People divided after passenger was forced to give up first class plane seat for a dog

Much of the internet has been left divided after a passenger was forced to give up their first class seat for a dog.

We've heard countless stories online of a passenger being kicked out of their seat for a fellow human traveler, but being forced to move starts for an animal? Well, that's a new one.

A traveller explained his nightmare travel story on Reddit, and it included a picture of the dog with its owner.

"I got upgraded to first this morning, only to 15 mins later get downgraded (to a worst seat than I previously had). I asked the desk agent what was going on and she said 'something changed'," the Reddit user began.

Yep, that's a dog in the seat (Reddit/ben_bob)

"Okay, fine, I am disgruntled but whatever, I then board only to see this dog in my first class seat ... And now I'm livid."

The passenger went on to explain how he contacted the airline in question to be told 'you may be relocated for service animals' and that they couldn't do anything to help.

"There is no way that dog has spent as much with this airline as I have ... What an absolute joke," the Redditor continued.

"What's the point of being loyal to this airline anymore, truly. I've sat back when others complained about this airline mistreating customers lately and slipping in service levels, but I'm starting to question my allegiance as well."

Many have flocked to the comments section of the Reddit post and it's fare to say people are divided.

"Yeah, don’t blame the dog, he has no choice. Shame the owner," one person commented.

People have been left divided by the travel story (Getty Stock Photo)

A second added: "If you’d paid for your seat then I think it’s a legitimate gripe. Complimentary upgrades can be taken away for a variety of reasons though, not just service dogs, without compensation.

"Doesn’t hurt to try with a complaint email, but be prepared for a second rejection just in case."

While a third commented: "That sucks. I don’t see why they can’t at least put you back where you were and move whoever got upgraded back where they were.

"Or better yet, why don’t they know about this need ahead of time?"

And a fourth quipped: "Notice how nowhere else in life do you see this quantity of service animals? Go to the airport and all of a sudden they appear."