موضوع وجود قطة أو كلب صغير على متن الطائرة ليس جديداً، لكنّه يفتح نقاشاً حول حدود الخصوصية وحقوق الركاب، بين مؤيد يعتبرها رفقة مشروعة، ومعترض يرى فيها تعدّياً غير مريح.
هذا الأسبوع؛ أثار منشور على منصة «X» الجدل بعدما كتبت صاحبته أنها أحضرت قطتها معها وأرفقت صورة القطة وهي تجلس في حضنها داخل الطائرة.
ردود الأفعال انقسمت بين مؤيد ومعارض، ولكل طرف وجهة نظر تستحق التقدير، البعض رأى في الأمر لمسة إنسانية تعبّر عن تطوّر «تجربة السفر» ومرونتها في احتواء التفاصيل الشخصية للمسافرين، بينما عبّر آخرون عن انزعاجهم، لا سيما من يعانون من الحساسية تجاه الحيوانات أو من يشعرون بعدم ارتياح لوجودها لأسباب تتعلق بالرائحة أو الخوف أو غيرها.
التشريعات الدولية منحت شركات الطيران حرية وضع «سياساتها الخاصة» بشأن نقل الحيوانات الأليفة داخل كابينة الركاب، لا يوجد قانون يُلزم أو يمنع، فالأمر متروك لتقدير كل شركة.
على سبيل المثال؛ تمنع شركات كالقطرية وطيران الإمارات والخطوط البريطانية اصطحاب الحيوانات داخل المقصورة، بينما تسمح شركات أخرى كطيران الاتحاد والخطوط التركية والسعودية والمصرية بنقلها وفق ضوابط محددة تشمل الوزن، وحجم القفص، وضرورة إبقاء الحيوان داخله طوال الرحلة، إضافة إلى توفر الشهادات الصحية والتصاريح اللازمة.
المؤيدون لهذا التوجه اعتبروا أن من حق المسافر اصطحاب حيوانه الأليف طالما أن الأنظمة تسمح، أما المعارضون فحذّروا من المضايقات المحتملة، خاصة في ظل غياب آلية واضحة تُتيح للمسافر اختيار مقعد بعيد عن الحيوانات أو معرفة ذلك مسبقاً.
هنا يبرز تساؤل؛ هل يحق للمسافر الذي يعاني من حساسية أو لا يشعر بالراحة أن يُبلَّغ بوجود حيوان أليف بجواره قبل الرحلة؟
وماذا لو دفع مبلغاً إضافياً لحجز مقعد مميز ثم فوجئ أثناء الرحلة بأن الجار في المقعد المجاور يصطحب قطة والطائرة ممتلئة بحيث لا تتوفر مقاعد بديلة؟
رغم بساطة هذا السيناريو، إلا أنه يطرح مسألة أعمق تتعلّق بالتوازن بين خصوصية كل راكب وحقوق من حوله.
شركات الطيران وضعت شروطاً صارمة للمقاعد القريبة من مخارج الطوارئ أو المقاعد المريحة؛ فلا يُسمح بالحجز فيها لمن يحمل طفلاً أو يعاني من إعاقة، ربما حان الوقت لتُدرج الحيوانات ضمن هذه السياسات، بما يضمن حق «الراكب الرافض» في معرفة موقع الحيوانات مسبقاً أو تغيير مقعده عند الحجز، لا سيما في الرحلات الطويلة أو المزدحمة.
مع تنوّع أنماط السفر وتعقيدات الحياة الحديثة، بات من المعتاد أن تشهد الرحلات الجوية حالات غير تقليدية، كاصطحاب كلب مرافق لرجل كفيف، أو طلب نقل حيوانات غير أليفة مثل الزواحف، وبعض الخطوط الجوية خاصةً في الخليج تسمح بنقل الصقور داخل المقصورة ضمن ترتيبات خاصة.
كل هذه الحالات تؤكد الحاجة إلى مقاربة مرنة وعادلة، تُراعي التنوع الإنساني دون أن تُخلّ بحقوق أحد، فالسفر لم يعد مجرد انتقال بين نقطتين، إنما تجربة مشتركة تحتاج إلى تنظيم يحفظ الخصوصية، ويمنح الراحة.
تابع قناة عكاظ على الواتساب
The topic of having a cat or small dog on board an airplane is not new, but it opens a discussion about the boundaries of privacy and passenger rights, with supporters considering it a legitimate companionship, and opponents seeing it as an uncomfortable intrusion.
This week, a post on the platform "X" sparked controversy after its author wrote that she brought her cat with her and attached a picture of the cat sitting in her lap on the plane.
