Yesterday I wrote about video of a woman leading her miniature horse out of airport security, and through the airport, on the way to an American Airlines flight to Omaha.
It turns out there’s also video from inside the aircraft. Reportedly the passenger had the whole row to herself so the horse could stand. It wasn’t blocking the legroom of any other passengers.
A passenger takes a small horse on an American Airlines flight to #Omaha Airport 😳 pic.twitter.com/Psw65Tq6FF
— Aviationdaily✈️الطيران يوميآ (@Aviationdailyy) August 30, 2019
It turns out that the horse has a twitter account and shared the story of the flight.
Flirty and I took to the skies, yesterday! It was a great experience and I learned a lot. Flirty was FANTASTIC and handled it all like a pro. That being said, I’m going to keep traveling by car, it’s just easier on Flirty. Flying will be reserved for emergencies and such. https://t.co/AHfHXpoU2V
— Flirty The Mini Service Horse (@FlirtyTheSH) August 30, 2019
They’re apologetic that the horse necessarily pushed up against the seat backs of the passengers in front. An inconvenience, but something toddlers do all the time of course.
Once we got up to cruising altitude, she took a nap and was very quiet. But she had to rebalance quite a bit while ascending and descending and kept bumping the back of their seat through the curtain “bulkhead.”
— Flirty The Mini Service Horse (@FlirtyTheSH) August 30, 2019
It sounds as though the passenger – and the horse – are as respectful of other passengers as possible. The biggest thing is ensuring they have enough space, the whole row to themselves and seats with enough pitch for the horse to fit.
Another sign of the coming apocalypse? Sorry to be a neigh-sayer.
On a positive note American is completely reliable and comfortable for flying pony’s
It is not fit for humans though and my emotional support giraffe finds Americans ceilings way too low
Bring back Peacocks and Pigs on board so American can truly go for great again folks
@Fredd:. Are you suggesting this is the first horse of the Apocalypse?
@LarryInNYC… I was thinking more along the lines of a FIFTH one – a one-trick pony. It gives me night-mares.
Sure she is courteous and respectful because she knows just how awful this is and how awful this will be received. Just a disgrace this can happen on an American airline in the year 2019. The rules that permit this are nuts.. Horses smell and make noise and bring little bugs on with them in their horsehair. And they pee. Or worse.
I think they were most courteous and respectful; please give them some credit!
I’m sorry but this is NUTS to put it “nicely”! I just do NOT get it! this has gone beyond the need for what some people REALLY need to have animals (dogs) in a flight with them. These “so called” comfort animals, specially a horse? common on people! this woman needs a shrink not a horse. Sorry, but this world is just not making any sense anymore!
The time I am on a flight and a horse is bright is the time I get off and demand a different flight
Airlines are NOT Noah’s ark. I will also ask how that area is cleaned.
Getting time to stop flying altogether
Ampy – My sentiments exactly!!!
Free “road apples” for all passengers! Way to go, AA!
I agree with JeffR and Ampy. This “comfort” animal idea was stupid when it was just dogs and cats–but horses, pigs, peacocks and whatever is literally insane. These people need way more mental “comfort” than from an animal–and the DOT is also nuts for going along with the charade.
Just curious. In cases such as this, does one actually purchase the entire row of extra legroom seats, or does AA comp that to the passenger?
Really?
Two posts on this garbage in the last 2 days and nothing on a Fedeal Court of Appeals ruling (9-4) that lets passengers sue TSA.
One of these is real news. The other is garbage.
But I guess writing about a horse is easier. C’mon, do better.
So true! Taking a horse on an aircraft is pure NUTS! We have definitely lost our senses especially regulators permitting such passage! Passenger aircraft should be exclusively for humans! Place animals in environmentally safe cargo holds. While airlines have done a good job clamping down on fraudulent emotional support animal claims, more aggressive action is required to ensure passenger safety and satisfaction. Cabins are sadly congested and cramped. We don’t need such animal issues to cause further flight aggravation!
@Ex-UA Plat – that post has already been written and queued actually. It’s a holiday weekend I wasn’t rushing for it to be published.
