Delta Passengers “Cat”astrophe: Feline Drama Sparks Outrage on TikTok
In a classic “Did that really just happen?” moment, Janelle Rupkalvis and her furry companion Asparagus—an adorably named 4-year-old cat—found themselves in a pickle during a Delta Airlines flight from Seattle to Salt Lake City. Shortly after they settled into their first-class seats, a flight attendant allegedly approached them with an eyebrow-raising ultimatum: “If your cat doesn’t stop meowing, we’re going to have to ask you to get off the plane.” Talk about pressure! Janelle shared this jaw-dropping encounter in a TikTok video that quickly amassed views and comments from people who couldn’t believe the scenario.
The couple was understandably bewildered; after all, Gus’s meowing wasn’t aggressive or deafening—it was just a response to the bustling environment of the boarding area. “He’s a cat,” Janelle pointed out, perfectly capturing the absurdity of the situation. In the midst of trying to silence their flustered furball, she reached out to a Delta agent to clarify the airline’s pet policy. The response? Passengers are responsible for keeping their pets “passive” during the flight, not necessarily “silent.” Now, that’s an important distinction when your travel buddy is a cat!
Delta’s official pet policy, which states that animals must be in a carrier that fits under the seat, doesn’t mention anything about how cats should behave during the flight—even though social media users weighed in with mixed reactions, with some supporting the airline’s demand and others calling it overkill.
In the end, Delta offered Janelle and her partner a choice of compensation: a $150 voucher or 15,000 frequent flyer miles. They opted for the miles—because who doesn’t love some extra perks? According to Janelle, while the initial encounter was “frustrating,” the airline’s willingness to address the situation and offer compensation restored her faith. Maybe flying with a feline is worth it after all? Just remember, if you’re taking your pet on a flight, keep ’em chill!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, New York Post, Delta Airlines Official Guidelines
Image Credit: Title: Untitled, Author: No author info, License: [‘cc_nonderived’, ‘cc_attribute’, ‘cc_publicdomain’]
