A US man and his 63 kg dog made headlines after they flew from Los Angeles to New York with three seats reserved for them. The dog, a five-year-old Great Dane named Darwin, is a service dog for the man, who suffers from Crohn’s disease. The duo’s flight journey was captured on video and shared on TikTok, where it went viral.
The man, identified as Gabriel Bogner, is a 27-year-old who has Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory condition of the digestive tract. He said that Darwin helps him cope with his condition by providing emotional support and alerting him when he needs to take medication. He also said that Darwin is trained to perform tasks such as opening doors, fetching items, and turning on lights.
Gabriel said that he got Darwin when he was a puppy and they have been inseparable ever since. He said that Darwin is very calm, gentle, and friendly, and loves to meet new people and animals. He said that Darwin has a positive impact on his mental health and well-being.
How the man and his dog flew with three seats
Gabriel said that he decided to fly with Darwin because he was moving from Los Angeles to Brooklyn and he did not want to leave his dog behind. He said that he looked into various options, such as driving, hiring someone to drive, or putting Darwin in a crate under the plane, but none of them worked out. He said that Darwin was too large to fit in a crate and he did not want to subject him to the stress of being separated from him.
He said that he researched pet-friendly airlines and found out that American Airlines allows service dogs of any size on the plane. He said that he called the airline and explained his situation. He said that they told him that he would need to buy three seats for himself and his dog, one for him and two for Darwin. He said that he also had to fill out a form with the Department of Transportation and get an official ID number for Darwin.
He said that he paid about $1,000 for the three seats, which he considered a reasonable price for flying with his dog. He said that he booked the seats in the last row of the plane, near the window, so that they would not disturb other passengers. He said that he brought a blanket and a pillow for Darwin to lie on.
How the passengers and the crew reacted to the man and his dog
Gabriel said that he was amazed by the positive reaction of the passengers and the crew when they saw him and his dog on the plane. He said that everyone was very friendly, curious, and supportive. He said that some people even asked to take pictures with them.
He said that Darwin behaved very well during the flight. He said that Darwin was calm, quiet, and relaxed. He said that Darwin slept for most of the time, but also looked around and enjoyed the view. He said that Darwin even visited the cockpit and greeted the pilots.
He said that he did not face any problems or complaints from anyone on the plane. He said that some people joked about Darwin getting an upgrade or having more legroom than them, but they were all good-natured. He said that he was grateful to American Airlines for making their flight experience smooth and comfortable.
How the video of the man and his dog went viral
Gabriel said that he decided to document their flight journey on TikTok because he wanted to share their story with others. He said that he thought it would be fun and interesting to show how a man and his dog can fly together. He said that he did not expect the video to go viral.
He said that he posted the video on TikTok with the caption: “Who says Great Danes aren’t airplane dogs? Shoutout to American Airlines for making our move to Brooklyn a piece of cake though! (Yes I bought 3 seats for us on the plane).” He said that the video quickly gained millions of views, likes, and comments.
He said that he was overwhelmed by the positive feedback and support from people online. He said that many people praised him for taking care of his dog and flying with him. He said that some people also shared their own stories of flying with their pets or service animals.
He said that he was happy to spread awareness about service dogs and Crohn’s disease through his video. He said that he hoped to inspire others who have similar conditions or challenges to travel with their furry companions.