Reportedly, a Delta Air Lines passenger was moved from a first-class seat to make room for a service dog, which has now sparked a heated online debate. The incident happened recently on a Delta flight, according to a report of the New York Post.The passenger, posting on Reddit as @ben_bob, explained they were initially upgraded to first class but then downgraded shortly before boarding. “I got upgraded to first this morning, only to 15 mins later get downgraded (to a worst seat than I previously had). I asked the desk agent what was going on and she said “something changed,” the passenger wrote. Upon boarding, the passenger discovered a dog occupying their original first-class seat. “Okay, fine, I am disgruntled but whatever, I then board only to see this dog in my first class seat … And now I’m livid,” they stated.
Delta Support informed the passenger that service animals take precedence, and they could do nothing. “There is no way that dog has spent as much with this airline as I have,” the passenger said, adding, “What’s the point of being loyal to this airline anymore, truly.” The passenger was moved to a less desirable seat.
The incident has sparked a discussion online, with some questioning the prevalence of service animals on flights. Others pointed to regulations prioritizing passengers with disabilities. One Delta employee commented that the airline is legally obligated to relocate passengers if a disabled passenger requires the seat.
Questioning Delta’s decision, Travel expert Gary Leff told the Post , “I genuinely don’t see Delta’s logic in bumping a passenger from first class to accommodate a dog in the bulkhead.” Leff argued that last-minute seat changes shouldn’t be necessary to meet accommodation requirements.
Earlier another US airline, BARK Air was in news for launching world’s first airline specifically designed for dogs. The inaugural flight traveled from New York to Los Angeles in May this year.
The airline offers a premium travel experience for dogs of all sizes and their human companions.
“BARK Air has taken the white glove experience typical of a human’s first-class experience and redirected all that pampering to pooches – from booking to arrival, to in-flight services and disembarkation, dogs will truly be the VIPs and treated to a positively luxurious, curated experience,” stated a company announcement then.
CEO and co-founder Matt Meeker developed the idea over 10 years, inspired by the challenges of flying with his late Great Dane, Hugo. Large dogs often travel uncomfortably in cargo. To highlight this, Meeker flew in a cargo crate himself from Florida to New York as part of a promotional campaign.
The current cost for a one-way flight between New York and Los Angeles is $6,000 for one dog and one human, or one human and two smaller dogs. A New York to London flight costs $8,000. Meeker acknowledged the high price, stating, “the price is high, and it’s too high.” He anticipates costs will decrease over time.