Grandmother Maria Fraterrigo from the Bronx was booked in seat 4A on Saturday night from San Juan to Kennedy International Airport. But when she arrived at the gate to New York's return flight, Frontier Airlines' agent stopped her.
Her companion is an African grey parrot named Plucky, which Ms. Fretrigo claims is an emotional support animal, and it can be said that her grandson’s name is on the Flying No List.
She said that despite being allowed to bring grand flights during an outbound border flight in January, the agent told her that parrots are one of several species of birds and other animals that airlines prohibit. The rule essentially puts her in trouble, she said.
“This guy shouted at me and told me, 'You won't fly',” Ms. Flatrigo, 81, recalled in a phone interview Wednesday. “'Give someone else. Get rid of it.' I said, “There's no way, I won't get rid of my kids.” ”
For four days, her travel plans remained in a strait until Frontier seemed to have been giving up and selling tickets on another flight Wednesday night. Ms. Flatrigo has completed her first trip since her loss in 2019 and has finally boarded her first trip.
Her situation illustrates the tension between airlines and passengers on which animals are allowed in commercial flights, which can sometimes be confused with stroking zoos until the federal government tightens rules on their service animals. Miniature horses, pigs and other unusual pets found ways on the plane, but the emotional support of the peacock was not.
Ms. Fraterrigo's ordeal has attracted widespread attention from the news media – ABC 7 Witness News is the first to report in New York – Members of the New York Congressional delegation lobbied for her to rebook with her parrot, including Senator Chuck Schumer.
Frontier spokesman Jennifer F. de La Cruz said in a statement Wednesday that the airline is investigating Ms. Fretrigo's last flight of parrots. “Parrots are not eligible for emotional support animals under our policies or any other American airline policies we know,” she said.
Nevertheless, the airline admits that these inconsistencies have caused hardships for Ms. Fraterrigo.
“We are delighted to be able to return Prukey to New York,” Ms. Dela Cruz said. “We are deeply sorry for any confusion that may occur in our policies.”
Since her husband's death, New York City Police Officer Richard Fraterrigo retired the federal attorney marshal while working in the lower part of Manhattan after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack.
“My bird is the only one that keeps me going,” she said. “That's my company.”
Her son Robert Fraterrigo said Ms. Fraterrigo was born in Puerto Rico and had been on vacation with her husband for years and he wouldn't have thought of traveling without exaggeration.
In December, he said, he began to study whether his mother could make his flight rich. Although Frontier's website mentions parrots, macaws, pheasants, and raptors are examples of large birds that are prohibited, it says it can carry small domestic birds in domestic flights. Mr Fraterrigo said in an online chat with a border customer service agent, he asked his mother if she could bring her bird to the plane and said she had a letter from a doctor designated it as an emotional support animal.
According to a screenshot of the communication provided by retired federal agent Fraterrigo, the agent replied, “Okay, that’s great”, adding that the letter was all she needed to bring to the airport.
Plucky is 24 years old. According to her owner, she weighs less than 10 ounces and is about 8 inches tall, and she bought a bird stand backpack so she could put the parrot under the seat in front of her.
“They asked her to go there,” said Mr. Fretrigo. “Take her home. She's on an island.”
Mr Fraterrigo said the border was not bothered at first, refunding the ticket fee (about $190) and giving his mother a $250 voucher. He said his mother was hysterical when she called him from the airport that night.
“The lights are going out,” he said. “She is just in a wheelchair.”
He said that after a few days, Frontier seemed to have relaxed, asking his mother if she had a veterinary examination certificate and certified that the certificate was purchased in the United States. Mr Fraterrigo said his mother bought Plucky's store and was able to find records. She now has a new ticket: 3A seat.
As she was about to return on Wednesday, Ms. Fretrigo said she was upset. So is she usually a chatty travel companion.
“Great conversation, but when she flies, he doesn't talk because she's nervous.”
