If you’re a pet owner it may seem unfathomable for you to go on holiday and leave your precious loved one at home. While travelling with pets in the past has meant they need to be placed in a carrier and kept in cargo, in recent years airlines have loosened their cabin rules to allow for passengers, that are keen on holidaying with their furry friends, to bring them on board. 

While this has not always been met with approval from fellow passengers, thanks to a new survey conducted by the travel site Upgraded Points, it looks like the general consensus is that most are happy to share a cabin with a pet, more so than a child. 

Over 1,000 pet owners and non-pet owners were surveyed and 57% of non-pet owners said  they would prefer to spend their journey next to a pet than a child. Only 34% of non-pet owners polled were not comfortable sharing a cabin with other passenger’s pets. 

The survey also revealed some other interesting statistics. Over one in four pet owners would rather travel with their pet than their own child. It also showed that many pet owners are keen to adjust holiday plans to make it work for their pet, with 83% of pet owners admitting to altering their planes to better accommodate their pet’s needs. 

This would explain the surge in demand for pet-friendly hotels in cities. The poll disclosed that 75% of pet owners would pay more for a hotel if it meant that their pet could stay in the room with them. And one-third of pet owners would give up travelling to their bucket list destination in exchange for a standard holiday if it meant their pets could come along. Now that’s love. 

To see the original survey, visit upgradedpoints.com. 

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