William J. McGee, an award-winning investigative journalist and travel editor, will be presenting “Aviation Series: Come Fly With Me” at LIU Post’s Hutton House Lectures for four weeks starting Jan. 30, 2019. The author of “Attention All Passengers,” McGee just published an article in USA Today on traveling with pets over the holidays.
He notes that for many people, pets are treated like family members—and their owners wouldn’t want to exclude them from any special occasion.
But, he warns, taking animals on board a flight comes with its own set of issues.
“As a general rule, service animals and emotional support animals are welcome on most forms of public transportation, including the 10 largest domestic scheduled airlines,” he writes. “The most important advice, for all modes of travel, is to check with your veterinarian before planning any trips.”
McGee cites the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ advice which states: “Unless your furry friend is small enough to ride under your seat, it’s best to avoid air travel.” People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, McGee adds, “strongly advice against transporting your animal companion by air in the cargo area.”
In his USA Today article, which ran on Dec. 13, McGee also discusses taking pets by car, rail, buses and boats as well as finding the right hotel for the family’s four-legged friends.
William McGee, an FAA-licensed aircraft dispatcher, is a contributing editor to Consumer Reports and former editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter. His Hutton House Lectures run in four weekly sessions, each starting at 10:30 a.m., from January 30 to February 20.
For more information on LIU Post’s Hutton House Lectures, which are usually held at Lorber Hall on the Post campus, call 516-299-2580 or email: TheLIUSchoolofProfStudies@liu.edu.
