An airline passenger’s joy turned to despair after he was told he would be upgraded to first class – only to be told he would have to give up his seat for a dog
An airline passenger was left feeling utterly ruffled when he was booted out of his first-class seat to make way for a canine companion.
The traveller was thrilled to learn he’d been upgraded by Delta Airlines at a US airport.
However, upon arriving at the gate, his excitement was short-lived as he was informed that a service dog needed the seat to accompany its owner in the luxurious section of the plane.
To add insult to injury, the passenger’s original seat was no longer available, leaving him relegated to a lower-grade seat than he’d initially booked.
He took to social media to express his dissatisfaction: “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”.
“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.”
“There is no way that dog has spent as much with this airline as I have … What an absolute joke. What’s the point of being loyal to this airline anymore, truly.
“I’ve sat back when others complained about this airline mistreating customers lately and slipping in service levels, but I’m starting to question my allegiance as well.”, reports the Mirror, who reached out to Delta for a statement.
Several people sympathised with the passenger who got the short end of the stick. One commented: “If you’d paid for your seat then I think it’s a legitimate gripe. Complimentary upgrades can be taken away for a variety of reasons though, not just service dogs, without compensation.
“Doesn’t hurt to try with a complaint email or a call to your medallion line, but be prepared for a second rejection just in case.”
Another said: “I think on any airline or any other place if someone claims they have a service animal then they should have papers for them too. Service animals are well behaved and trained. I’m not against animals, don’t get me wrong, but people are important too.”
Some folks reckoned it was only fair for the seat to be sacrificed for a service animal.
One person remarked: “I bet you’d probably still complain if they gave you the seat and then you had to have limited space because of the service animal.
“[From the] way it sounds that you act personally, I think the downgrade was reasonable. If you wanted first class, pay for it. Be grateful if you ever get it, but sometimes in life things happen. “Does not give you the right to blast a person with a service animal and from the look of it that dog is being very respectful and as well trained.”
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