The debate about comfort animals aside, this shouldn’t be allowed for flight safety reasons.
This animal isn’t secured (seatbelt, etc.). Imagine the danger to passengers, if the horse is thrown around in severe turbulence. Ridiculous.
I totally agree with “hghglobal”. Animals (other than REAL comfort or needed) animals for the blind etc. should HAVE to be placed in the cargo area like they used to be, but now I’ve been told “they” are not allowed to do that! “They” place more importance on these people needing these like I said “comfort” animals and not caring one bit about people that are extremely allergic to animals! Not to mention, all the bugs, smells etc. that these “comfort” animals bring in the plane!
WAKE UP DOT!!!
Looks like a horse and a cow…. These nut case attention seekers are turning our airplanes into barn yards…
I will say it again. The airlines need to decide if they are in the people hauling business or the animal hauling business. Pick one !
It will be real easy to avoid this also, you can tell the operator that you have an allergic reaction to said “comfort animal” and they will have to remove them.
They eliminated “peanuts” from the snacks for that very reason, not sure what the percentage of folks with peanut allergies are ( I am sure extremely small) but if a whole industry is changed for this small number than ANY passenger that takes exception to riding on a ark should be able to be moved with no penalties, extra cost or any issues.
DOT and the airlines have succumbed to this notion of these (comfort animals) if it cannot fit under your seat it should be nowhere near or in the cabin.
Another example of political correctness run amok!
In reply to Jeff Campbell, I have even written to the CEO of Delta airlines, because on a flight (a pretty long flight) we had a BIG dog (loose) behind us and of course they announced the no peanut thing and to please don’t even eat any peanuts etc., so anyway, I ended up in the hospital because I get asthma! I was told by the CEO’s right hand person that all they/I could do is EVERY time I fly, I have to ask if there’s a dog near me, they will have to move that person. Now, we posed a question: what if we’re both sitting in first/business class? I’m not moving and I’m sure the darling dog person is not going to move either. So, there you go! what do you do????
I’m actually glad I’m 57 and not, say, 17. Another 20 or 30 years (at most, I’m sure) of this kind of (literal) horse shit might just about be bearable. But a whole lifetime ahead of me of the world devolving into a giant safe space for the mentally ill, and I think I’d just take the Dutch option.
I think the policy of allowing any animal except small cats or dogs in the passenger cabin is outrageous. Someone mentioned toddlers kicking the seat. I have a problem with that let alone a horse or any other type of animal bumping into my paid seat. The airlines are inconsiderate of our comfort. Please do not continue this action. I have no problem with comfort animals for the blind.
What do you do? You get off the plane, demand to see the manager and get rebooked. Pretty short of a absolute imperative situation that you absolutely have to be on that flight, then obviously your screwed.
Pretty soon if people do not develop a backbone and start making these airline do something we will have pets running amok thru the aircraft. Want to experience go to India and ride on the in country trains.
If you read the one about the stewardess getting bitten a few weeks ago, I would sue the dog owner, airline and retire on disability.
It will be just a matter of time before one of these animals takes a dump on the plane and causes all kinds of problems. Which I am sure already does, I doubt very much that a decontamination of the plane does not happen anytime one of the furry or hairy friends fly.
You can thank your federal government and the Americans with Disabilities Act for the introduction of a menagerie of animals into the seating section of planes. It’s a perfect example of a well intended law being twisted beyond recognition.
That’s just crap. Tell the individual people pay for their sests. People who bring their support animals that take up more than they pay for should be thrown off and told to take a train. Really .. this topic is stupid.
I am so sick of white people with this dumb stuff! They are so ridiculous!
Maybe the next time she could just ride the pony to Omaha? It would spare us the horsecrap of this insanity.
Hmmm is it only white people that fly in aircraft, seems like a bit of racism rearing its ugly head.
It’s all about the ponies not white people
let’s. hope no one needs to take a crap,
My goodness, I did not see one post in support of having the animal onboard.
Is our society that hateful as one would surmise after reading post after post mocking the miniature horse allowed on the airplane?
Do any of us know if the animal was claimed as an “emotional support animal” or are all these hostile posts just showing the true feelings of our current society in this new Trump age?
