Ok. All I know is no matter where I go people have their dogs with them. And obviously, hospitals have no issue letting people have their dogs visit.
So if I’m allergic to FiFi or Fido next to me on a plane…what gives? Am I out of luck or is dog owner? I love dogs, but honestly the short haired shedding ones get me snotty and sneezy and swollen eyed every time.
My employer does not allow employees to bring animals to the office. I think concern about other folks’ allergies is one reason.
I take offense at this because I have a 7 lb chihuahua that I rescued at 4 months of age (his breeder had dumped him because he has a luxating patella and collapsing trachea, both fixed by my vet). He’s been through obedience training and is a certified therapy dog. Just because he’s little doesn’t mean he’s awful. In fact, he’s awesome. Once a toddler grabbed his head and stuffed it in her mouth, and he patiently put up with it.
It’s the same sort of stereotyping that people do to other people, make assumptions because of appearance, and it makes me crazy.
People get dogs for all sorts of terrible reasons-that’s why there are so many ill-behaved dogs and that’s why there are so many dogs dumped. People are terrible. (and now I have to go over to the People are awesome thread to re-balance my view of humanity).
I am always confused by the places that let your dog have total access until you reach the restrooms. NO DOGS ALLOWED IN RESTROOMS! Do they think this is the most sanitary place in their establishment?
Do any of you remember the glass-enclosed vegetation islands at LAX? Maybe some of the terminals still have them. I once saw a man drop his smallish dog over the barrier to relieve himself. So very boorish.
@MotherofDragons, I congratulate you, but although I am a major league dog lover, I think that your chihuahua is the exception, not the rule, when it comes to toy dogs. (I speak as a woman who is currently sleeping with a pug, LOL.) I completely agree with you: it is the fault of the people, not the dogs.
@shellz, I don’t claim to be an expert on allergies, but isn’t it contact with the dander/shed hair that causes the reaction? So theoretically, if the dog is in a carrier, there should be no such contact? Do you think it might be contact with the owner’s clothes that actually causes the problem? Just wondering, and feel free to correct me! 
I didn’t say that small dogs are awful. If I get another dog it will most likely be a small one, a Boston terrier, probably. I said that small dogs are often undertrained because it’s easier for owners to rely on brute physical control. Larger dogs must be trained because life with them is a misery if you can’t deal with them through oral commands. Owners of smaller dogs have the luxury of being able to manhandle their pets should they choose to do so, although I would not recommend that management method.
Dander becomes airborne when the animal sheds. It’s also in their saliva.
I have allergies and I also love dogs and cats. An endless struggle! We have a no-shed dog and that helps a lot but he still has some dander. Just one of those things, like dust and pollen, that seem to be everywhere.
@Consolation I dunno…good question. If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say the swollen, itchy eyes are from airborne particles, which with one good shake will fly everywhere. And an owner with pet hair on them could then transfer it to anyone sitting close enough. Fortunately, I’ve been lucky lately…no canine seat mates. Cats are even worse, though. I’d choose the sheddiest of dogs over a kitty anyday. I swear I get hives just looking at them 
it’s really too bad, because I do love animals and miss having a pet. My cockapoo of 17 years never caused me grief, so it’s basically the short haired critters that my system can’t tolerate.
I just wonder what would happen if someone chose to make an issue over bring seated next to an animal. Who gets preference? Both parties are paying customers, so what would the protocol be? What if there were no free seats? Or people willing to switch? I’d probably suffer through a short flight, but a longer one might not be very much fun…for me, the seat mate or anyone within sneezing distance. Yikes!
In general, and the issue of allergies aside, I’d be more worried about getting sick from humans than dogs on airplanes and in hospitals.
I presume folks train their dogs to give a really clear signal, other than going and standing by and looking up at the door, for when they want to go wee? Other than that, I have no problem with it. As long as they’re on leash and not barking their heads off, who even realizes they are there?
I am not a big fan, but am not a pet person. People have a hard enough time managing their children in these places, many won’t be any better with pets.>>>>>>
Yeah, but having the animal on a leash is acceptable. Children, not so much. 
^^^people who have severe respiratory allergies would notice^^^
@rosered55 So true for most non allergic folks. I heard if you put a little neosporin in each nostril it helps prevent little airborne germies from causing you to get sick. Sounded too easy…
I sat next to a young lady on a place with a “service dog”, though said dog was not wearing a vest. The human told me she is severely anxious about flying and holding onto her lap dog was the only way she could fly. The dog didn’t bother me a bit, never would have known he was there otherwise. I don’t know what I would have done if I were severely allergic. I guess I would have asked a steward/ess to try to get a switch for me? Can you do that?
That’s my question @VaBluebird I’ve never had to ask…short flights, and/or dog was of the non-shedding variety. I feel badly for the people who have truly violent respiratory reactions to pet hair/dander. Thus far my reactions have been of the annoying and temporarily uncomfortable sort. Not being able to breathe would be scary at 30 thousand feet.
Anyone with dog allergies couldn’t sit next to me even though I don’t travel with my dogs. Their hair is all over my clothes even though I am constantly brushing it off.
I believe there is also a limit to the number of dogs allowed on a flight. There is usually at least one dog on every flight I go on these days.
Airlines have specific rules how many cabin animals can be brought on and in what combo (e.g., cats and dogs are not allowed in the same cabin per some airlines’ rules). Jet Blue lets you book travel online - if animals book first, then people with allergies cannot kick them off. If an allergic person books before any animal owner does, then all animal spots automatically close off. This is how it used to be two years ago when we transported the adopted cats from D’s work abroad.
Thanks for the input @BunsenBurner. I’ve never seen anything online when booking a reservation pertaining to allergies. Maybe you gave to call?
ETA:just saw your reference to booking online w/JetBlue. Next time I fly, I’m going to look for this option if the flight is longer than a few hours.