Earlier in the week I wrote about a Delta Air Lines passenger with their dog sitting in the business class cabin even though Delta rules are clear that pets may not accompany passengers in the Delta One cabin.
Of course we’ve also seen a passenger let their dog eat off the restaurant table in the new 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
In Delta’s lounges pets are required to “remain inside the kennel with the door secured at all times.” And even for service animals,
No animals are allowed to occupy seats that are designed for lounge customers
Animals must not eat or drink from Delta Sky Club serviceware
These rules do not seem to be enforced, because here’s a woman who “brought her dog to the buffet and is now serving the dog human food.”
Indeed, it isn’t just a Delta rule. The Michigan state health code generally prohibits non-service animals, including dogs, from being inside food establishments. An amendment permitted non-service dogs on restaurant patios if specific conditions are met, such as leashing, regular cleaning, and local approval. That exception does not apply here.
The pet carrier the passenger has highly suggests that dog isn’t traveling as a service animal in any case. So, at Delta like in Animal Farm, some animals are more equal than others and don’t have the rules applied to them.
More of kamala’s cat ladies in the wild.
No one here should condone disorder, and at the same time we should not punish responsible pet owners. The issue is that we cannot prevent every bark, just as parents cannot prevent their babies from crying on flights. So, do we ban all dogs and kids and… you know what, now that we think of it, those pesky wheelchairs are always holding us up from boarding quickly… these are all easy targets for your ire. So, what are the limits of our tolerance and intolerance?
Truly disgusting
@John
Dogs are not people. If you choose to travel with a pet, you’re not entitled to enter a airline lounge. To argue otherwise is to defy common sense.
@AdamL … +1 . Exactly . Dogs have parasite worms in their mouths from licking other dog’s rear ends . Children or the elderly in wheelchairs do not spread those parasites . It is a n issue of sanitation .
Delta has the perfect excuse here. They can tell customers they would like to accommodate their pet in the Sky Club but state law forbids it. It’s that easy.
If Delta is willing to violate or overlook a health code violation in this area, what is happening in the kitchen and the buffet with respect to other sections of the health code?
How about only true service dogs in the lounge? If you can travel without Fido either grow the hell up and stop living life as a five year old or just do everyone a big favor and stay home.
Imagine. Delta Airlines not abiding by actual laws.
Of course, these are the same loooziers that neglected to offer their half-million, long-suffering, ultra-stranded passengers a full refund on serial flight cancellations back in July; choosing instead to just offer “‘re-book” or “SkyPesos Credit” rather than the full cash refund mandated by law.
Did they also poop in the parking garage?
I am so glad I stopped paying for membership to the lounges.
Keep your dogs at home. If you can’t find someone to watch your dog or you’re a wimp and feel bad about a kennel, stay home. Oh, wait a minute! It’s all about you! Nobody cares about you and your animal. Pathetic
Kids are a requirement to propagate the human species, dogs, not so much.
It’s fascinating how many angry people post here. Apparently no one here has ever worked in a customer service job and understands how difficult it is dealing with a demanding and entitled customer base that scream and throw tantrums or threaten you with violence when they don’t get their way. Sometimes it’s better to minimize making a scene so that other passengers have a better experience. Sometimes it’s a judgement call. It’s never possible to make everyone happy.
So many people who post here are among the very offenders.
Would love this new admin to allow airlines to END the silly emotional support animal crap
It’s out of control – go back to small dogs in the cabin WITH A PET CARRIER – and other ones checked in. Don’t like it – then don’t travel with your dog – don’t travel at all.
Out of the 100 encounters since this nonsense starts only 5 were well behaved owners + dog.
I think a majority of frequent fliers regardless if left leaning or right would be supportive of ending this utter stupidity.
Delta let’s their passengers do as they want. They will let them do as they please because they don’t want to upset them; even if it means ignoring their own policies. Just ask their employees. The company rarely stands behind their people anymore. I’d stay away from all food Delta serves. Read about all the on board mishaps they’ve recently had.
Disgusting people. When when we fix this and ban all but real service animals from airplanes and airports?
The dogs are better behaved than most the passengers. Fill it with dogs.
I was in a delta lounge in ATL last year. A lady with her unleashed toy dog and her young son came in. Her son was giving full attention to his tablet, mom let the dog run free while she was into her phone. I watched the dog cock his leg and pee on the lounge chair. She looked up and saw it happen, but discounted it and went back to her phone. I said something to her about it and her reaction was to blame me for not minding my own business.
