A Delta Airlines passenger is fuming after being forced to give up his first class seat for a dog on a recent flight. The passenger, @ben_bob, claimed he was upgraded to first class but then had his upgrade revoked 15 minutes later and was told the decision was made due to a “service animal” request.
The passenger saw a dog in what was meant to be his extra legroom bulkhead seat and became enraged when he contacted Delta’s customer support. The airline allegedly told him that people “may be relocated for service animals” and that there is nothing they can do to help.
However, Delta’s website states that service animals are not allowed to occupy a seat or encroach upon another customer’s space in any way. Service animals are only allowed to sit on their owner’s lap, in foot space, or in a neighboring foot space if an additional ticket for the animal has been purchased.
Many Delta travelers have come together to offer support and joke about the situation. Some have questioned whether real service dogs get their own seats and whether travelers with severe allergies should be prioritized.
Travel expert Gary Leff sided with the irate passenger, saying that it doesn’t make sense to bump a passenger from first class to accommodate a dog in the bulkhead. The airline is required to provide reasonable accommodations under the Air Carrier Access Act, but a last-minute seat switch isn’t necessary.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14218285/Delta-airlines-class-seat-dog-Reddit.html