A Delta Air Lines passenger flying from New York JFK shared what happened when they received a last minute upgrade from extra legroom coach up to business class. A flight attendant came up to them and brought them to their new seat – and their neighbor up front was a “very well behaved” dog.
Last minute DeltaOne upgrade
byu/International-Bed781 indelta
My main reaction here is how those Delta Boeing 767 business class seats lag the competition – they’re truly ‘for the dogs’.
By the way here’s a dog recently eating at a table in the new Delta One lounge at New York JFK before flying 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
And this doesn’t just work on Delta. Passengers are buying the dogs their own seats on United, too.
And it can work on foreign airlines across the Atlantic, not just U.S. ones. (Readers can correct me, but this looks like LATAM to me.)
In fall of 2000, a 300 pound pig flew first class on US Airways. At the end of the flight the pig “ran squealing through the Boeing 757 on landing, soiling the cabin. If you do this make sure to keep your pet under control, please.
Not a problem if you can afford it. Rather a dog sit next to me than some business traveler on company money that got a “free” upgrade and likely would try to drain the bourbon or scotch supply. Airlines are correct to seek premium seats for what they can instead of giving them away. BTW if the guy had a problem with the dog he could just go back to his coach seat!
BTW Gary cut all the stories about airlines selling upgrades instead of giving them to their “best” passengers. Most of those are parasites not even paying for their travel (their company is) and many fly who their company tells them to regardless of whether they are “rewarded” or not. Also all domestic airlines treat upgrades the same so no reason to do anything if you are consistent with the competition
I like dogs. But keep the dog’s butt off the bedding pillow!
If I could afford to buy my dog a business class seat I would.
How is the dog in the lounge dining areas not a health code violation?
This is disgusting. I just don’t know what to say.
@ AC — Why exactly are these business travelers “parasites?”
Disgusting. So is the dog.
Real headline should read, “Passengers who spent decades clicking on the cheapest fare to save another ten bucks find yet another thing to complain about.”
I remember reading stories about pets dying in cargo holds, being lost by the airline’s baggage/cargo handling mistakes and suffering because of the separation frm owners and the traumatic experience of the whole process.
As a dog and cat owner, I don’t mind a person, who can afford it buying a seat for their loved pet.
The dog in this story was well-behaved and small.
And why bring up a 300-pound pig that ran amok and soiled the cabin? An animal of a different species reacted differently, so dogs are bad in first class? You could essily have cited human passengers, whose weights range, who have run amok and, yes soiled the cabin, to crticize humans.in first-class.
The writer got a perk. The airline picked him for a free seat in first class because he spent enough money over time. But why should he get that just because he had the money to spend? Why not randomly pick someone in the crowded back of the plane withs its cramped seats and none of the “,complimentary” drinks, meals and other amenities that people with money get?
It appears that the writer’s sense of entitlement is offended by other people who bought first-class seats for their pets.
Of course, the writer could have recoiled in shock and demanded to be put back is his extra-legroom original seat. That would demonstrate his open and honest disagreement with seating a pet in first-class rather than penning the piece presented here.
So, ” up or shut up”. The writer “shut up” and now wants to have it both ways.
I also wonder if the writer has ever had a beloved pet? It seems to me, not or he would have seen things from a different point of view.
Bravo ac!
Just like how I feel
Interesting article
The same reason why grubby, snotty little germ factory kids aren’t a health code violation.
Um, usually dogs like this are “celebrity” type dogs. In most cases I’d rather sit next to the dog than many pax.
If you are worried about health code don’t go to Hawaii. Dogs are everywhere, particularly markets. In fact if you care about vehicle code you should also skip Hawaii. There are lots of unregistered vehicles prowling the streets looking at YOUR insurance coverage.
Sanitation: where do you think all those homeless do their business? Or do you think they stopped in North Korea to be “fixed” by the supreme leader?
