French Bulldog Dies Mid-Flight After Transfer from First Class to Coach

A San Francisco man filed a lawsuit against Alaska Airlines, claiming his move from first class to coach, resulted in the death of his 3-year-old French bulldog.

Michael Contillo bought first-class tickets to give his French bulldog, Ash more space and fewer people on a February 1 flight. Contillo was flying from New York to San Francisco. However, the airline asked Contillo to transfer to coach, causing Ash to get anxious. According to the complaint, this led to health issues that culminated in the dog’s death. 

French Bulldog Died After Suffering Emotional Distress

On October 16, the pet owner filed  a lawsuit in San Francisco County Superior Court. The lawsuit alleges Alaska Airlines of breach of contract, negligence, negligent hiring and supervision, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Contillo, in his lawsuit, wants punitive damage that will be determined during the trial. 

The complaint states that last November, Contillo, along with his father and two French bulldogs, Ash and Kora, flew from San Francisco to New York in first class without incident. In addition to this, the lawsuit also added that both dogs were healthy during their stay in New York. And before taking their flight to San Francisco, a veterinarian cleared both dogs. 

According to the suit, “The Vet confirmed that both dogs were healthy and would be safe to take a cross-country flight.” 

On February 1, Contillo along with his father and two dogs flew to San Francisco via Alaska Airlines. He purchased two first class tickets for him and his father to “ensure that the dogs had more space and that they would be able to board the flight early.”

Contillo said in his suit that he followed Alaska Airlines’ policy. He reserved both in-cabin dogs by calling and bought first-class tickets, plus paying extra $100 per dog. Contillo also transported both in carriers that met the size requirements. 

Alaska Airlines Crew Weren’t Sympathetic

They were initially in fourth row. But shortly before taking off, “an Alaska Airlines flight attendant and another unknown male employee of Alaska Airlines asked the Plaintiff and his father to move to aisle 11 of the Plane for safety purposes” says the complaint. 

Contillo explained that moving them would be “extremely dangerous for the dogs,” saying that they were “calm at the moment” but “would not be calm anymore now that the plane was full of people.”

He continued saying, “To move the dogs now would make them very anxious and excited, which would lead to extremely dangerous breathing and heart problems. This change could be lethal for a dog, especially right before you change altitudes.”

The suit alleges that Alaska Airlines staff “ignored everything that was said.” After this, Contillo was instructed to close the carrier despite the French bulldog breathing quickly and heavily. After closing the carrier, he noticed that Ash had “stopped moving but could not check on him until after a certain altitude had been reached.”

Upon landing in San Francisco, Ash “was entirely in rigor mortis.” The suit alleges that the crew weren’t sympathetic over the loss of the French bulldog. 

The suit says, “No one stopped to show concern, offer condolences, or show the slightest bit of compassion.” He added that he has not heard from an airline representative as of filing the lawsuit.