Air Malta to introduce pet travel policy
Kasimiera Basaraba and her cat ‘Don Antonio’ after travelling in Club Class on Air Malta’s flight KM307 from Munich. Air Malta recently carried a number of pets in the cabin to ensure that its systems and procedures for the introduction of the policy are working smoothly.
Air Malta is to introduce a pet travel policy as from next January 1.
Through this policy, passengers who wish to travel with their small cat or dog in the passenger cabin will now be able to subject to certain conditions and procedures.
A spokesperson for the airline said:
"Air Malta successfully introduced the carriage of guide-dogs in the passenger cabin more than two years ago. We are now building on this policy to meet the needs of many pet owners who wish to include their pets in their travel plans.
"Our customers and employees have forwarded us suggestions in this regard and after a thorough review we are launching this policy as from next year."
This facility will be available on all Air Malta's network, with the exception of flights to/from the UK. Pets should be carried in an appropriate pet carrier measuring not more than 55cm x 40cm x 20cm.
The maximum allowed weight of the pet including the pet carrier is 10kgs. A fee of €70 per way is applicable per container. Pets should be registered in advance with the airline's call centre.
Only three pets including guide dogs will be accepted on the same flight. Therefore, pets that are not registered may be refused boarding at the airport. Two pets of the same species may travel in the same pet carrier, as long as all conditions related to their size, weight, safety and well-being, are met.
A valid pet passport and other necessary documents are required for the pet to be allowed to travel. Passengers travelling with pets will also be required to provide a pet health certificate confirming that the animal is in good health, harmless and inoffensive.
Larger pets and other animals can still be carried in the aircraft hold.
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56 Comments
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Mr Peter Korsten
Dec 10th 2011, 11:12
If we took our cat 'Spot' on a flight, I'm quite sure Air Malta would immediately revoke this policy.
Pauline Peterson
Dec 10th 2011, 09:31
Have read anything about the safety issue. Will there be special SEAT BELTS for the animals? Will they have a special meal tray?
Annika Vaisanen
Dec 14th 2011, 17:24
The animals do not sit on the seat. They travel in a special ventilated travel bag at the feet of the owner.
Gerry Cowie
Dec 9th 2011, 19:47
This means that anybody travelling on a flight containing animals must be advised beforehand in case they have an allergy or asthma which might be set off by furry creatures. Has this not been thought of?
Guide dogs I can understand but other pets might be more of a hidden danger to those with severe allergies.
Francis Farrugia
Dec 9th 2011, 18:41
WAIT, WAIT. WAIT. With lufthansa one pays 50 euros plus 10 Euros MIA Service charge. Now with Air Malta it is 70 Euro but do we still have to pay the 10 Euro Service charge?????????
Rosalind Agius
Dec 9th 2011, 17:38
Well done Airmalta.
Mario Camilleri
Dec 9th 2011, 17:23
Mela qtates u klieb tal-but jew chiuaua l-aktar biss!
Carole Mason
Dec 9th 2011, 16:25
we are all like caged animals anyway when flying, so a few more wont make much difference!
Lawrence Fenech
Dec 9th 2011, 17:07
@Mason.
You are so right, the last seats on the plane are a perfect example.
Mark. Galea
Dec 9th 2011, 15:45
At last, now I can take my pet horse with me next time I fly with Airmalta ... there should not be any discrimination between animals, regarless of their size, colour, etc :)
Joseph Calleja
Dec 9th 2011, 15:40
If you do not like pets flying in the same cabin with you, we all have a choice and that is to book with another airline, simple as that. We don't like the extra 10euro charge when we book online but we book online anyway, we don't like paying for luggage to go on board, but we pay anyway. Have a nice flight.
Kurt Sciberras
Dec 9th 2011, 15:35
This is honestly some great new to hear :) Finally animals can travel as well. What I can't understand is why does it have to be 'small' ? I think that one should and would rather do it disciplined and well behaved animals rather than small. Guide dogs are normally Labrador so they are medium to large in size and yes it is a very good thing that they can travel. The size shouldn't matter..obviously not exaggerating with people saying horses should be allowed, but at least dogs and cats should be allowed as long as they are well behaved no matter what size especially in the case of dogs.
