In Delta’s lounges pets are required to “remain inside the kennel with the door secured at all times.” These rules do not seem to be enforced, because here’s a very small dog, possibly a Yorkie, on a leash, on the floor directly in front of the hot buffet line at the newly-opened Salt Lake City airport Sky Club.
This is obviously not a ‘service animal’ and it’s not even a pretend one with ostentatious ‘service dog’ vest. It’s someone’s pet that’s been brought right up to the food. Sky Club staff do not even ask the passenger if it’s a (fake) service animal.
This new lounge opened October 28, 2025. It’s 34,000 square feet, with seating for up to 600 guests. It’s the second-largest Sky Club in the Delta network, and it’s already gone to the dogs.
Utah food code incorporates the FDA Food Code. The rule on live animals (6-501.115) is that they “are not allowed on the premises of a food establishment.”
- Dog-friendly patios are the exception, and they’re explicitly limited to patios.
- Salt Lake County’s Food Protection program runs a “dog patio” permit scheme. Restaurants can pay to let dogs on outdoor patios if they meet specific conditions (separate entrance, signage, cleanliness). There is no such patio here.
Pets can be in the airport terminal, typically leashed or crated – but that’s just the terminal. Once you’re inside a food establishment (which includes the Sky Club), the Utah food code governs. And by the way, Utah criminalizes misrepresenting a pet as a service animal.
I’ve written about dogs in Sky Clubs before. No one ever says anything when they walk around by the buffet, or on the tables. We’ve also seen a passenger let their dog eat off the restaurant table in the Delta One business class lounge at New York JFK, and fly with them in business class.
@oliverbelles My review of the new @Delta One lounge @jfk✈️ But seriously…what do you guys call this dessert?! #fypage #maltipoo #dogsoftiktok #dogvoiceover @delta @Les Belles NYC ♬ original sound – oliverbelles
Here are some simple ways you can tell that a passenger is faking that their dog is a service animal:
- The dog is being fed treats, and not just meals
- Their owner speaks to them in baby talk
- The animal rests on pillows
- There are two of them
- The animal is having a photo shoot in the aircraft window
Then again I’m not sure whether this is better or worse than Rudy Giuliani shaving over a bowl of soup at Delta’s New York JFK Sky Club.
FYI – Service dogs do get treats! They are an instrumental part of training and behavior reinforcement. Of course your bias and ignorance is shown once again!
@Retired Gambler – I’m not talking about as part of their training. You probably know this.
Last week at DFW I was in the E satellite tunnel behind a couple with a small dog on a leash. They stopped and watched the dog pee right in the middle of the floor on the carpet. Then brought it into the Admirals Club on the mid-level again just on leash. At least there they stayed on tile.
@NedsKid: To help prevent Admiral’s Club members from getting soggy shoes after walking in dog pee, American Airlines requests dog owner train their pets to pee or poop in the DFW SkyTrain or anywhere in the airport terminal prior to entering the AC lounge.
I take my two small dogs with me and my wife on Delta, the dogs are 15 lbs each. In addition, when we go to the lounge the dogs always Stay in their kennels. Plus, dogs (animals) are NOT allowed to each nor drink while in the lounge – that means no snacks / water. Those are the rules for staying in the lounge.
I am not surprised at all! It is not all of them, but it is ALWAYS them! FILTHY!!!
This is such a serious issue that will likely keep me up all night.
Many people are dirtier that most dogs .
I suppose a cat would he okay to wander around the buffet.
Grow up
take a picture and file a complaint with the state dept of health
I will post on google maps pictures of the dog and owner —your in a public place you want everyone to know .
@tomri — I think you meant ‘you’re’ (not “your”) like, as-in, ‘you are’ over-the-top.
I hate people.
I was at an In-N-Out in Oregon last month. There were dogs (obvious pets) walking around the restaurant. My wife cared more about this that I did and she asked the manager about it. The manager said that under Oregon law only service animals were allowed to be in the restaurant, but they weren’t allowed to ask the owners if their dogs were service animals! I then read the statute and didn’t think that’s what the law says, but most people like dogs and don’t like to hassle the pet owners.
I think this is a good point, lots of businesses (restaurants, stores etc.) are okay with small dogs regardless of the appliable statute. In my city, the statute is pretty clear that dogs (save for service digs) aren’t allowed, but half the restaurants choose to look the other way or actively encourage dogs, which is appreciated as the owner of a cute dog.
Who cares? Stop freaking out about dogs being in places. Most people don’t care.
Pet Owners, please stop and respect the need to keep your pets (children) away from stores and restaurants. This isn’t about you! Please be considerate.
Stop being so stuffy. The dog in the pic was on the floor. It’s acceptable to have children (who can be messy) everywhere. You’re being ridiculous. It’s not your job to police it.
There was a bigger dog in SLC club the other day although that one appeared to be marked as a service animal, but i’m like if we can bring animals into food places maybe i should learn how to train birds so i can have themm retrieve crackers and cheese from the buffet, clearly providing a service.
Unless someone has verifiable medical (physical) condition no animals. If you can’t stand to be away from Fido or Tabby for a week stay home.
That dog is probably cleaner and more civilized than the usual overweight baseball cap and shorts wearing middle aged white men we see parading around those clubs.
Only Premium Dog Food is served at the Delta buffet.
These stories proliferate as clickbait on travel blogs. It’s profoundly frustrating for those of us who must travel with service dogs. Travelling with a service dog give me the freedom to travel alone.
As for clubs, I always dream of finding someone who will hold on to my dog’s leash if I need to grab some food or go to the restroom. But those people are short supply.
I’ve developed a certain skill at holding a leash whilst using an espresso machine or holding a small plate of food. Fortunately, my dog knows what to do.