If the owner is paying for the seat – more power to them. Better it being dogs than most pax I see up the pointy end. Doesn’t really make sense though since on domestic flights, pets are supposed to fit in a carrier that sits under the seat in lieu of a carry on and be in the carrier at all times. This shouldn’t be international since the only airline to fly international with pets in the cabin is Air France… and even then – not in J or F and again- in a carrier. Looks more like a bunch of photos for publicity than anything that actually took place on a jet. As for pets in a lounge – again – you can if they remain in the carrier. I’ve done it plenty of times – even in AA flagship at DFW.
Someone please explain why pets are no longer required…REQUIRED to be in approved kennels aboard aircraft? This is nuts. No one should be forced to sit next to someone’s pet during a flight. PERIOD.
How can YOU tell who PAID FULL PRICE OR NOT?!!!!! YOU GOT A METER!!! Disgusting of You to JUDGE!!!!;
This why travelling by cruise ship Transatlantic for the price of Biz class makes so much sense if you have the time. No Greyhound buses with wings..
CLICKBAIT! I just checked with a senior reservations supervisor. Delta has strict rules to reservations agents, gate agents and flight attendants regarding the purchase or occupancy of a Delta One or ANY seat for “Fido” or “Sylvester”. Approved kennels are required for all warm blooded animals (service animals are exempt) for the safety of the animal (flying projectile) and the passengers. Reptiles are PROHIBITED in the cabin due to the possibility of salmonella infections due to the nature of reptiles to carry the disease. Delta’s “Knowledge Management” instructions offers the flight attendants and gate agents the authority to deny boarding or removal from a flight for offending passengers and their pets.
Sounds like more bemoaning of how people choose to spend their money. Remember flying is a privilege, not a right. You pay for what you get. People want to waste their own money on dogs…so be it.
I don’t understand why people insisting on flying pets to Hawaii. First, you submit details from a vet. Then upon landing they will take the pet to a holding area while you deplane. Owners are also responsible for all costs to the quarantine station. These restrictions have somewhat been reduced over the years.
I love my dog and enjoy his company.
But travel with him? No way.
Dogs, like children, don’t belong on airplanes. Parents need a break from their kids, whether they have 2 legs or 4.
If you pay the dogs ticket, who cares if the humans didn’t upgrade and are stuck in coach? People always looking to find more chips for their shoulders on social media
AND YES…..I’M A FULL FARE PAYING PASSENGER! (!!) USUALLY AND SORRY TO TELL YOU…… I DO ENJOY USING MY FREE MILEAGE PERKS, IF THEY ARE EARNED AND ARE AVAILABLE, S WELL!! WHAT’S WRONG WITH THAT??? SOUNDS LIKE YOU AND OTHER ELITE THINK THEY “OWN FIRST CLASS” AND ANYBODY THAT UPGRADES ARE THE SCUM OF THE EARTH!! WHAT A CROC.!!! If You can get There (First Class), with exception of Gate Upgrades, ……. You did Something to Deserve IT!! GET OVER YOURSELF!!!
OOPS SORRY….GOT OFF THE PET SUBJECT. If It’s in one of those Singular Business Seats (which these Pics. Are) and not next to any other passenger… So What!! Mind Your Business!! PLUS ….I BET THAT THEY ARE NOT PUTTING PETS IN THE DREADED MIDDLE SEAT WITHOUT OWNER (Which You Are trying to depict!!)
Bet there are some Type of Rules the Airlines has about this, even though it Happens.
How can YOU te toll who PAID FULL PRICE OR NOT?!!!!! YOU GOT A METER!!! Disgusting of You to JUDGE!!!!;
It’s on an ancient Dl 763… IDK why anyone would fly up front on one of these when the 2-3-2 in J is almost as good.
Leave the pets at the kennel. Or a zoo.
Delta’s official policy forbids dogs and other pets in Delta One.
https://www.delta.com/us/en/pet-travel/overview
Certified service dog? Still weird place for an owner to put it even when it comes to providing food and water to the pooch.
