An airline policy that allows a few animals to travel with passengers in the main cabin area of planes is raising concerns among people with sensitivities to pet dander.

A WestJet flight recently sent a Regina passenger scrambling for medical attention, when she had a severe allergic reaction to a dog on board.

That experience prompted WestJet to remind travelers with sensitivities to identify themselves as having a special need when booking their tickets.

"What we would do is try to put as much distance as possible between the two," Robert Palmer, a spokesman for WestJet told CBC News on Friday.

He said the airline allows up to four small pets in the passenger cabin, so long as the animals are in crates that fit under the seat.