What happened to civility?
@dmg – Ya, judging from the tenor of most of the responses, I’d rather have the horse as a seatmate.
#teamflirty
aaway says:
@dmg – Ya, judging from the tenor of most of the responses, I’d rather have the horse as a seatmate.
___________________________________________________
Too bad more people are not like you. Thanks for your comments
It’s a bit sad that there are so many cruel comments about this situation. The young woman has special needs, the horse doesn’t impact on anyone els. Let her take the horse onboard and be grateful that your own lives are so good that this kind of support is not required.
@ Karl McCoy. Yep! Agree. I may have even less time to witness the absurdity and may spend it as a recluse west of The People’s Republic of Austin. Had two “comfort” animals on my last AA flight. One rather large dog in Y and a medium sized bull dog in F (5A) that the young lady couldn’t keep on the floor and then ate off the tray table. I paid $$$ for 5B but obviously served the meal meant for 5A since it was pretty much dog food. Cancelled AA flight back from LAX and flew DL F back to AUS. Attentive and courteous FA, with a sense of humor, and nice meal PLUS no dogs.
The last few comments are exactly the reason why we have ended up with horses on a plane…………
.We need to go back to pet in cabin in container or service animal with military only.Where is the cleanliness and disinfect of the aircraft after this ,children fly too.Is the plane taken out of services to be debugged and the material cleaning?
In reply to Paolo and dmg>>>> for goodness sake, when in years past would this “so called” comfort animal crap would have EVER been allowed no less a horse???? come on, wake up and smell the roses! these people to put it bluntly to both of you are just plain nuts, Do they take their precious horse in the car, into stores etc? OMG! what is happening to people in this world!
Planes are for humans period!
I was on a Delta flight this year where the flight attendant was standing at the door of the plane appealing to 1st class passengers to change seats with a man who had an allergy problem and was seated next to a lady with a dog, bulkhead seat of course as these are the zoo’s on airplanes. Someone from the back took his seat but he didn’t come back on board.that is there policy if you have am issue you move or take another flight, not the person who is really the problem.
If real. This is the most ridiculous thing an airline has permitted or done
The hostile comments are a learning lesson. I had no idea how many people dislike animals on an aircraft.
I cannot help but wonder if the hostility toward animals carries over to feelings toward humans.
Did the horse cause any harm to anyone on the aircraft? I seriously doubt any harm was done.
Be kind.
I’m sorry but nearly everyone in this comment section and the author missed a key point. Service Miniature Horses are a thing and the Justice Department updated Service Animal Guidelines a few years back that require airlines and business to permit “trained” service horses to serve the same role as a service dog. Miniature Horses outlive dogs so they’re a good choice for many. No rules were being broken here.
No I think Daniel is missing then bigger point. The “rules” in these updated guidelines are nuts. 99.99% of our group responding seems to agree on this. Rules are supposed to be reasonable. Meant to accommodate people not animals. They are meant to accommodate situations where there is no other alternative. That is not the case here. The animal’s expected longevity should not be a factor BIg dogs are bad enough.. No way is this reasonable. Lets see how you feel when the horse pees and poops somewhere around where you are sitting. Or the horse goes flying around when there is air turbulence. Or lets out a loud neigh.
Daniel, are you for real? would you have been comfortable sitting bu this “so called” comfort animal! a horse? common, where is this going to stop? what if my “comfort animal” is a jiraffe or a cheetah? where is this going to stop? these are NOT comfort animals, some of these people are just plain nuts, period!
And to address dmg, how would YOU like to have been by this horse and have it poop or pee or given you flees or whatever. Planes are for people NOT animals.
Ampy, Flirty is a trained service horse, not an emotional support or comfort animal. Mini-horses and dogs are flight approved service animals in the USA. She is trained to assist her disabled (and dog allergic) owner at home and in public. She is also is potty trained, and as posted on her facebook page, did her business in a designated/approved place at the airports before and after her flight. This is no different than allowing a seeing eye dog on the plane, as in addition to assisting their handlers, they are trained to behave and be nonreactive to other people and/or animals in public – stores, restaurants, museums, zoos, etc – anywhere you can go, they can go too (and based on this comments section, they’re probably better behaved than many people these days). Maybe do some research next time before posting such incredibly rude and stupid comments (cheetah, really? *eyeroll* ).
