She wanted to take two cats with her in one carrier on an Alaska Airlines flight. When the airline wouldn’t allow it, her claim of “Christmas ruined” became a viral and pathetic holiday spectacle.
“Two Cats Karen” Melts Down At Alaska Airlines Over Pet Policy
A passenger now widely dubbed “Two Cats Karen” became the latest viral airline personality after a confrontation with Alaska Airlines staff over traveling with pets. The dispute unfolded at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas (LAS) when the woman attempted to board a flight with two cats placed inside a single under-seat carrier.
Video circulating on social media shows the passenger arguing loudly with Alaska agents after they informed her she could not travel with both cats in one carrier. According to Alaska staff, the animals did not have sufficient space and freedom of movement, which violated the airline’s in-cabin pet requirements.
https://www.tiktok.com/@ibeensaiddat/video/7586496632661855519?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
“You haven’t even seen my cat, so you’re not letting me go home for Christmas!” she shouted at one point. “Show me the policy that says my cat has to be a certain weight to go under the seat!” she continued, accusing the airline of “ruining Christmas.”
Alaska Airlines’ pet policy allows up to two pets of the same species to travel in one carrier only if they are small enough to move comfortably, with no body parts protruding, and without showing signs of distress. Airline staff determined that this condition was not met in this case and refused to allow boarding under those circumstances.
The passenger became increasingly emotional, at one point telling staff she was about to cry and insisting she had traveled this way before without issue. Alaska employees remained firm, reiterating that the carrier configuration did not comply with policy and that she would need to make alternate arrangements.
Ultimately, the woman did travel with both cats, but not before purchasing a second carrier and an additional seat and rebooking onto a later flight. Afterward, she vented her frustration on social media, blasting Alaska Airlines and its policies and declaring the airline had “ruined Christmas.”
“They made me leave the airport, buy a second pet carrier, a second seat to put the second cat under On a whole new flight 3 hours later,” she wrote on Facebook.
“F**k Alaska Airlines, their ‘policies’ and lack of customer service. I hope you all get coal for Christmas!”
Merry Christmas to you too…
Her video above has racked up over 220K likes on TikTok. While many sympathized with the stress of holiday travel and transporting pets, others pointed out that airline policies are clear and that compliance is the responsibility of the passenger.
CONCLUSION
Like so many viral airport moments, this one underscores that raising your voice and screaming will not help. She’s very fortunate, after her disputing outburst, that Alaska Airlines even let her on to a late flight.
image: TikTok/@ibeensaiddat // hat tip: View From The Wing
How do you block block something?
another entitled b*tch.
At least we’re “allowed” to say Merry Christmas again… until the next ‘war on Christmas,’ I suppose…
Oh no, the current administration will be starting all sorts of wars for no apparent reason before another war on Christmas begins.
Etiquette instructions : Pack your patience, not your cats. Bah Humbug. I mean Merry Christmas.
Two Cats Karen indeed. You gotta love it when over-entitled people get upset when rules apply to them.
Seems to me that she got-off likely. At United they probably would’ve called a “huddle” at which a dour, stony-faced über-Karen FA would undoubtedly have been advocating for the cat-lady to be banned from flying United for life.
Two Kat Karen is a kunt
Two kat karen is a kunt
Her threatening to cry would have made me start laughing. Sorry, lady, rules is rules.
I feel bad they are calling her a Karen, I praise her for loving animals. she knows her 2 cats sleep beside each other and they will be fine on the flight, she would not hurt her own cats, and she paid for her ticket, leave her alone and don’t ruin her holiday that she planned for so long
But did she knowingly book her travel this was to save herself some money while traveling with 2 cats?
I went to the Alaska website when I first heard of this story. It took <2 minutes to find their policy and the phone number to call or the link to click to chat so you can add in-cabin pets. They clearly state in their policies there that two carriers requires two seats. But they specifically allow two animals of the same species and size in a single carrier under the conditions no body parts hand out and the animals are not experiencing duress. All she had to do is look at the website, register one carrier, and show them their own website that permits a twofer. Maybe you or mom should have really undertaken the effort you claim?
Four clicks to see:
“Up to two pets of the same species and similar size may travel in the same carrier, provided no body parts protrude from the carrier and the animals are not in distress.” [I chuckle at me, of course it is distress not duress]
Hit the hamburger>Travelling with us>Pets>In cabin pets [this is likely not exact phrasing, but close enough]
Happy Holidays everyone (Happy Hannukah, New Year as well!). My insights on a cat question as a Cat Person: I appreciate her sentiments but this is another example of how travelers need to think outside of the box. You’re a fish out of water, dependent upon the transport of others, so you can’t just engage in business-as-usual:
“Of course I’ll leave the one cat with my sister! I’ll be right back!” (Then find another passenger to look after the other cat while you show your single cat in the carrier, get approved, and quietly go to your gate!).
“Of COURSE it takes two seats. No problem!” “Excuse me, woman behind me, I’ll give you the money and $50 for your time if you look after my cat. I’ll buy a carrier and pay the extra fees! Merry Christmas!”
3rd option, folks, don’t travel with the cats or even small dogs. It’s better for them to stay home. Cats are WONDERFUL at home on vacation. Although it stressed my beloved Norwegian Forest Cat when I was gone 2 weeks at a time, they’re very capable of entertaining themselves if someone visits every other day and says hello. Dogs have more stress from the owners being away. A few days or even a week should be ok.
I have a 30 year old Littermaid I keep repaired and it’s wonderful: It self cleans and only needs the bag changed 1x/week. Cat sitters just come and check water and say hello to the cat so they know someone cares and that’s all.
Thank you for attending my Ted Talk.