travels frequently for business purposes, recalled a flight during which there were two cats in close proximity, explaining that it was not a good experience for her.

“With the dander blowing throughout, we were all sneezing and itching by landing,” Hall said. “My eyes were almost swollen shut. [Airlines stopped serving peanuts] because one person might be allergic, but cats? They smile and say, ‘Deal with it.’ There must be a solution.”

Unfortunately, there isn’t. The news outlet reached out to a number of different companies — including Jet Blue, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines — to inquire about their pet policies, and found out that they all allow animals in their cabins. Some of the airlines set limits to the amount of pets that can be onboard during a flight, and they all claim to do whatever they can to make their passengers comfortable in spite of these policies. But for many people who have asthma or allergies, this just doesn’t cut it.

With this in mind, it’s important for travelers to make sure they have their medication with them at all times. Then, upon getting home from your trip, be sure to run your air purifier so that you can breathe easily. If you want to learn more about cat allergies, check out this awesome guide from our friends at Two Cat Freaks.