Airline wouldn’t let an emotional support peacock take wing.
Dogs, cats and even pigs and miniature horses have made it into airline passenger cabins as emotional support animals in recent years.
But one airline has drawn a line in the sand when it comes to peacocks.
A woman who tried to board a United Airlines flight from Newark, N.J., recently was turned away after showing up at the airport with her emotional support peacock in tow, reported Live and Let Fly. She had offered to buy a second ticket for the bird, but the airline declined.
“This animal did not meet guidelines for a number of reasons, including its weight and size,” United told Fox News. “We explained this to the customers on three separate occasions before they arrived at the airport.”
The Jet Set, a travel talk show, posted photos of the peacock’s airport visit on Facebook. “Unbelievable, this has to stop now!!” posted Steve Hofmaster in response. Other travelers jokingly said they would prefer a peacock to emotional support dogs they accused of biting other passengers.
Delta Airlines recently made headlines for tightening its rules on emotional support animals. The airline announced it will check certification papers for purported service or support animals and their owners before allowing them to board, according to Forbes. The new policy takes effect March 1.
In order to qualify, the animals must be trained as a service animal or to provide specific services in support of its owner, Forbes reported.
A rift has grown between disabled people who rely on trained service animals, usually dogs, and passengers with support or comfort animals, with many in the first group suspecting that those in the latter are just trying to avoid paying $125.
However, owners of comfort animals, including veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome, often say that they wouldn’t be able to travel without their companion.