A man purchased three seats on an American Airlines transcontinental flight: one for himself, and two for his dog, a Great Dane he categorizes as a “psychiatric service animal.”
Great Dane Gets Comfortable On American Airlines A321
Video has emerged of a proud pet owner showcasing his Great Dane onboard an American Airlines Airbus A321T traveling to New York (JFK). Two seats were purchased for the Great Dane, which weighs 140 pounds….and it does appear that every bit of those two seats were needed for the oversized pooch.
@gibbon1215 Who says Great Danes aren’t airplane dogs. Shoutout to @American Airlines for making our move to Brooklyn a piece of cake though! (Yes I bought 3 seats for us on the plane) #greatdane #dog #gay #fyp #tiktok #newyork #brooklyn #doggo
View From The Wing claims that emotional support animals have become less common on airplanes since the US Department of Transpiration (DOT) cracked, down but this has not been my experience in the case of dogs. Instead, DOT leaves open a mile-wide loophole in mandating that “psychiatric service dogs” be allowed onboard without documentation. I’ve seen so many of these lately on my United flights. At least it is true that we no longer see emotional rabbits, pigs, or other creatures.
I’m not a pet owner and generally hostile toward dogs, but I’ll try to stay neutral here and just say that if a man purchases three seats, I’m okay with this as long as the dog does not stink or make noise during the flight. In fact, I applaud the man for at least paying for two extra seats when he could have just brought the massive dog onboard at no cost while claiming it was a service animal.
I do think the dog culture has run amok in the United States, considering you don’t see such conduct anywhere else in the world on an airplane and I doubt we Americans are so exceptional as to be the only ones with a need for “psychiatric service” dogs.
CONCLUSION
I don’t like dogs on planes period, but if a dog has to be on a plane, I like the idea of purchasing 1-2 seats for the dog. This was a courteous solution that took into consideration the massive size of his dog and what an inconvenience it would be to other passengers if the Great Dane tried to sit on the floor.
“I’m not a pet owner and generally hostile toward dogs”
You monster.
I was attacked twice as a kid. I’m scarred.
Dogs are for lonely people or kids
“Dogs are for lonely people or kids”
LOL. Dogs are for people who enjoy having intelligent pet companions and who are willing/able to put in regular time and love (and expense) to take care of them. Not everyone fits that bill, unfortunately, which is fair.
” dogs are for lonely people and kids”
Says a cat lover, I’m sure!
Out yt women who disproportionately use them to replace their childlessness
You are more hostile toward the dog than you were to the “POS” fatty. Com’on man. Hell, as you stated, at least he tried to be courteous about it buying the dog two seats.
Given the short life of great danes, I seriously doubt this was a legit, trained service animal.
However, I also applaud the passenger for buying seats for the dog.
When Stuart was too cheap to book first class, I would demand 2 seats so I could spread out just like this dog.
Dogs should be allowed to fly in cabin and receive full service from the crew.
Just they need to pay full fare. Want to fly up front with your dog, pay full fare J
“I do think the dog culture has run amok in the United States”
This is a surprising comment considering your travels in Europe where dogs in public transportation, supermarkets, shops, restaurants, and trains are much more common. Whereas in the U.S. they are generally not allowed in any of those areas. Airplanes are perhaps the one area where the US is more liberal than European countries regarding dogs, whereas just about everywhere else it is more conservative.
I don’t know where you live, but they are still brought to all of the places you just named, allowed or not. There are very few spaces where people, allowed or not, Don’t take their dogs.
What a gorgeous dog–and better behaved than most children and adults on board I’ve seen lately. I’m sorry you don’t enjoy the joy of canines, Matt, but to each his own. Kudos to the owner for buying seats for his giant breed dog and apparently not disturbing those around him.
I love dogs. But they don’t belong on an airplane and neither do people that are so fragile they need to travel with one. But at least he had the decency to pay for the required space to accommodate the dog.
Pick your own name – this is not me.
Kudos to him for paying for the seats.
