81-Year-Old Woman and Her Parrot Stranded in Puerto Rico by Airline Policy

Travel Nightmare for Elderly Passenger

• 👵 An 81-year-old woman, Maria, is facing a travel nightmare after being stranded in Puerto Rico with her pet parrot, Plucky.
• 🦜 Plucky, an African gray parrot and a service animal, has been Maria's companion for over two decades, helping her cope after her husband's passing.
• ✈️ Maria traveled from New York City to Puerto Rico on January 4th with Plucky in a TSA-approved carrier without issue.

Airline Refusal and Policy Conflict

• 🚫 Upon attempting to return to New York City on April 5th, Maria was denied boarding by Frontier Airlines because the parrot could not fly in the cabin.
• 🗣️ A Frontier employee reportedly told Maria she would not be able to make the flight and needed to "get rid of your bird."
• ❌ Frontier acknowledged a mistake in allowing the bird on the initial flight from New York, refunded Maria's ticket, and offered a voucher, citing a policy that prohibits large birds in the cabin.

Efforts to Return Home

• 💔 Maria is distressed and wants only to return home to the Bronx, stating, "I just want to go home. That's all. I don't ask for much."
• 📞 Her son, Robert, has been trying to resolve the situation, contacting Frontier repeatedly and exploring options with smaller airlines for a private charter.
• ❓ Despite efforts, Maria and Plucky remain stranded in Puerto Rico, with no immediate resolution in sight.