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 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.
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 .