I am a true Southwest junkie. I love the airline and fly it most times when I travel. I have two cats and a dog. I love my animals and pretty much spoil them. However, they are ANIMALS. Not everyone feels as I do about them and the fact that some people can become unable to breath in the presence of animals, should have come into consideration when you decided to allow animals. I am glad that your airline was considering the needs of those with pets (that is why I like your airline) but I am hoping that their will be only certain airplanes designated for animals. I am not allergic nor do I want to listen to frightened dogs or worse yet cats. They do not calm easily. Required tranquilizers would minimize that issue but what will you do about defecation, urination and vomit. It WILL happen. Probably every flight that animals are on. Worse than bodily excretions, also do not want to witness someone in resperatrory distress. Have you people ever witnessed that? It is horrid to witness someone with severly restricted airways try to breath. I use the airline because it is low cost and no frills and much more relaxed. I am willing to be more cramped and bring my own food to save some money. I have always applauded your airline for its policies, but this one will probably send me elsewhere. Not exclusively because you will carry animals, but mainly because YOU HAVEN'T ADDRESSED THOSE WHO CAN NOT BE IN THE PRESENCE OF ANIMALS!!! In effect, you are now being discriminatory as these folks will not be able to fly the friendly skies with Southwest if they are going to risk not being able to breath. And, for the record, unless a plane is COMPLETELY cleaned (vaccumed and shampooed every inch of carpets and seats, air ducts, pillows, blankets, etc. and everything else wiped down), the plane would still be as much of a contamination to someone who is allergic even if no animal were present on that flight. That is impossible to do after each flight is it not? Planes need to be designated as animal planes only if you are going to do that and advertised IN BIG LETTERS AND AS LOUDLY AS POSSIBLE as such. Then, the consumer can make an informed decision whether or not to take that particular flight. I would not take those flights. I would not want someone with an animal to sit with me AND I LOVE ANIMALS. Will I have any rights once in the air if I do not want a dog or cat in my seating area? I doubt it. I am completely disappointed and unfortunately will use another airline whenever possible now.
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