As for people who are unwise about handling their dogs, training, or the dog is not really performing a legit service… benefit of the doubt prevails. Accusations don’t really get anyone anywhere. Leave that up to the staff. Or get over it.
Outrage over a canine is often misplaced. I’m more concerned if the flight is safe, on time, that air traffic controllers are paid.
Time and again, people don’t even notice my dog. Or they might express curiosity. Or they ask if they can pet him (yes). I only once in decades had a seat-mate have a meltdown, but that was a guy who hated life, and he complained about everything.
I’d like to see a few bloggers look at what service dogs really do, how they benefit people who are disabled, and how to imagine coexisting on an airplane with an animal.
As for the buffet… who knows?
And maybe you’ll see me and my dog on the terrace at the LAX SkyClub. He won’t be jumping at a buffet. It’s okay to come say hello.
I have a dog. I love dogs. I HATE WITH A PASSION people who bring their dogs outside their homes for anything but a walk. Disgusts me to see animals in grocery stores, restaurants, airports, on planes, in hotels etc. have some gdm courtesy people. Dogs stay home. Period.
@Stop freaking out people — You forget that Gary (and the other travel blogs) literally must have a cycle of content, where they need to present an occasional dog-based outrage-bait article every week or so; it’s probably a compelling ‘engagement’ metric for them. Also, anything race-gender-city-specific, etc. There’s a method to this madness. I think Gary purposely includes typos just to get the grammar-fascist-types all uppity. Think of all the ‘clicks’ and ‘eyeballs’!
Hey Adam – Don’t ever travel to Europe. You won’t be happy at all
Cringe article from someone that doesn’t realize that service dogs come in multiple forms. Service also don’t need a vest as by law it’s not required. 0/10 rage bait
Chill out dude. The dog is doing no harm and is not near as dirty as the people using the buffet. Just think how many people use the toilet and don’t wash their hands…and then touch every single serving utensil which you also touch and then put their feces particles in your mouth. Way dirtier than dogs.
Pass the Warfarin treats, please.
Federal law preempts any state or local law or airline policy that restricts reasonable access for service dogs to go anywhere with the people they provide services to . . . so nothing is a clear violation here as we don’t know if that dog is a service dog or not (but from this angle I would say probably yes).
I’m a dog lover and I don’t understand why someone would want to put their pet through the trauma associated with flying. Not to mention the distress they cause to people who aren’t dog lovers. There are drugs that treat people and dogs with separation anxiety. Use them. Leave your dog at home.
@Mak — But, if we followed logic… commenters wouldn’t be able to ‘outrage’… oh no.
Karen? Is it you?
As a disabled person with a service dog and a non visible disability, articles like this terrify me. Its hard enough being a person, why are these bloggers amping our rage with each other to 11?
@Adam Agree totally and I hate animals.
@adam @C I find your comments pretty hilarious as those of us spy on you “EATING” animals daily! Yet claim to hate animals LMFAO. Must not be a member of the Bill Gates coalition for depopulation. Possibly a vegan turncoat? (No offense to the vegan’s we know everyone’s sh*t stinks). You out there that hate animals should rethink that logic. Why because when it comes down to human nature WE ARE THE ANIMAL in disguise! It’s right here in this article people PREYING on other people… Just with words that can kill just as easily if not more so than the physical act of such. Unless WE THE PEOPLE of a humane world begin to learn to coexist and respect the other species of this planet in unity founded and built with unconditional love compassionate empathy self-awareness and interpersonal accountability we are doing nothing more than walking around greeting everyone with such cack handed discordance literally. I don’t see YOU haters out there huffing and puffing at the conglomerates that control our food industry genetically modified foods and aren’t providing the intricacies of WHAT & HOW it was genetically modified on the packaging. I’ll let a dog or cat lick my wounds to heal faster as I’ve aged. I’ll even use magots too if it requires the need for such to remain healthy and survive this Fuqed up world-caused by the dirtiest and most ruthless animal on the planet-and continue to spread my Love and LIGHT of our Father to the masses for it is not the furries scalies feathered or hairless ones of the world that are destroying our lives by being with us wherever we are protecting us in many ways we can’t trust our own species to do. So please check yourself before you wreck yourself! With kindest regards with Love Light and unity to infinity & BEYOND. Love you all my world family be safe
This whole article confused me because emotional support animals are allowed inside of an airport and are of course allowed on to planes. So I’m not really sure why they would be banned from a lounge area. Especially when they’re flying *with* their owner.
And what confused me the most is that you were saying why didn’t any of the staff ask if they were a fake service animal. That’s literally illegal. People get sued for asking that all the time because it goes directly against the Americans with Disabilities Act. So you’re complaining about something that would literally put them in such a bad legal situation… Reading the title, and your concerns, made me think that the damn dog was on the *counter*. But it’s literally on the floor where it belongs, on a leash where it belongs, and even pulling away from the counter food…
@Greg there are times when you can’t just… “Leave them at home”.
Besides that doesn’t really make sense?
As someone who lived abroad, and adopted their pets from literally a different continent, having them fly with you is either $250/ a separate plane ticket entirely, or for free as an ESA…
There are plenty of reasons why someone can’t leave a dog at home. And then there are plenty of reasons why keeping the dog with you is preferable than keeping them in a kennel or having them stay with a stranger…
Not to mention, experiencing “the trauma” of flying lasts hours. Not years. Not days. Just hours. And if you have a pet that you condition to be used to traveling, then it’s not an issue at all.
You even bring up using medication while leaving the pet at home, when there’s literal medication For Taking The Pet With You.
I would have snitched really loud. Eff that.
it basically comes down to one thing: the passenger breaking the rules, and not being addressed. if only the airlines had the balls to speak up… but it’s not going to happen.. revenue is more important that the rules…