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Late last week, a Las Vegas passenger traveling home with Alaska Airlines for Christmas flew into a furious rage after being told she could not travel with both her pet cats underneath her seat. The woman would end up publicly arguing with the airline staff, an incident caught on camera and uploaded to social media.
The scene went viral, with viewers giving her the nickname “Two Cats Karen”. Simple Flying has reached out to the airline to know more about this incident and their policies; any response received will be updated in this article.
Rewind: What Exactly Happened?
The incident occurred on Sunday, December 21, when a passenger, with her two cats, were flying home for Christmas from Las Vegas’ 
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to Portland, Oregon, with 
Alaska Airlines. Reports from the New York Post indicate that the passenger was stopped by the airline staff at LAS and informed that she would not be able to accommodate both her cats in a single carrier and stow them beneath her seat. However, this is when the situation became heated, as the passenger reacted rather publicly, causing a scene which resulted in her going viral on social media.
Reportedly, the passenger assumed the issue was regarding the weight of the cats and kept challenging the airline staff to show her the policy stating this, to which the staff calmly responded stating that the issue was not the weight of the cats but rather the airline’s policy dictating the pets being taken onboard must have a full range of motion within the carrier, and thus would need two separate carriers.
However, the passenger kept getting louder and kept talking over the staff, who were trying to explain to her what the issue was. Ultimately, it is reported that the passenger involved posted the following on her social media:
“They made me leave the airport, buy a second pet carrier, a second seat to put the second under On a whole new flight 3 hours later.”
Alaska Airlines’ Policy On Carrying Pets
A quick look at the airline’s policies for passengers carrying pets onboard with them, within the passenger cabin, includes a number of points that will determine the eligibility for the pets to travel. One of the points clearly states, “Up to two pets of the same species and similar size may travel in the same carrier, provided no body parts protrude from the carrier and the animals are not in distress”. In the videos circulating online, the airline staff clearly states this point of the policy when talking to the agitated passenger.
The videos also show that the staff also informs the passenger that the pets within the carrier must have a “full range of motion”. While this is not explicitly stated on the airline’s website regarding pet policies, it does make sense that the pets remain comfortable during the journey, especially in an environment such as a pet carrier stowed under a seat inside an airplane.
The airline’s page also lists a few other points regarding the regulations for allowing pets on board the main passenger cabins, including the requirements and specifications for the carrier being utilized, and how the carrier is accounted within the carry-on luggage allowance for a passenger. Additionally, the airline also states that a maximum of three pet carriers can be accommodated within the first class cabin of the aircraft, while the main cabin can accommodate a further eight carriers.
5 Things To Know About Alaska Airlines’ Pet Policy
Pets can travel in the cabin or a climate-controlled cargo compartment.
How About The Other US Carriers?
When looking at the pet policies of other US carriers, a notable airline would be 
Delta Air Lines, which, earlier this year, was named as the “most pet-friendly” in the US. While obviously there are some restrictions when it comes to flying with pets within the passenger cabin, including restrictions on certain seats depending on the aircraft type, the airline still allows each passenger up to four pets onboard, which is the most of any major US airline.
While Delta charges the highest cost of $150 per pet for domestic flights, and $200 per pet for international flights, fellow carrier, 
American Airlines, comes in at second place, with a standard price of $150 per pet a passenger wishes to carry onboard. 
United Airlines, on the other hand, allows passengers to bring up to two pets with them on board the flight, charging $125 per pet; however, there are restrictions specifying that a second seat be purchased if a second pet is being carried.
Hawaiian Airlines, which was acquired by Alaska Airlines, also charges $100 per pet, like Alaska Airlines, however, if flying and island hopping between the islands of Hawaii, the cost is only $35 per pet.
