[nagdu] The Register's Editorial: Consumers aren't ready for cellphones, or dogs, on flights

[Ginger Kutsch]

The Register's Editorial: Consumers aren't ready for cellphones, or dogs, on
flights

Des Moine Register

August 8, 2014

 

The U.S. Department of Transportation is developing rules about cellphone
calls on airplanes. Though there is now little concern cellphone use poses a
technical risk to pilots and planes, regulators are "focused primarily on
the disruptive effects of voice calls," the Wall Street Journal said.

 

The airlines want to set their own policies about passenger phone use. Of
course, this might be an issue where average people would welcome a little
"big government" intervention. Most of us don't want to be trapped at 30,000
feet next to a woman chattering into a phone with her boyfriend or teenage
daughter. Flying is stressful enough without the guy three rows back loudly
blabbing into his headset.

 

A case in point: dogs on flights.

 

Frequent fliers say there has been an increase in the number of dogs in
aircraft cabins. That's right, inside the cabin with the people. A news
story about this caught our attention after a recent flight seated near a
yipping dog.

 

Apparently more passengers are telling airlines their pets are "service
dogs," even though the dogs are lap-sized and the people don't have any
visible disability. They do this to avoid charges for a non-service dog. Or
they simply don't want to be separated from their furry little friend. Or
they say the pet provides emotional support.

 

What about the rest of us? What about passengers with allergies? Even
dog-lovers recognize not everyone shares our affinity. And if that guy in
the next seat can pass off his 4-pound pet as a service dog, what's to stop
you from taking Fido on the next flight? Taking him along is cheaper than a
kennel.

 

Requiring dogs to be in carriers doesn't stop them from barking. When they
do start barking, a perfectly stable passenger could develop an emotional
disability.

 

And then he'll have a hard time hearing the person he's talking to on the
cellphone.

 

Source:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/editorials/2014/08/09/editori
al-consumers-cellphones-dogs-flights/13808347/