A dramatic confrontation between a passenger and Alaska Airlines staff over travelling with two pet cats has sparked online debate after footage of the incident went viral on TikTok. The woman, later identified as Alexandra Compton, was filmed in an angry outburst at an airport after being told her feline companions could not travel together in a single carrier under her seat.
The Festive Flight Furore
The incident occurred on a Sunday at an unidentified airport, as Compton attempted to travel to Oregon for Christmas. Staff calmly explained that the airline's policy dictated her two cats needed to travel separately in larger carriers to ensure they had a full range of motion. This explanation did little to placate the passenger, who accused the airline of ruining her Christmas.
"You're telling me I'm not going home for Christmas, because you don't like that I have two cats," Compton fumed in the now-viral video, where she was labelled the 'Two Cat Karen'. She insisted she had travelled for "many years" with her cats without issue, simply paying a fee at the airport.
Policy Versus Passenger Perception
The core of the dispute centred on Alaska Airlines' published pet policy. An employee pointed out that the issue was not the weight of her cats, but their size and the space within the single carrier. The airline's website states that fees for pets start at $100, ranging up to $200, contradicting Compton's claim of a $120 payment.
Crucially, the policy allows "up to two pets of the same species and similar size" in one carrier, but only if "no body parts protrude from the carrier and the animals are not in distress". Staff determined her current arrangement did not meet these welfare standards.
Compton defended her carrier choice, saying, "This bag is quite compatible. It goes on the plane, it fits on the plane. That's why I bought this bag, specifically." She also shifted blame to the airline's website, claiming it was not user-friendly when her mother tried to book the pets.
Resolution and Aftermath
The footage concluded with the staffer informing Compton she would need to pay for two separate carriers. In a later update, Compton confirmed on Facebook that she ultimately had to buy a second carrier and a second seat for her cat on a new flight three hours later.
When contacted by the Daily Mail for comment, Compton said, "The post has gotten more than enough attention and my side has been shared enough. I’m not tripping to explain any thing more." The Daily Mail also reached out to Alaska Airlines for their statement on the incident.
The clash serves as a stark reminder for travellers to thoroughly check an airline's specific pet policies before booking, especially during peak holiday seasons, to avoid last-minute disruptions and stressful airport confrontations.