Totally absurd. I know coach is called “cattle class” but an actual horse, is something I can’t wrap my head around.
Quit horsing around AA.
While this discussion has become, no pun intended, quite emotional, as a flying enthusiast, it does get me thinking more generally: If society is going to allow more and more large animals (dogs or horses) in passenger cabins, what safeguards ARE there for heavy turbulence? People can buckle up, you can even take some (limited) precautions for infants in laps (that’s a conversation for another day), but we’ve all seen pictures of FAs (and passengers) airborne when a flight suddenly drops mid-flight. A horse, even a small one, is still pretty big and heavy. What precautions are in place for people around it — and for the horse itself? No one is going to want to see a horse get a broken leg (or neg). Has this all been worked out by the FAA and airlines?
..broken leg or neck…
Gotta avoid typing long statements on a cell phone…
@omnefos – “The last few comments are exactly the reason why we have ended up with horses on a plane…………”
No, it was the first dozen or so comments that led to the current situation. Some of the comments are reflective of the insensitive and downright hostile treatment individuals with disabilities had to endure for years.
Now, as a result, the anti-horse comments are merely whistling in the wind….peanut (no pun intended) gallery remarks since the Department of Transportation promulgates the rules regarding access for those with disabilities.
Perhaps it more apropos to direct the vitriol to DOT rather than AA?
OMG If I have to listen to one more screaming, over indulged kid on an airplane Im going to scream. They pee in the plane, throw food, cry, and shreak!! Give me a dog any day and kick kids off. Kids spread head lice and more. Its awful.
Sarafina, I will just respond to you by saying… “YOU, need serious help”.! period end of discussion!
I was sitting right next to them in the same set of seats on their United flight to O’Hare. I was told she was going to her Grandmother’s funeral. Looks like it was a total PR stunt and she turned around in the same outfit and flew from ORD back to OMA on American.
The man was from inside edition and filming the whole thing. The horse was extremely nervous/anxious in take off and landing. I feel bad for the horse and it was definitely cramped.
This is absolutely ridiculous. I wonder how many safety roles have been broken/disregarded by allowing miniature horse on the plane.
From what I can see, they are sited in in economy plus bulkhead without under the sit storage where FA would not allow any personal items. Here you have a horse that can’t be secured in anyway.
Also, what would happen in the event of emergency evacuation? What if that would be a water landing? This is total disregard of passengers safety (IMHO).
One more thing…
I am not sure this person should be traveling without supervision to begin with.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByQ0rqegwre/?igshid=1cuw9s3s0h90w
@Gary70 – That’s sad. I do feel compassion for the owner (and also for the pony).
Since I wrote my original comment, I’ve learned a lot more about this case and retract what I said, based, as it was, on ignorance. There’s a big difference between a trained service animal and an iffy “emotional support” animal. The horse in this case is the former. While I do suspect there was an element of stuntery to that woman’s flight, if she genuinely needs the horse to perform certain functions while traveling (though I’ve never read what they are), and the ADA and the FAA declare it’s a legally required accommodation, then so be it. I still wouldn’t be super happy about having even the best-behaved size-challenged equine sitting behind me, but maybe that’s just me.
I just wish the horse had passed gas or taken a giant dump right there on the plane, then I bet the comments supporting such stupidity would be nonexistent.
Flirty did pass gas-I was the passenger sitting in the isle seat next to them on their way from Omaha to Chicago. They kept pushing her tail down. They also asked me to watch my feet because she may step on them. I was blown away at how intrusive it was.
I tried to be a good sport, since I didn’t know what service Flirty provided but it seemed more of a PR stunt with the Inside Edition guy along for the ride.
If it was a PR stunt, AA needs a new marketing dept.
Meh – what’s the issue here? Seems that passenger had more horse sense than that guy we read about smoking a joint on a plane. Horses on a plane = OK. Jackasses on a plane = not OK.
Totally missing the point. Airplanes unless specifically designed not supposed to be a ark.