Many dog owners know that boarding a plane with a pet can be a challenge, but this story takes the cake: one man paid for three seats on a plane so his Great Dane could travel with him!
Despite the unusual situation, this big dog won the hearts of everyone on the plane and many more people online.
When Gabriel Bogner moved from Los Angeles to Brooklyn recently, he had to figure out a way to fly his dog Darwin across the country. In a TikTok video, Gabriel explained that he has Crohn’s disease and that he relies on Darwin as his service dog.
Many airlines allow support animals to board with their owners, but Darwin is a bit different — he’s a giant, 140-pound Great Dane. Gabriel said that he explored many options for travelling with Darwin and that the Great Dane was bigger than the largest crate available.
But soon, he found a solution: American Airlines told him that he could bring Darwin on board with him if he bought three seats for the dog, allowing enough space for Darwin to fly comfortably.
Gabriel agreed, and it led to one unforgettable flight for everyone. A viral TikTok video, which has been viewed nearly 18 million times, shows this big dog’s in-flight adventure.
“Who says Great Danes aren’t airplane dogs,” Gabriel wrote in the caption.
The video shows Darwin relaxing in the boarding area:
Meeting the flight’s pilots, who were no doubt surprised by their big passenger:
And resting comfortably in his three seats, which are just enough to accomodate this Great Dane:
Watch the video below:
@gibbon1215 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) #greatdane #dog #gay #fyp #tiktok #newyork #brooklyn #doggo ♬ Funny Background – Stefani
So how did people react to this giant dog boarding their flight? Gabriel said it was “definitely a shocker for people walking through the airport to see a literal horse coming towards them,” however, nearly everyone seemed delighted by Darwin.
“There were no issues, she was great and the entire crew was amazing,” Gabriel told SWNS, per the New York Post. “People were absolutely gobsmacked and shocked, but everyone was so excited to see her… I’ve never seen so many people smiling at an airport.”
Indeed, the comments on the TikTok video are overwhelmingly positive, with many saying they would love to be seated next to the Great Dane and would even “pay extra” to be near him.
“As a flight attendant … I would do anything for him on my flight,” one commenter wrote.
“My flight anxiety would be nonexistent if I got to sit next to this angel,” another said.
“Why can’t I ever be on a flight when this happens.”
@gibbon1215 Wanted to share a few more videos of Darwin showing how tight it was for her on the floor, hence why I asked if she could come on the seats. The last video is her on the seats just looking up (not howling) with sound. #greatdane #tiktok #dog #fyp ♬ original sound – Gibbon
We love Darwin! How would you feel this big dog was on an airplane flight with you? Share this story and let us know! 🐾❤️