Online Users Discuss Their Reactions to Being Seated Near a Service Dog on an Airplane; Many Would Welcome the Company
A woman on a Christmas flight tried to change seats because she didn’t want to sit anywhere near a service dog. And honestly, the way it played out was way sweeter than the initial request deserved.
Here’s the twist: the person she asked to switch with was totally fine with it. The dog was calm through the whole trip, even during meal service, and the two passengers ended up chatting like they were just two people killing time at 30,000 feet. Then, after landing, the seatmate and her parents were waiting by Dunkin’ Donuts, ready to thank the stranger who said yes.
That’s the part that keeps sticking in people’s minds, because the dog was the “problem,” but the kindness turned into the whole story.
They gladly changed seats with a passenger who didn't want to be near a dog during a flight.
This happened to me a few years ago. The woman behind me asked to change seats because she did not want to sit next to a service dog.
I was delighted to change seats with her.
The dog was sweet and well-behaved, even during the meal service. I chatted with the dog's owner, a college student on her way home for Christmas.
We had a lovely time. After I landed and stopped at the ladies' room, I saw my seatmate (with her dog) and her parents waiting for me in front of a Dunkin' Donuts in the airport.
They offered to buy me a donut as a gesture of gratitude for my kindness. I declined and told them it had all been a pleasure.
One user would gladly assist the owner of the service dog.
I would introduce myself to the person next to me and ask if it's okay for me to acknowledge the dog. I would tell them to let me know if they need anything, and then I'd do whatever I would do if the dog weren't there.
My daughter has a friend who has type 1 diabetes. I have had a few scares with her glucose dropping to dangerous levels.
Now that she has a service dog, I can actually sleep when she sleeps over because the dog will alert her and bark if her glucose is too high or low. Service dogs are extremely important to their owners.
If someone has an issue or a fear of dogs and the person next to them has a service dog, then that person should politely ask an attendant if anyone on the flight would switch seats with them.
They'd love the opportunity to have a new friend.
You mean sitting or lying on the floor by my feet?
I’d do this because it means I got a new friend.
One dog owner had this experience and tells people that it was a great experience.
This happened to me. A lady arrived with a beautiful golden retriever service dog and asked if the lady next to me and I minded having a dog next to us.
Having three dogs of my own, I was thrilled to share my flight with this lovely creature. It was a wonderfully quiet dog and a great experience overall (at least as much as flying allows nowadays, lol!).
This user would talk to the owner by all means.
I'd do absolutely nothing. I'd engage in a dialogue with the owner.
I'd share pictures of my heeler/monster. Hopefully, we'd talk about dogs. And at some point, with permission, I'd get to know the pooch.
Or, I might have a beverage, read my Kindle, and sleep.
What would you do?
This user would be like, "Must resist petting!"
I’m going to have to sit on my hands to stop myself from petting the dog! Hopefully, the dog’s owner or handler will give me permission.
What an introverted traveler might do: When the dog is off duty, they ignore the owner and show friendliness toward the dog.
I will look at the dog’s owner and ask, “Is the dog on duty?”
If the answer is yes, I will proceed to ignore the dog for the remainder of the flight.
If the answer is no, I will ask, “May I?”
If the answer to THAT is yes, I’ll pet the dog and mostly ignore the person.
I’m not particularly fond of people. Dogs, however? And a dog with an actual job? I get along very well with all sorts of animals, dogs included. And working dogs earn a lot of extra respect from me.
The seatmate who asked to move, the one who didn’t want to be near the dog, ended up swapping out her discomfort for a full-on conversation during meal service.
This is similar to the online user asking how service dog owners handle potty breaks on a bus.
Right after landing, when the same passenger and her parents showed up outside Dunkin’ Donuts with a thank-you donut, the whole “don’t sit near a dog” moment felt completely different.
Another commenter said they’d introduce themselves, ask if it’s okay to acknowledge the dog, and then quietly make room for the owner to just have a normal flight.
And when someone else mentioned their daughter’s type 1 diabetes and the service dog that alerts during glucose scares, the seat change request turned into something way more human.
Most users responded positively to the question. After all, it's not every day that you get to see a service dog during a flight.
If you're in a similar situation and you love dogs, it's always best to prioritize the comfort of the owner. After all, service dogs are trained professionals diligently assisting their handlers. Understanding and respecting their role enriches the travel experience for all.
In the end, the only thing that needed switching was the mindset, because that “dog problem” turned into a real-life new friend.
Want the other side, where a host refuses to accommodate a service dog guest? Read how that “unwelcome service dog” host handled it.
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