Quantcast

Delta flight controversy over seating arrangement for plus-sized woman and service animal

Qantas launches mammoth Asia flight sale including Bali and Japan
New Update from Air Canada, WestJet, American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue Airways, and Sunwing: Airline Capacity Between Canada and US Slashed as Bookings Plummet Seventy Per Cent
Delta Cuts Two Domestic Routes
United Airlines Technicians Reject ‘Dead on Arrival’ Contract Proposal, Teamsters Say
The State of the Asia Pacific Airline Industry
Spirit Airlines to add Detroit nonstop flight out of Bradley International Airport
Major airline to launch new direct flights from Scotland to North America
Ryanair launches new ‘prime’ membership which saves passengers more than £400 a year
Judge Orders Boeing to Trial on 737 MAX Case
Qantas’ free international Wi-Fi to switch on from next week
The real reason Southwest is charging for bags now
Air France-KLM in ongoing talks with Air Europa on potential stake, CEO says
Frontier Savagely Shades Southwest After They Eliminated Longstanding Free Bag Policy, Sparking Backlash
Frontier Wants You to 'Divorce Your Old Airline' After Southwest Changes
Delta named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for sustainability initiatives
Passengers escape fiery American Airlines jet in Denver
Delta, American Dive On Slashed Outlooks; But Two Airlines Rally
Competitors are circling Southwest after the airline announced it's going to start charging for checked bags
Exclusive: Dominican Low-Cost Carrier Arajet Wants to Disrupt NYC Market
Boeing deliveries rise 63% in February from a year earlier
Transportation Secretary Duffy Lays Out 10 Ways the FAA Is Working to Upgrade Air Traffic Control and Make Flying Safer
EasyJet pilot Paul Elsworth suspended after flying too close to mountain
Delta Air Lines bets on ‘blended-wing’ flight to reduce emissions
Europe's airlines pivot to bite size M&A deals to limit cost, regulatory burden
Dave Emerson named new CEO of Virgin Australia, replacing Jayne Hrdlicka
Ryanair DELAYS controversial new boarding pass rule to avoid summer chaos
FAA Orders Inspection, Replacement of 737NG Engine Parts
Spirit Adds New Airport, Three Routes
Delta crash passengers should take the $30,000 payment, their lawyers say. Here’s why.
Budget airline launches new cheap flights to one of the UK’s top winter sun destinations
Delta flight controversy over seating arrangement for plus-sized woman and service animal
Research
Webp p18pueyozwbyaegyt1fzg7i1qaau
View from the Wing | View from the Wing

A passenger at the gate area of a Delta flight captured a photo of a woman preparing to board for Detroit, accompanied by a large dog and four carry-on items.

The dog was not in a bag that fits underneath the seat, which is required for pets in the cabin. Although registered with the airline as a service animal, it clearly did not meet the criteria. Pets in cabins are treated as carry-ons, meaning she should have only had one personal item with her instead of four.

Upon boarding the Bombardier CR-9 regional jet, the woman found she did not fit in first class seat 2A along with her dog. The flight attendant on this Delta Connection trip allowed her to move across the aisle to sit in 2C and placed her dog in 2D. Both seats were assigned to other passengers.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

The passenger assigned to 2C was redirected to 2A upon boarding. Subsequently, the passenger with seat 2D was given seat 1C. When the passenger holding ticket for 1C boarded, he was informed there was no first-class seat available for him.

The first-class passenger in 1C was "involuntarily downgraded to a comfort-plus seat," which offers extra legroom but is still part of coach class.

Typically, passengers who purchase only one seat should be afforded just one seat. Other passengers should not be moved or downgraded to accommodate them. If more than one seat is needed, additional seats can be purchased; however, this does not increase the carry-on bag allowance.

Despite these issues, Delta Air Lines flight 4306 departed ten minutes early and arrived in Detroit twenty minutes ahead of schedule.

Passengers can bring service animals on planes without extra charges by filling out paperwork that largely involves attesting that it is indeed a service animal. Emotional support animals are no longer officially recognized on planes but enforcing this relies heavily on an honor system.

This situation highlights ongoing challenges with emotional support animals on flights and compliance with related regulations.

---

Organizations Included in this History
More News

IndiGo has launched a new service from Mumbai to Seychelles, marking the first Indian carrier to operate this route in two decades.

Apr 1, 2025

Delta Air Lines has made changes to its flight operations between Detroit and Los Angeles, removing the Airbus A350-900 from the route's schedule.

Apr 1, 2025

Allegiant Air has announced the appointment of Victor Cipolla as manager of Inflight Training Operations.

Mar 31, 2025

Ethiopian Airlines has announced the official launch of a global cabin crew training program by Ethiopian Aviation University.

Mar 31, 2025

Atlas Air has announced that certified flight instructors from the Atlas Cadet Academy have commenced hands-on professional development at the Atlas Training Center.

Mar 31, 2025

Hector Nazario, the husband of Kenia Nazario, who is employed at Flying Food Group (FFG), expressed concerns about the union Unite Here.

Mar 31, 2025