Frontier Airlines Strands Woman Over Emotional Support Parrot

Maria Fraterrigo, an 81-year-old woman from New York, found herself stranded in Puerto Rico after Frontier Airlines barred her from boarding a return flight with her emotional support parrot, Plucky. Despite successfully traveling with the bird on the outbound flight, airline staff in Puerto Rico claimed it was a mistake to have allowed her on board initially. Fraterrigo and her son had confirmed prior to the trip that the bird would be permitted, but Frontier's policies state that large birds like parrots cannot travel in the cabin. The airline has since refunded her ticket and offered compensation, but Fraterrigo expressed emotional distress over being separated from her pet. This incident highlights ongoing confusion over airline regulations regarding emotional support animals and the significant impact such policies can have on travelers. Frontier Airlines has not provided a satisfactory explanation for the discrepancy between the two flights.