A plane passenger has caused controversy online after she attempted to get her dog onto the aircraft.
In a TikTok that’s racked up over 300,000 views, a dog owner was caught in a heated standoff with an airline employee after trying to squeeze her clearly too big pup into a carrier that was way too small.
The video, which plays out at an airport gate, shows the woman attempting to prove that her pooch met airline requirements so the two could board their flight.
As any frequent flyer knows, bringing your dog on a plane comes with strict rules. Most airlines require pets to meet breed, size, and weight restrictions — and they have to comfortably fit in a carrier that can slide under the seat in front of you.
But in this now-viral clip, the woman appears determined to bend those rules.
She’s seen sitting at the gate, with her fluffy dog freely walking around. That’s when an airport employee approaches and reminds her that the dog must fit comfortably in a carrier to fly.
That’s when the woman pulls out a tiny pink pet carrier, unzips it, and tries to stuff the visibly larger dog inside. She then pushes the dog’s head down and zips the carrier shut, clearly struggling to make it work.
“You can’t fly like that,” the employee says, audibly concerned. “The dog has to be able to move a full circle, which she cannot do in that carrier.”
A back-and-forth debate ensues, with both women sticking to their stance — though anyone watching the clip can see the dog is having a tough time. The poor pup is stiff, unable to move, and definitely not turning in any full circles.
The video cuts off without a clear resolution, but from the look on the employee’s face, she wasn’t buying it.
In true internet fashion, people had a lot to say on the matter.
"She was never planning on using the carrier. It was just for show," one person wrote.
A second commented: "Poor baby. They should have stores with pet carriers in the terminal."
A third person said: "She literally folded the dog in the carrier…poor dog."
But others seemed more frustrated with the growing trend of people bringing their dogs everywhere — from airports to restaurants to grocery stores.
“People want to take their dog everywhere and don’t want to follow protocol,” one comment read.
“Can y’all leave y’all dogs at home or drive? In the restaurants, grocery stores, planes and trains. It’s out of hand,” another said.
“I understand ppl love their animals I get it! But there’s a time & place for everything,” someone else posted.
There are situations where a dog needs to be on a plane with its owner, but stuffing them into a tiny pet carrier is definitely not the right thing to do.