@JCW: Delta only has J (and it is NOT 2-3-2) with no international F class!
@AC…you sounds very jealous that you never get a free upgrade.
@ Greg — Thank you for the sane response! I’m with you %. Why anyone would want to lug their pet along on a trip is beyond me.
100%
Well, in one video, it has the appearance of a trophy wife with the dog in the lounge, if that is the case, too much arrogance to post that!
Pets belong at home, not an airline. Flying is for dopes. Never would I fly.
I meant Y not J
Love it
Hm, I have looked into buying my small dog her own seat next to me, and everything showed up as “not allowed”. I didn’t check Delta though, because they don’t serve my airport. She has never been on a plane and I want to minimize the misery and disruption for her and any middle seat passenger.
Why am I taking her on a plane? Because it’s 2000 miles each way, and I get bad road hypnosis after an hour behind the wheel. I live 7 months in Georgia and 5 months in Colorado, so leaving an elderly dog somewhere for half the year is not an option.
If thr airline is getting paid a business class fare to seat a (well behaved trained dog), I guess I would have an issue with that. Hopefully, there aren’t any accidents.
Number one, I love dogs but I don’t want to pay the price to fly with your dog. Sitting in Fist Class on a Delta Flight some time ago and another passenger had their dog in a little carrier. Half way through the flight the dog took a crap in his cage. The air system on the plane circulated the smell of dog crap through the entire plane then the owner cleaned the cage in the first class bathroom. The bathroom was closed for the rest of the trip. If we are expected to fly with livestock, reduce the price to make the sacrifice worth while.
Better a well behaved dog than the two loud, vulgar, and drunk women in front of us on an AA flight from DFW to London. The flight attendants wouldn’t do anything to quiet them. A dog would have been better behaved.
It is against FAA REGULATIONS for an animal to be in a seat!
Passenger gets upgrade and shows appreciation with negative social media post. Probably will not be getting an upgrade again any time soon.
Unless support animal dog should be in suitable carrying kennel
This is against published Delta policy. Maybe the author should check with Delta to get a statement.
Even service dogs would never be allowed on a seat.
Only true support animals (that have a verifiable certificate) should be allowed in a lounge or an airplane cabin. It’s not the ASPCA. That being said if an airline allows animals in the cabin, which although I’m against and someone wants to pay for a business class seat so be it. However, upgrades never, ever. Upgrades are for human beings, not Fido or Tabby.
To every person who wants to use the words “Fur baby” right now…. put your effing rat dog in it’s carrier, and shove them in the cargo bay and deal with it. It’s a damn dog, not a person.
In 2005 I sat next to Lassie (from the movie released in that year) on a LAX-JFK flight in business. Lassie was on route to do the morning shows in NY for publicity for the movie.
I remember thinking at the time how much more she belonged there as a paying passenger than the, probably, 70% of upgrade passenger (this was 2005).
Lassie was also incredibly well behaved!
Those of us who split our time between EU and USA travel with our dog regularly. It is not an option to leave our dog at home for a 6 month stay. Our dog has been flying since she was 3 months old, sleeps the entire flight in her carrier, and has NEVER caused any disturbance. That is more than I can say for many children, and adults I have experienced in 30 years of flying internationally in Business and First class.
It’s not VIP Luxury if you’re on a plane that has seat numbers.
Imagine poor Fifi having to slum it in business class.
I was on that pig flight, Philly to Seattle, about 2 rows behind the pig and 2 women. I boarded at the end, following them down the jetway, as the pig left little nuggets along the way. He sprawled across the foot space in row 1, and made it hard for the flight attendants to get by. I didn’t want to go past him to go to the bathroom, so ran off the plane when I got there and didn’t see where he charged the cockpit. I am a bit of a joker and no one believed me that was a 300 pound pig on board. Thankfully the story broke into national news a week later!
I really would have much preferred a dog in business class.