The passenger was in the first class of a Delta Airlines flight, and things didn’t go as smoothly as he wanted. His seat was reassigned-not to another traveler, but to a service dog. In fact, the incident frustrated him so much that he felt compelled to share it on Reddit. He shared with others how he had been upgraded to first class but got downgraded shortly afterward.
He then posted a picture of the dog occupying his previous seat. The passenger wrote, “Got upgraded to first this morning only to 15 mins later get downgraded (to a worse seat than I previously had). I asked the desk agent what was going on and she said, ‘something changed.’
He continued, “Okay, fine, I am disgruntled but whatever, I then board only to see this dog in my first-class seat … And now I’m livid.”
After being relocated, he immediately contacted Delta support, where he was informed of the airline’s policy prioritizing service animals, even if it means displacing passengers. Expressing his frustration, he stated, “There is no way that dog has spent as much with this airline as I’ve … What an absolute joke.”
He said, “What is the use for loyalty to this airline anymore really? I have sat back whilst others complain that the air line is recently treating customers with bad faith and lowering standards,” he says, but he has a growing question over his own allegiance as well.
The post went viral online, with over 3,600 upvotes and counting. Many users took the side of the passenger, showing frustration at the increasing number of service animals on flights. “Notice how nowhere else in life do you see this quantity of service animals? Go to the airport, and all of a sudden they appear,” one comment read.
Some added humorous takes, with one user joking, “The dog is probably a Diamond Medallion 2 million miler.” Another commented, “This is a reason to avoid bulkheads in either cabin FYI.”
Others said the passenger should file a complaint or that free upgrades, which is what he got, can always be taken away for a dozen reasons, such as making room for service animals. “If you had paid for your seat, then I think it is a legitimate gripe. Complimentary upgrades can be taken away for a variety of reasons, though, not just service dogs, without compensation,” one user said.
A Delta employee chimed in, explaining the policy. They said that seats with extra legroom and easier access are usually reserved for passengers who have disabilities or service animals. “When I was in reservations, anytime people wanted the blocked seats, I had to advise them that Delta has the legal obligation to move them if a passenger with disabilities requires it,” they explained.
This viral story has led to widespread debate on airline policies, with many holding mixed views on the prioritization of service animals.
