For a better experience for both passengers and animals, pets are normally prohibited from boarding airplanes. Yet there are still exceptions, and service dogs are one of these exceptions. They must constantly be by their owner's side to provide support when necessary. Recently, a flight took off with an unlikely co-passenger onboard – a larger-than-life Great Dane. This gentle giant required not just one but up to three seats to accommodate its magnificent size. Despite the unusual circumstances, this large dog captured the hearts of everyone on the plane and countless others online.
Recently, Gabriel Bogner had to find a way to fly his dog Darwin across the country when he arrived from Los Angeles to Brooklyn. Gabriel revealed in a TikTok video that he has Crohn's disease and that Darwin serves as his service dog.
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Darwin, a 140-pound Great Dane, is a bit unique because not all airlines allow service animals to travel with their owners. Moreover, the Great Dane was larger than the biggest crate that was available, according to Gabriel, who said he looked into a variety of options for traveling with Darwin.
However, he quickly discovered a solution: American Airlines informed him that he could take Darwin on board with him if he purchased three seats for the dog, providing Darwin with enough room to fly in comfort.
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Gabriel agreed, and the result was an unforgettable flight for everyone. This big dog's in-flight adventure is captured in a viral TikTok video that has nearly 18 million views. “Who says Great Danes aren’t airplane dogs,” Gabriel wrote in the caption.
The flight’s pilots were also surprised by their big passengers:
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And resting comfortably in his three seats, which are just enough to accommodate this Great Dane:
So how did passengers respond when this enormous dog boarded their plane? It was "definitely a shocker for people walking through the airport to see a literal horse coming towards them," according to Gabriel, but almost everyone appeared to be in awe of Darwin.
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“There were no issues, she was great and the entire crew was amazing,” Gabriel shared with 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.”
The majority of the comments on the TikTok video are positive, and many people express how much they would pay to sit close to the Great Dane, even saying they would "pay extra" for that position.
“As a flight attendant … I would do anything for him on my flight,” one commenter wrote.
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“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.”