Some people are inconsiderate, self centered asshats.
And yes, Delta should be enforcing the rules.
I love dogs in the lounge. I would pay extra for more dogs. It brakes up to monotony were being around a bunch of people who think they’re part of the elite and yet are scrambling over bad food and bad drinks. I mean the Detroit lounges aren’t bad but pretty unmemorable at the same time
These morons need to be publicly shamed.
And don’t give me * * * about “customer service jobs”, David Read. It is clear you haven’t worked in an actual “service” job by the way you shiw disdain for rules and customers.
How about NO dogs in the lounges at all!!! I say this as a dog owner (2). Plus, there needs to be stricter requirements for a “service dog” vest. Most are not legit service dogs.
@David Read … I once saw a fountain man “accidently” tip a milkshake over onto a mean and hostile customer’s business suit , during his lunch away from the office . The manager offered to comp his dry cleaning bill . Priceless .
Department of Transportation (DOT) allows airlines to decide whether to permit them. In 2021, the DOT changed rules to allow airlines to treat ESAs like pets, rather than assistance animals, and most airlines no longer allow ESAs in the cabin.
@AndyS…
You do know the election is over right? You don’t need to interject your “politics” into every thread anymore.
Give it a rest maybe?
Kick them out for not following the rules.
Pets belong in the kennel, not an airline lounge. If you can’t tear yourself away from Fluffie, then take a boat or bus. Or hitchhike.
@Patrick—thank you for your comment.
As for the GD dog eating in the lounge—hell no! Absolutely disgusting. I would ask to have her and her animal removed.
Disgusting Airline!
Businesses have taken stupidity and mental illnesses and call it customer service. If you have a pet you get away with murder in this country. Animals have more rights in this country than some races. It’s so sad. Something is seriously wrong in this country
The upcoming changes to the SkyMiles program will only do so much to address these and other issues, especially because Delta keeps handing out credit cards like candy.
What is going to help, however, is a continued acceleration of return to office mandates. For the last few years the lounges, like many other public places, have become overcrowded dumps full of the elite laptop class doing anything but work. They seethe and pout on social media all day with pithy passive aggressive comments about whatever issue has them “outraged” at the moment. Most of the time their cushy overpaid flexible job doesn’t get in the way of trips to the gym, Sweetgreen (and yes, the Sky Club). But bosses are wise to it, and the timeline for the end of the gravy train just sped up dramatically.
WHO LET THE DOGS OUT??!!
@ David Read. “So many people who post here are among the very offenders.” I doubt that to be accurate.
@ John, I’ll write this with as much civility, compassion and kindness that you deserve . . . John, you’re an idiot, a pet lover but still an idiot.
The dog isn’t near the buffet and don’t see the passenger feeding it. Some of yall are just DENSE!! And there’s ALWAYS one to make things political.
Dogs are nasty.
What about people like me that are allergic to dogs? There is no consideration for us. It is ridiculous that we treat animals like humans. I am not a pet hater but at some point people need to discern the difference between humans and animals. I hav had to move my seat because of so called service dogs being on the flight. What about me? The rules are being abused by extremely selfish people and we are the ones having to pay for it.
The entitlement of dog-owners in this country, and especially in airports, airport lounges, and aboard aircraft, is beyond reason. Their total entitlement, and their disrespect to other passengers, is disgusting. Unfortunately, I cannot afford to fly private. These powerful people who enable these dogowners all fly private, and don’t have to put up with such disgusting behavior like the rest of the flying public.
Disgusting. Always the Liberal women, too.
I’d rather see a dog under control than kids running wild and fingering the food.
Some inbred Trumper
Narcissists run wild. Shut it down, ASAP. I detest what has become of our once civil society. Fly private with your pet if it is that important. Otherwise GFY.
Oh my! So on point.
Have you been to Whole Foods ?
Same issue with dogs, cats etc… some customers take their pets in baby carriage .
I work at an airport. I have a problem with emotional support animals because some people lie about that (go to the internet, get a “note” stating that they need the animals. I have a suggestion: buy a stuffed animal and use that as your emotional support animals. It’s cheaper and you don’t need to take it out to the restroom.
So a dog can get into the DTW Skyclub but, with my lowly Skymiles Platinum Amex, I can’t.
To clarify, I am a human.