Reactions were divided between supporters and opponents, with each side having a perspective worthy of consideration. Some saw it as a human touch that reflects the evolution of the "travel experience" and its flexibility in accommodating the personal details of travelers, while others expressed their discomfort, especially those who suffer from allergies to animals or those who feel uneasy about their presence for reasons related to odor, fear, or others.
International regulations have granted airlines the freedom to establish their "own policies" regarding the transport of pets in the passenger cabin; there is no law that obliges or prohibits this, as it is left to the discretion of each airline.
For example, airlines like Qatar Airways, Emirates, and British Airways prohibit bringing animals into the cabin, while others like Etihad Airways, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Airlines, and EgyptAir allow their transport under specific regulations that include weight, cage size, and the necessity of keeping the animal inside throughout the flight, in addition to the availability of health certificates and necessary permits.
Supporters of this trend believe that travelers have the right to bring their pets as long as the regulations allow, while opponents warn of potential inconveniences, especially in the absence of a clear mechanism that allows travelers to choose a seat away from animals or to know this in advance.
This raises the question: Does a traveler who suffers from allergies or feels uncomfortable have the right to be informed about the presence of a pet next to them before the flight?
And what if they paid an additional amount to reserve a premium seat, only to be surprised during the flight that their neighbor in the adjacent seat has brought a cat, and the plane is full so no alternative seats are available?
Despite the simplicity of this scenario, it raises a deeper issue related to the balance between each passenger's privacy and the rights of those around them.
Airlines have set strict conditions for seats near emergency exits or comfortable seats; reservations in these areas are not allowed for those traveling with children or those with disabilities. Perhaps it is time to include animals in these policies, ensuring the right of the "refusing passenger" to know the location of animals in advance or to change their seat when booking, especially on long or crowded flights.
With the diversity of travel patterns and the complexities of modern life, it has become common to witness unconventional cases during flights, such as a service dog accompanying a blind man, or requests to transport non-domesticated animals like reptiles. Some airlines, especially in the Gulf, allow the transport of falcons in the cabin under special arrangements.
All these cases emphasize the need for a flexible and fair approach that considers human diversity without infringing on anyone's rights, as travel has become more than just a transition between two points; it is a shared experience that requires organization to preserve privacy and provide comfort.
This week, a post on the platform "X" sparked controversy after its author wrote that she brought her cat with her and attached a picture of the cat sitting in her lap on the plane.
Reactions were divided between supporters and opponents, with each side having a perspective worthy of consideration. Some saw it as a human touch that reflects the evolution of the "travel experience" and its flexibility in accommodating the personal details of travelers, while others expressed their discomfort, especially those who suffer from allergies to animals or those who feel uneasy about their presence for reasons related to odor, fear, or others.
International regulations have granted airlines the freedom to establish their "own policies" regarding the transport of pets in the passenger cabin; there is no law that obliges or prohibits this, as it is left to the discretion of each airline.
For example, airlines like Qatar Airways, Emirates, and British Airways prohibit bringing animals into the cabin, while others like Etihad Airways, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Airlines, and EgyptAir allow their transport under specific regulations that include weight, cage size, and the necessity of keeping the animal inside throughout the flight, in addition to the availability of health certificates and necessary permits.
Supporters of this trend believe that travelers have the right to bring their pets as long as the regulations allow, while opponents warn of potential inconveniences, especially in the absence of a clear mechanism that allows travelers to choose a seat away from animals or to know this in advance.
This raises the question: Does a traveler who suffers from allergies or feels uncomfortable have the right to be informed about the presence of a pet next to them before the flight?
And what if they paid an additional amount to reserve a premium seat, only to be surprised during the flight that their neighbor in the adjacent seat has brought a cat, and the plane is full so no alternative seats are available?
Despite the simplicity of this scenario, it raises a deeper issue related to the balance between each passenger's privacy and the rights of those around them.
Airlines have set strict conditions for seats near emergency exits or comfortable seats; reservations in these areas are not allowed for those traveling with children or those with disabilities. Perhaps it is time to include animals in these policies, ensuring the right of the "refusing passenger" to know the location of animals in advance or to change their seat when booking, especially on long or crowded flights.
With the diversity of travel patterns and the complexities of modern life, it has become common to witness unconventional cases during flights, such as a service dog accompanying a blind man, or requests to transport non-domesticated animals like reptiles. Some airlines, especially in the Gulf, allow the transport of falcons in the cabin under special arrangements.
All these cases emphasize the need for a flexible and fair approach that considers human diversity without infringing on anyone's rights, as travel has become more than just a transition between two points; it is a shared experience that requires organization to preserve privacy and provide comfort.


