NEWARK — You mean I can’t bring my peacock on the plane? You don’t say.
A female passenger attempting to fly from Newark Liberty International Airport with United Airlines was denied boarding due to her very strange travel companion: a living, breathing, strutting peacock.
The unnamed woman, a New York-based photographer, told United employees that Dexter the bird was, in fact, her “emotional support peacock” and that she was willing to buy a separate ticket for him. But despite her repeated attempts at boarding, the airline said Dexter was too big and heavy to travel in the cabin.
“This animal did not meet guidelines for a number of reasons, including its weight and size,” United said in a statement to Fox News. “We explained this to the customers on three separate occasions before they arrived at the airport.”
United’s policy on support animals requires passengers to provide documentation from a medical professional as well as provide 48 hours advance notice prior to their flight.
Twitter, not surprisingly, reacted in full, with people poking fun at the passenger and questioning how they, too, can get their hands on a feathered sidekick.
Im a firm believer in aupport animals, but a peacock?? RT @ABC: Woman arrives with an “emotional support peacock” at Newark Airport. United Airlines allegedly refused to let the woman board the aircraft with her peacock. https://t.co/CTuzfJ0wxF pic.twitter.com/Y9t4HpV7ln
— Gerrad McConnell (@_Gerrad) January 31, 2018
I wish the United agent had let the “support peacock” on the plane if only for the priceless subsequent video of the peacock being dragged off the plane.
— Kevin Koster (@NotCostner) January 31, 2018
Hmmmm
*orders an emotional support peacock immediately* https://t.co/ZDDP728FXK— Sam Fishwick (@Fish_o_wick) January 31, 2018
This is getting ridiculous an emotional support peacock? If you need a peacock for emotional support you shouldn’t be free to walk the streets with the rest of the population https://t.co/HZaKrshc3A
— Paul Wrenn (@AGoalScorer) January 31, 2018
Feeling left out that I don’t have an emotional peacock to take on trips with me #UnitedAirlines
— Gary Humphrey (@garyhumphrey11) January 31, 2018
This is the most Newark Airport thing to ever happen and I’m in love with it https://t.co/PIQTnI0i7N
— josh groban (@joshgroban) January 31, 2018
United’s stance comes at a time when other airlines are doubling down on rules and restrictions for support animals. Earlier this month, Delta Air Lines announced that any passenger who wishes to bring emotional support animals onboard their flight must show proof of vaccinations 48 hours in advance, and also prove that the animal is trained well enough to handle a flight.
Last November, a woman and her emotional support pig was kicked off a US Airways flight after it went hog wild in the aisle. Also, in 2016, an angry-looking turkey was caught on camera flying in Delta’s Comfort+ cabin.
