The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
Man and Great Dane secure flight home after airline initially denied boarding at YVR
The Chilean man who was denied boarding at Vancouver International Airport this week because of his large service dog has secured a flight home.
A Chilean man who was denied boarding at Vancouver International Airport because of his large service dog has secured a flight home to Chile, after assistance from Aeromexico.
Matias Rodriguez, accompanied by his Great Dane Logan who is trained to detect changes in his owner's blood sugar, faced difficulties boarding a return flight from YVR to Mexico City and then to Chile.
Rodriguez had previously been allowed to bring Logan on a flight from Mexico City to Vancouver, but staff would not accommodate the return trip, according to his friend and translator, Vynka Contreras.
After CTV News Vancouver highlighted the situation, an Aeromexico customer service supervisor offered a refund of a business-class ticket and a seat on a Mexico City flight on Nov. 14, but the plan changed to a Saturday departure on a business-class ticket to Mexico City, with the airline arranging a hotel stay and a free connecting flight to Chile on Sunday.
Contreras said the Friday interaction showed a markedly different level of assistance, with the airline ultimately arranging for Matias and Logan to travel and return home, though she noted the initial experience had been disappointing.