A plane passenger spotted an unexpected symbol on a number of seats while looking at the map to book where they were going to sit on an upcoming flight. It’s not a requirement to book your seat in advance on a number of airlines but it is typically recommended – especially if you’re travelling with a companion you want to sit with.
A lot of airlines allow free seat selection during the check-in process while some charge you to choose a specific seat. Many passengers are keen to book their seat ahead of travelling to ensure they get a more comfortable or desirable seat.
Lots of people don’t wish to sit in the middle, some want to be near the toilet, while others may prefer a window seat.
One person got a surprise after looking at the seat map for the plane on an upcoming flight from Kansai International Airport, which is based in Osaka, Japan, to Vancouver International Airport, which is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
Taking to Reddit, they shared a screenshot of the seating map of the aircraft which displayed a number of seats with a paw print image on. The passenger didn’t specify which airline they were flying with.
In confusion, the passenger asked: “Am I on a flight with all animals?? I just checked into my flight for KIX -> YVR and my second flight has this paw symbol for almost every seat??
“Does anyone know if this actually means there’ll be a bunch of pets or random animals? Or if anyone has seen this before? Just confused and would like more context or someone else’s experience please.”
Fellow Reddit users took to the comments section to share their thoughts. One person simply said: “No, it means those seats are pet friendly.”
In response, another person said: “The only sane and non-joking answer of the bunch! Paw symbols represent seats where it’s allowed to have a small pet in a carrier under the seat in front of you (assuming it meets the requirements and you’ve paid for it etc).
“Pets are not allowed in the other seats, often because there is less space under the seat.”
Other people raised the issue of pet allergies and the potential risk of travelling near animals. One person commented: “This is not an issue unique to pets.
“Some people have allergies to perfume, gluten, nuts, dust etc. Unfortunate for the sensitive person, but an airline can’t accommodate and plan around it.”
Agreeing, someone else said: “Your responsibility to inform the airline if it is one that allows pets.”
Another quipped: “I’d rather a dog than a screaming child”. Someone else said: “So I don’t have the right not to be seated next to a dog?”
One person replied: “No, in the same way that you don’t have a ‘right’ to be seated away from someone who wears perfume, eats nuts, or is heavy set.
“I think for any medical concerns, though, you could ask a flight attendant and likely find a sympathetic flyer to trade seats with you.”
In a different post on Reddit, another person had the same question after spotting an animal symbol on the seating map and wondering what it meant.
One person advised: “If you have a pet, you’re directed to these seats. It’s a regular seat but just marked so people know!”
Not all airlines are pet friendly. If you have concerns about animals before boarding a flight, it’s best to check ahead of time with the airline you’ve booked with.