Overall this is quite a good initiative and shows some good progress :):)
Annika Vaisanen
Dec 14th 2011, 17:23
The size is limited for under 10 kg cos the dog must be able to fit comfortably in a bag under the seat. Although for the prices some airlines charge for large pets (which can be more than the human ticket), the dog or a cat should have their own seat and a meal. :D
Sabina Amann
Dec 9th 2011, 15:12
Finally small pets can fly in cabin with Air Malta - something which is normal with Lufthansa flights for many years.
So I and my tinny dog can use direct flights with Air Malta in the future.
My dog flew two times in cabin with Lufthansa - including connection flights, during all these flights my dog never barked or made any nuisance to other passengers, in fact my dog was sort of "invisible" under my seat. All crew members confirmed that my dog behaves better than many human passengers.
Well done Air Malta to introduce pets in cabin scheme.
J. Tanti
Dec 9th 2011, 15:12
Air Malta is not reinventing the wheel: similar pet travel policies have existed on other airlines for years.
I am allergic to perfumes, aftershaves and most scented toiletries. I cannot reasonably expect everyone else to stop using them for my benefit. Passengers who are allergic to animals can do what I do when faced with "scented situations": keep tissues handy, grin and bear it.
Annika Vaisanen
Dec 9th 2011, 15:12
I have travelled with my dogs by Lufthansa, American Airlines, Finnair, Sas, British Airways etc. Both within Europe, within USA and from USA to Europe, and never had any problems with them. First time my puppy travelled she was 12 weeks old and she slept in her bag quietly for 8 hours from New York to Helsinki. Other passengers did not even notice she was there, and those who did adored her. Why would Air Malta NOT take pets in the cabin, as other airlines have done that for the past decade or more?? If people are that pet phobic, then they better stay at home and not go out of the house, as there is always the possibility that you might come acros other species, even dogs or cats perhaps. In general I am sure that dogs and cats are much more wellbehaved and quiet on a flight than many kids for example let alone some drunken and smelly people.
david micallef
Dec 9th 2011, 15:11
why not the UK??????????????i have an african grey parrot and would love to bring him over with me when i return back home.
Gillian Snook
Dec 9th 2011, 16:31
I would love to take my cat to the UK so he could climb the trees and play in the snow at home, but would never want to put him with the luggage, so he has to miss out.
Annika Vaisanen
Dec 14th 2011, 17:19
I have travelled to UK several times. Now it's even easier as there is no longer 6 month waiting period after the rabies vaccine, as neither there is to Malta.
Mr Joseph Galea
Dec 9th 2011, 15:11
The only point that made sense out of all comments was the allergy point. Regarding smells, I had to suffer many times by sitting near a smelly human. Believe me I had to suffer and once I threw up. I am sure that pet owners who travel with their pets are well-educated, well-mannered people who also can afford to take their pet on holiday. I bet the cost of taking a pet is as much as a passenger ticket, which in the case of Air Malta are normally insanely high.
Then we had the argument of noise. Countless are the times I had to suffer by hearing whining and crying children, not to mention other disturbances caused by them.
Re-diseases, I think only a human being can infect another human being. Many times you see and hear people sneezing, coughing, etc.
Moreover, I am sure that the incidence that you will encounter a passenger with a pet on an Air Malta flight is negligible unless you are a very frequent traveller by this airline.
A Camilleri
Dec 9th 2011, 17:57
maybe you need to travel in a balloon all by yourself mr. galea, i bet the people sitting next to you when you threw up thought the same as you think about others, think about it!!!
F. Pisani
Dec 9th 2011, 15:09
to all animal lovers, please for crying out loud i love animals too, but one cannot compare pets with human being. yes i know baby can very irritating, and people with terrible smells are know also a commen encounter, but does this gives you allergie? and which is the easies to calm down a baby or a small Ciwawa? i know people that cannot stand withen 10 meters from a cat before he will be suffocating with his allergie! SO REALLY NO. and another thing will you wearing your pets nappies? who will be in charge of cleaning up? HELO!!! will ther be airfreashners included in the flight pass ticket fee? you'll never know!!!!
Gillian Snook
Dec 9th 2011, 16:34
Obviously not a pet lover.
wayne scicluna
Dec 10th 2011, 13:02
I'll take a dog or cat over a dirty, smelly or complaining human any day. Also you are correct in saying that humans cannot be compared to animals......just look at which one is raping and destroying the planet they live on.
