As Mack Collier of The Viral Garden points out, when Snakes on a Plane opens in August, "the viewers aren't going to see a movie, they are going to watch a product that they helped create."

Along with all the pre-release buzz and community-generated content surrounding Snakes, airlines -- yes, the real ones -- are fielding questions about what their policies are about snakes.

Here, from the Kansas City Star (see full article for the answers to such pressing questions as, "could a snake really get a boarding pass?" and "but what if through some weird fluke -- or some mobster hit man -- you do find yourself on a plane with a snake?") is the real scoop:

American Airlines: No snakes in the cabin; dogs and cats only. Snakes can be shipped as cargo, however, but only by reputable shippers who have security clearance.

United Airlines: No snakes as carry-on; only dogs, cats and household birds -- canaries, finches and parakeets -- allowed in the cabin.

Southwest: No snakes or any other animal on board unless it's a seeing-eye dog or other animal necessary by doctor's order.

US Airways: No snakes anywhere on the plane. Only domestic cats, dogs, birds and tropical fish in the cabin; no animals allowed as cargo.