Well, I’m not a [child/human] owner, and I’m *not* generally hostile toward [children/humans], but I’ll try to stay neutral here and just say that if a person purchases a second seat for them, I’m okay with this as long as the [child/human] does not stink or make noise, or make themselves a nuisance during the flight.
Only issue I wonder about is allergies… Many people (myself included) are allergic to dogs, notwithstanding that I love dogs, I just can’t pet one or be too close to one, something about the dog’s dander. Interestingly, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 15 to 30 percent of all Americans are affected by dog allergies. Would the airline have to accommodate me to another seat if I was seated in close enough proximity to be affected by the dog?
“I’m okay with this as long as the dog does not stink or make noise during the flight.”…but it would be okay if it was a child?
I would find a man travelling with a great Dane,very calming and put a smile on my face.Only dogs I don’t care for are the little yappy neurotic ones.Dogs are a real blessing for so many,the blind,the elderly,they help uncover drug smuggling,have given real friendship to hardened criminals behind bars who never knew what it meant to be loved,rescued God knows how many in avalanches,fires,etc…on and on,I’d sit next to one on a flight and share my business class meal anytime,LOL
Dr. Klint–thank you for your expert opinion based on your extensive understanding of the role of “psychiatric service dogs”.
I’d prefer the loopholes remain open if this facilitates access for passengers with health issues (yes, including mental health, or what you may call “mental health”) while also protecting personal privacy.
A perfect example for the triple XL size fatties who are claiming that airlines discriminate them with seat size and require to purchase two seats to be fitted in.
Dear Matthew,
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Also your ads free, no credit card signup promo link like other bloggers who post at least 10 times a day on how good Chase CSP Hyatt Visa Hilton Aspire with great signup bonus and how good it is and so on or talks about their trip report but in the end “if you want to stay at this property, I redeem Hyatt points for it and you can do it too by signing up for this card using my referral link” it’s all about marketing. Keep it up
TPG has really gone overboard with it.
Totally agreed,
Here’s an example:
Day1 Chase offered bonus sign up
Day 2 Chase offered Priority Pass
Day 3 Chase offered Rental Car Protection
Day 4 Chase redemption
Day 5 Why you should have Chase Freedom Unlimited and on
I just read a review of Delta Premium Economy on TPG and there were at least a dozen referrals in just that trip report alone.
So has “One Credit Card at a Time”.
And I repeat…I have NEVER had an issue with an animal on an airplane.
(When I flew with my two pups the cabin crew couldn’t have been any better.)
I can’t say the same about human passengers.
I’m obligated to defend service animals. Someone’s gotta do it…
Psychiatric Service Animals, in the USA, cannot be over 25 lbs. The passenger may have categorized it as one, but the FAA doesn’t. Also, this is not a uniquely American phenomenon. Service animals are common on planes in Brazil specifically, and other South American countries as well. As a concept, it also does exist in Europe, and all EU carriers allow service animals (even EU licensed psychiatric-style service animals) to travel free in cabin.
I recently took large disinfectant hand wipes and wiped down my airplane seat from top to bottom. You should see the Dirt! Can’t they at least put a blanket on the seat so the dog won’t leave his poo or pee on it? Very discourteous and rude (they don’t clean the plane seats; you have to do it).
I’m amazed at the number of people who hate children when it comes to dog stories. Yes children & adults can be annoying but they’re human beings. By his behavior, this dog is an ESA, not an ADA service dog. What people fail to realize, dogs, by nature, are pack animals. ESAs natural desire is to interact with other dogs, preventing real service dogs from doing their job.
If you are incapable of riding in a plane without a dog, I don’t want you anywhere near that aircraft when it’s 5 miles up in the sky. You’re not stable enough to be on a plane m. After all, what would happen if the pet was suddenly to die? A complete mental breakdown and freak out?
Dogs are not the same things as kids. People don’t suffer from a human allergy, despite how cynical some wish to sound. Despite the fact he paid for 2 seats, someone should have put some covering on the cushioning. Nasty through and through.