J Farrugia
Dec 9th 2011, 15:02
What a bunch on numpties some of you below are.
Oh i have an alergy, oh i'm scared of animals, oh i might get a flea bite. pathetic
I hate humans more and more after reading what some of you write.
Annika Vaisanen
Dec 9th 2011, 15:14
I couldn't agree with you more.. It's hilarious, if they are that scared of everything then they are better off not leaving their house. Pets travelling must go through vet checks, vaccinations, and treatments for possible flea or ticks, however some sort of vetting would be appropriate for some people too lol.. ;)
Alex Farrugia
Dec 9th 2011, 16:00
well said!!
Catharina In Den Bosch
Dec 9th 2011, 14:51
Well done Air Malta !
All those negatieve comments...........
Please think before you post comments.
Babies crying during a whole flight, sneezing, coughing and smelling passengers
are quite common.Does anyone comment on that ??
And every animal lover knows that its no problem, calming your very small dog or cat,
while you are next to it.
Passengers who are allergic can ask for another seat if required.
Noelle Darmanin
Dec 9th 2011, 14:49
For those people who are allergic to cats and dogs, they just have to ask once they do the check-in so they are not seated near a dog or a cat. Other airlines have this service aswell and probably some of you boarded the airline and didn't know. Might I also add to the comments below about ticks and fleas, before an animal is taken abroad they undergo a serious of tests and injections so there is nothing to worry about. Also there will be a maximum of 3 cats or dogs aboard not a whole sanctuary.
Peter Seebohm
Dec 9th 2011, 14:42
Pets in cabine? No AirMalta booking.
They will win a handful more customers because of the pets in cabine.
But they will loose more clients
I remember AirMalta booking a time ago - when I worked in the CallCenter - in six month one person declined to fly with AirMalta because of the NO PETS IN CABINE rule. 1 in six months !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keith Bray
Dec 9th 2011, 16:43
Would rather have pets than some of the passenger's I have had to sit next to on flights. Pets have to pass strict checks on health, humans do not have to pass any checks, pets do not get drunk and abusive, humans do, pets do as they are told, humans do as they please.
Other airlines have taken pets for years, and Peter, should not have mentioned you worked in the call center. Call center staff the world over are not the most reliable and believable people you ever deal with.
Peter Seebohm
Dec 9th 2011, 18:27
so you try to tell me: i was not honest when i worked?
J Goffin
Dec 9th 2011, 14:41
Why not the UK ??
Ivor Ramsden
Dec 9th 2011, 22:11
I don't think UK airports allow furry things except as freight.
F. Pisani
Dec 9th 2011, 14:37
Mr Edward Camilleri, Ci Sei o Ci Fai? Are you connected to this World?
Pets Smell the End!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Edward Camilleri
Dec 9th 2011, 15:59
Honestly I prefer a dirty pet than a clean human being, because the level of intollerance shown by some is amazing!
David Smith
Dec 9th 2011, 14:36
Just what Air Malta needed!! Come on people, put your act together.
Robert Zammit
Dec 9th 2011, 14:32
Good animal but you have problem about noise or bark ? I not problem I am Deaf !
F. Pisani
Dec 9th 2011, 14:28
are you serious? you just simply need 1 pet in the cabin to discomforte the whole cabin. what about it leavings, smells, and speeking from my point of view, a cat allergic type, i don't think this is a great idea. really i do like animals especially dogs but in closed space like that i don't thing there is place for them. airmalta please you have better things on your mind right know, please Do rethink ok? OK!!!
J Mizzi
Dec 9th 2011, 14:24
I recently had a minor argument with Air Malta for their bad timing in issuing offers. I explained that Air Malta has to loose not its customers.
WE the customers decide the fate of the company - I suggest that all the Air Malta team is given a seminar on Quality Service - I might even suggest reading 'Managing Quality' by S. Thomas Foster.
James Ghirlando
Dec 9th 2011, 14:21
This piece of news has just made my day and I am certainly not going to let any wet blankets spoil it for me!!
Note that the rules REQUIRE tick and flea treatment before traveling, so no argument there.
Thumbs up to Airmalta! This means we will be returning to using Airmalta to visit Malta with our beloved pet, instead of being forced to resort to other airlines as we have had to do in the past ....
Andrew Cagney
Dec 9th 2011, 14:20
Air Malta is moving ahead with the times. Other airlines have also introduced such policies. A big well done!!!
