Dog Poops On American Airlines Seat, Passengers Endure Horrific Stench For Entire Flight

by Gary Leff

An American Airlines passenger brought a dog on board who defecated on the seat. The stench wafted through the cabin. Since the pet was outside of a carrier kept underneath the seat, either the airline wasn’t enforcing its pet in cabin rules or the passenger claimed this was a service animal and filled out the paperwork attesting to it.

I recently offered 5 easy ways to instantly spot a fake service animal at the airport or on a plane. I didn’t even think to add, “they poop on the seat.”

I don’t know if the seat, though, is better or worse than the cabin floor? And whether it’s better or worse when a dog does it or a passenger?

I guess here the upside is that it’s mostly solid, and so easier to clean, as long as they bother to clean the plane between flights since that might sacrifice an on-time departure.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  3. @Lance,
    If what you said were truly the case, then…if I was a pet…I’d want to party in the cargo hold as well.

  4. Similar happened on a flight my wife was working. She said that if the dog pooped again, they’re landing the plane and the family would be paying for the costs associated with the diversion. Dog was promptly put in the crate.

    How it should be.

  6. Can’t anybody just pick up the poop and flush it? All you folks that carry wet wipes for fear of germy tray tables, pass them over. FAs, demand they stock Arm and Hammer Cat Litter deoderizer for what won’t wipe off of the carpet. That stuff will overpower any odor.

  8. I totally agree with David Miller. A service animal is one thing and they are trained and do not poop or jump on people. I was kicked off a flight a while back because a Great Dane big enough to put a saddle on it and ride it started jumping on me and I’d asked the crew if they could ask someone to be swap seats since I am allergic to pet dander (Gary wrote an article about that)
    This is getting it of hand! I think we passengers should feel confident that animals are going to jump on them and poop on the seats!

  9. Not sure why owner wouldn’t clean it up and dispose of the poop in the bathroom? They just left if there the remainder of the flight? Dog owner should be banned / otherwise punished for not cleaning up after dog. Seems like some details are missing here.

  10. Other than people with documented significant disabilities that necessitate a dog no more animals in the cabin. Planes are for people. If you can’t/won’t leave Fido or Tabby behind stay home.

  11. The government must start requiring certificates that certify that the dog is a service animal. It doesn’t have to say what the disability is, just that it’s a certified, trained service dog. And it must start doling out heavy fines for anyone caught using a fake certificate.

  14. We need to regulate these THINGS just like at the local level. Dog Licenses are required by cities for liability purposes why not for ADA?

  18. Well WHO could have possibly foreseen that happening?

    /s

    These airlines should be banned from even flying with rules like this in place due to public health and safety reasons.

  19. I don’t have a dog but I have a house on a corner lot. Some dog owners are responsible and will pick up after their dogs after they poop on my property. Others do not. It wouldn’t surprise me that the scenario in this story could happen. Of course, it could be staged or photoshopped, too.

  20. Unless the owner is visually impaired or disabled in a way that requires a guide dog, animals should NOT be allowed in the cabin. If you are so emotionally challenged so as to require accompaniment, it must be a parent, guardian or other responsible adult who may sign for your welfare. Otherwise, take your car.

  21. Fortunately, American Airlines Flight 3077 did not experience significant turbulence between ORF and CLT. Therefore, there was a reduced risk of the “dog turd in the sky” adhering to the aircraft ceiling or the food and beverage cart. Feckless flying feces from dropped deposited doggie diarrhea and defecation probably pisses off and provokes most American Airlines passengers.

  22. Why don’t the airlines require pax to submit request two to three weeks in advance for a companion animal to fly. That should allow time for verification that they are service dogs and trained. If not submitted then animal travels in cargo or not at all.

Comments are closed.