I will take a dog over an obese, personal hygiene challenged, farting, coughing, ‘person’ spreading, arm rest hogging, chewing with their mouth open human any day (or flight) of the week.
I’ll take a crying baby any day over the vomit comet:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/18662634#Comment_18662634
So what happened to the dog? Too much info is missing from the article, like why is it ok to travel with a dog in coach but not first class? If they couldn’t accomodate the dog on the plane, then wouldn’t the dog be bumped down to the pet area in cargo while the owner remained in her original first class seat?
Anyway, babies don’t bother me at all. I put on my headphones and block them out. It’s uncontrolled kids in the 3-10 year old range that bug me, especially when their parents make no attempt to entertain or control them. I had one kid climbing on me (literally) and generally in my face for a 3 hour flight once, even attempting to grab my food. The whole time the mother just sat there.
When we landed a woman behind me leaned forward and congratulated me for being incredibly patient. I responded that it had been one of the worst flights of my life, and I travel pretty regularly for work. I even had a drunk guy next to me hauled off the plane once, and he wasn’t nearly as annoying as that kid.
I would suspect that she would not have wanted the dog in cargo.
I’m unclear as to why she was moved. But certainly a refund is in order if she paid for first class and didn’t get it.
The only thing that makes sense is if they had a “no dogs in first class” policy. But if that were true, why was she able to pre-book and pay for her dog while her seat was in first class? I’m with her on this one.
She looks like she’s having fun back there in “tourist” class. From the pic it looks like her tweet was tongue-in-cheek and some have taken the opportunity to react in outrage as if she were being serious. She looks like a fun person to hang with, and kudos to her for saving a rescue dog!
It sounds ike that dog will be well-loved after a hard life, and that always warms my heart since my D volunteers at a rescue (we regularly foster their dogs).
For some airlines, there is a limit of 1 pet allowed in first class, so if there were already a pet there … Though that should have been identified at the time of booking.
AA allows 2 in first class and up to 7 total cabin pets. I have no idea if cats and dogs can fly in the same cabin on AA - on some airlines they cannot. So if that is the case, if there was someone with a cat already seated in first class, the dog had to go into coach.
Maybe they had a last minute emotional support turkey show up and displace the poor pooch who was merely a rescue pet!
“Maybe they had a last minute emotional support turkey show up and displace the poor pooch who was merely a rescue pet!”
Okay, now that’s funny! 
I know someone who was bounced from a plane because even though she had paid for her cat, someone showed up with a doctor’s note showing she was allergic and couldn’t ride with a cat. Maybe someone in first class had such a condition.
So apparently this dog is only a 7 lb. little pooch, and Andie McDowell pre-booked and pre-paid for the pet, but she was assigned to seat 1A, which I gather has no place to put a pet crate. That’s why they moved her back to coach. All she wanted was to be reimbursed for the difference between 1st class and coach. And why couldn’t AA simply move another passenger in First Class to another First Class seat so that Ms. McDowell would have a place to put the dog’s crate?
I think she just wanted what she paid for (at a pretty good price I assume). She should have been accommodated easily I would think. But the regular class people seemed to have enjoyed her company so it worked out for them!
but man, has she lost weight!
“And why couldn’t AA simply move another passenger in First Class to another First Class seat so that Ms. McDowell would have a place to put the dog’s crate?”
If seats are already pre-assigned, airline agents would not do this unless someone volunteers to switch seats. In my experience, not many pax want to switch to row 1 with the inconvenience of having to stow your bag and computer into the overhead bin during takeoff and landing! I am amazed no one wanted to trade seats with a celebrity. That would have been one heck of a facebook post or a tweet! “Guess who is sitting in my seat now?”
But!.. It was dumb for the airline to put her in 1A in the first place if she indicated she traveled with a pet. In the day and age of computers, this is such an easy thing to do! I really like what JetBlue does: online booking for both pets and their humans, and the system will not let you select a bulkhead, emergency exit row, or middle seat (because part of the space under the middle seat is taken up by the entertainment system). My avatars had to fly under the seats across the isle. 
Geez, talk about much ado about nothing! She paid for a first class seat, she booked it and paid for it and for her dog in advance, and she didn’t get what she paid for. She deserves a refund and I don’t blame her for complaining. Anyone would. As to whether she calls it “tourist” class as opposed to “coach,” that’s a non-issue. There used to be lots of “first class vs tourist” designations. Big deal. She seems to have been a good-humored companion to her fellow travellers in coach/tourist/business or whatever the hell it was.
Give the woman a break!
“So apparently this dog is only a 7 lb. little pooch, and Andie McDowell pre-booked and pre-paid for the pet, but she was assigned to seat 1A, which I gather has no place to put a pet crate. That’s why they moved her back to coach. All she wanted was to be reimbursed for the difference between 1st class and coach. And why couldn’t AA simply move another passenger in First Class to another First Class seat so that Ms. McDowell would have a place to put the dog’s crate?”
Does make you wonder. I would think many people would happily trade with Andie McDowell to accommodate her doggie. I sure would. Why would they allow someone to book the first row, with a kennel? That’s ridiculous. I can’t believe that someone didn’t offer, or that the flight attendant didn’t ask. I get asked to move my first class seat around all the time, in fact, if I’m sitting next to someone who is talking to another person in first class, I ask if they would like to sit next to their friend before they even start to ask me. Why not? Though I’m not crazy about the front row, come on, a first class seat is a good seat, no matter where it is. And nobody would move for a pretty lady like her, who seems very sweet, with a little dog? Good grief!
’
Can’t agree with more with post #34.
It’s like going to a restaurant and ordering a great cut of meat (sorry if that’s not properly phrased… been a vegetarian for too long!) and getting chicken. “Sorry, we’re out of steak, but here’s some chicken… and a bill for the steak.”
I don’t think she’s out of touch and even offered to donate the money to a rescue. I think she just wants them to admit their mistake (and hopefully work to ensure this doesn’t happen again) and move on.
Good grief.
Also- count me in as someone who’d give up my seat for a doggie (or friend, or family).
I would have switched, too. What’s the big deal. I too find it hard to believe no one was willing to switch. What glitch gave her the bulkhead when reserving with a dog?
I would have switched, too. There is a perk that comes with sitting in 1A - you get your drink ahead of everyone else. 