When Air Canada isn’t kicking unruly 6-year old kids off of planes, they’re sending your cranky cat to the cargo hold.

Beginning September 18, no pets will be allowed inside the passenger cabin on Air Canada flights. Guide dogs will be an exception.

While Air Canada is saying “no” (and “non,” presumably) to your furry friends, other airlines are stepping up with more pet-friendly policies. Roger Collis offers up a short (if Eurocentric) list in the International Herald Tribune. I personally favor Virgin Atlantic’s apparent policy of providing ferrets (and presumably other animals) with a “cool limited edition flying jacket and collar tag.” Swank.

Better yet, upstart CompanionAir plans to be the first airline catering exclusively to pets and their owners. Another niche airline? Why the hell not. It’s about as likely to take off as Air Gumbo at this point.

But until CompanionAir is flying, owners planning to take their pets to the skies should consult with the list of policies and tips offered at PetsWelcome.com. Though hardly globally authoritative, the site provides a good overview of the largest airlines’ pet policies.

As a person who’s allergic to most furry creatures, I actually see a no-pets policy as a perk, though I realize that pet owners are understandably worried about putting their animals in another person’s hands. Checking your pet as cargo will always involve some risk. Maybe owners should just hope for the best and then treat their pets to a luxurious pet spa at the destination…

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