Man Pays for First-Class Upgrade on Flight—Shock Over Who’s Already Waiting

A first-class passenger’s long-awaited upgrade was overshadowed when a massive black service dog spent the flight sprawled across his precious extra legroom.

Posting to Reddit under the handle u/DallasBroncos, the traveler said that he had paid for a first-class seat on a flight to Houston with American Airlines. The premium seats come with 8 extra inches of space—vital for someone who stands 6 feet, 7 inches.

“[The] guy next to me had a service dog. A big service dog that used my leg space while his was clear,” he wrote. “Dog was named Bear and 100+lbs.”

Although the dog appears to be a black Labrador retriever, the Reddit user compared its size to a Saint Bernard, a breed known to reach 28 to 30 inches tall and weigh up to 180 pounds, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). By comparison, male Labradors typically measure 22.5 to 24.5 inches and weigh up to 80 pounds.

“I like dogs, but seriously … I mean I paid for the upgrade to first and bulkhead and it was like this the whole flight. No one did anything,” he continued, before wondering aloud whether the dog’s owner should have purchased an additional seat.

When another Reddit user asked if he confronted the owner, the passenger replied: “The guy apologized once and then just kind of went on with his day. What am I going to do? Get into an argument with some poor soul that needs a service dog for a reason that’s none of my business?”

American Airlines Rules on Service Dogs

American Airlines states that fully trained service dogs may fly in the cabin at no charge if they meet certain requirements. The animal must be able to fit at a passenger’s feet, under a seat or on their lap—if small enough to fit on the lap of a child under 2.

If the animal is too large or heavy, the airline advises passengers to rebook on a flight with more open seats, buy a ticket for the animal, or transport it as a checked pet.

Newsweek has reached out to American Airlines for comment.

Heated Debate in the Comments

The post ignited a lively debate among Reddit users.

One commenter posted: “You had 2 options—do something about it or do nothing about it. You chose the latter, so you can’t really complain about the outcome. Also, doing something about it does not mean get into an argument. You could’ve asked your neighbor politely to move their dog, or asked a flight attendant to help resolve the issue.”

Another wrote: “It’s not appropriate for the dog to be in his space. If it can’t fit in his own space then he needs to purchase a second ticket.”

Others sympathized with the animal itself: “I feel bad for the dog …” wrote one user, while another asked: “What happens during turbulence or an emergency? This is so unsafe for the dog and other passengers.”

Newsweek reached out to u/DallasBroncos for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.