United and other airlines are tightening their rules for people who go aboard with dogs, cats, pigs, lizards and, recently, peacocks. To ride in the passenger areas with their owners, the animals must be medically-certified and properly inoculated.

The stricter rules bring up memories of your travel4seniors.com editor’s first civilian air flight in 1945, at the end of World War 2. With a forward Navy unit in the Philippines, I was sent from Manila, Luzon to Mindanao to inventory Navy gear and weapons to be shipped home.

The Philippines Airline was beginning regular service. Aboard with owners were all kinds of animals, including cattle and poultry. They roamed the aisles for two hours, accompanied by loud voices and heavy odors. Fortunately, on the return trip I hitched a ride on a Navy submarine back to Luzon. So, on your next United flight, hope your seat mate isn’t traveling with a medically-certified comfort goat.