Ivor Ramsden
Dec 9th 2011, 14:15
Everybody who has flown and had to listen to a tired, crying child will know how upsetting the noise can be in the confined space of an aircraft, but they eventually settle down and sleep. Noisy adult passengers can be instructed to be quiet by cabin crew or flight crew.
When they are distressed, some animals can keep up their howling or barking literally for hours. What fun that will be, because nobody will be able to stop them. The container size will limit the size of animal but even tiny dogs can make a lot of noise, particularly when frightened. Speaking of the container, 55x40x20cm is very small. Does it not constitute cruelty if a creature is cooped up in such a small space for any length of time?
What about pet toilet requirements at MIA?
Air Malta haven't lost me as a customer yet, and this latest wizard scheme won't affect me because I fly to and from the UK, but they seem to be trying awfully hard to spoil the hitherto reasonable booking and travelling experience.
.
adrian agius
Dec 9th 2011, 14:12
i adore animals but unfortunately i'm super allergic to cats. What do i do if i find a cat sitting down next to me? should i stay in the toilet or sit next to the captain????
Edward Camilleri
Dec 9th 2011, 14:05
Well done Air Malta, hope other airlines that have not done so already, will follow.
Andrew Scicluna
Dec 9th 2011, 14:00
The smaller the dog, the more irritating and loud the bark!
The 10kg limit does not guarantee a quiet and peaceful flight...
I hope no dog-lover uses the excuse that babies are also prone to crying all throughout a flight!
Janet Bayes
Dec 9th 2011, 13:49
This is a diabolical idea - - and will I will make certain that I never travel air malta on pet carrying flights. Imagine the fleas, ticks, and smells, never mind the allergy risk to some human passengers. Hope the planes will be regularly cleaned and disinfected.
Edward Camilleri
Dec 9th 2011, 14:03
I never smelt any pet bad, on the contrary its not the first time that I had to sit near a smelly human being. Don't you remember when we had to smell and inhale 2nd hand smoke from those smoking passengers? I hope you were not one of them.
Peter Seebohm
Dec 9th 2011, 14:25
Unlike Ryan Air the planes and espcially the toilets are cleaned regulary.
I don´t hate pets, since I am a cat lover.
But I totally agree with the "allergy" point. Imagine you are allergic against dogs or cats and the only free place is just behind them. aaaargh
Next is: Mobiles in planes: Imagine those crying Maltese, Italians, because the lines are bad.
Air Malta was one of the very few airlines which had a strict: No Pets in cabine rule. For a handful of people each year they change it now.
Janet Bayes
Dec 10th 2011, 00:27
@Peter Seebohm - - - dont know when you last travelled air malta - - but one month or so ago when we did the plane was in need of repair around the seats we used. Pockets were broken, and sharp metal was obvious. If the seats were cleaned, this would be noticed and dealt with I think.
Simon Oosterman
Dec 9th 2011, 13:36
What happens when a passenger on the flight is allergic to cats/dogs? Are the pets taken to the hold or the passenger?
Edward Camilleri
Dec 9th 2011, 14:01
The passenger is most suitable for the hold in this case, because they are normally well over 10kg!
Ian Vella
Dec 9th 2011, 13:34
Is this what top payed foreign executives are thinking about instead of finding a way for enemalta to be profitable?
These are only gimmicks and alienation from the real problems AirMalta is facing.
j brincat
Dec 9th 2011, 13:08
Is this meant to be the turnabout Air Malta so much needs?
(jb)
James Tyrrell
Dec 9th 2011, 13:07
As much as I like animals I do not think this is a good idea. Let us consider the situation in an emergency when the plane has to ditch in the sea or catches fire on landing and needs to be evacuated quickly. If anything like this happens passengers are requested to follow the instructions of the cabin crew and evacuate the plane as quickly as possible leaving behind all hand luggage. Are these people going to leave behind their pets or will they try and take them out of the plane? I wouldn't blame them for trying as a pet after all is part of their family but surely it will cause problems in such a situation. There are also people who cannot have pets due to suffering various allergies yet they are going to be subjected to confinement in an aircraft with various animals where the air is being recirculated. Isn't that going to cause their allergies to flare up?
Mr. R. Saliba
Dec 9th 2011, 17:16
You speak as if the plane would be half filled with pets!