Delta airline passenger is frustrated after his first class seat was assigned to a service dog

A Redditor shares a disappointing Delta Airlines flight experience. (Photo: Reddit/r/delta)

A Reddit post went viral after an airline passenger was demoted from his first class seat assigned to a service dog. In the experience shared by user @ben_bob on the Reddit page @r/delta, the user reveals that he was upgraded to a first-class seat, only to be downgraded 15 minutes later to a “worse seat” than before. While the change disappointed the passenger, he was “furious” when he saw his seat had been assigned to a service dog.

The Redditor wrote: “I was promoted to first place this morning and demoted (to a worse place than before) just 15 minutes later. I asked the receptionist what was wrong and she said, “Something has changed.” Okay, fine, I’m upset, but whatever, I then got in only to see this dog in my first class seat …And now I’m angry.”

While chatting with Delta Support, the user shared, “I spoke to Delta Support immediately and they said, ‘You may be moved because of service animals,’ and there’s nothing they can do.”

Also read:A passenger’s Great Dane as a “service dog” on the flight sparks debate

Calling it an “absolute joke,” the user wrote, “There’s no way this dog spent as much on this airline as I did… What an absolute joke,” adding, “What’s the point of being loyal to this airline?” “ I really haven’t sat back as others have complained that this airline has been treating its customers poorly and declining in service levels lately, but I’m also starting to question my loyalty.

Delta responded to the flyer’s experience in a statement to People Magazine. A spokesperson for the company said: “Delta teams are aware of the customer complaint and are investigating the details of what may have happened,” adding that they “invite the customer to contact us directly.”

“Service animals are routinely accommodated on Delta without impacting customer seating assignments,” the statement concluded.

Just downgraded to a dog
byu/ben_bob indelta

Reddit users had mixed reactions to the passenger’s views and experiences. Take a look:

“Notice how you never see so many service animals anywhere else in your life? Are you going to the airport and suddenly they show up? “It must have been wonderful to sit next to the Weimaraner “service dog” on my six-hour flight,” one Redditor commented.

Another said: “Only in the US. This doesn’t happen anywhere else. It’s American protagonist syndrome.”

One user said: “If you had paid for your seat I think that would be a valid complaint. However, free upgrades can be withdrawn for various reasons, not just service dogs, without compensation. There’s no harm in trying a complaint email or a call to your Medallion hotline, but be prepared for a second rejection just in case.”

Also read:Survey shows most passengers find airport food and drinks “overpriced”.

However, some commented that they disagreed with the passenger’s views:

One wrote: “So people with real ADA disabilities and service dogs should just drive or stay home? Why should they be punished for the behavior of others? And no offense, OP, you’re assuming that Delta is at risk of violating the ADA and being sued because… checks bills… because you spent more money than the dog?”

Another shared: “I have a friend who has epilepsy and uses a service dog. You wouldn’t recognize her disability if you met her.”