Delta Air Lines Detroit Lounge Becomes Dog Café: Pets Run The Show As Rules Collapse At Buffet – View from the Wing

Earlier in the week I wrote about a Delta Air Lines passenger with their dog sitting in the business class cabin even though Delta rules are clear that pets may not accompany passengers in the Delta One cabin.

Of course we’ve also seen a passenger let their dog eat off the restaurant table in the new Delta One business class lounge at New York JFK, and fly with them in business class.

@oliverbelles My review of the new @Delta One lounge @jfk✈️ But seriously…what do you guys call this dessert?! #fypage #maltipoo #dogsoftiktok #dogvoiceover @delta @Les Belles NYC ♬ original sound – oliverbelles

In Delta’s lounges pets are required to “remain inside the kennel with the door secured at all times.” And even for service animals,

No animals are allowed to occupy seats that are designed for lounge customersAnimals must not eat or drink from Delta Sky Club serviceware

These rules do not seem to be enforced, because here’s a woman who “brought her dog to the buffet and is now serving the dog human food.”

Indeed, it isn’t just a Delta rule. The Michigan state health code generally prohibits non-service animals, including dogs, from being inside food establishments. An amendment permitted non-service dogs on restaurant patios if specific conditions are met, such as leashing, regular cleaning, and local approval. That exception does not apply here.

The pet carrier the passenger has highly suggests that dog isn’t traveling as a service animal in any case. So, at Delta like in Animal Farm, some animals are more equal than others and don’t have the rules applied to them.