Monkey business causes confusion on US flight
Officials at US carrier Frontier Airlines called law enforcement to meet a flight arriving at Las Vegas after a small monkey was discovered in the cabin.
Frontier Airlines spokesman Richard Oliver said the primate was found to be a passenger’s ’emotional support’ animal but the airline was not informed a service animal would be onboard the flight, which departed from Columbus, Ohio.
Oliver said the passenger sneaked the pet on board in a duffel bag and when questioned on arrival, refused to hand over the required documents verifying the monkey as a support animal.
Still, the confusion sparked questions about Frontier’s policy and how the monkey managed to get through undiscovered.
The monkey was apparently allowed through the TSA security checkpoint in Columbus as TSA agents do not need to see supporting documents.
Contrary to some media reports, Las Vegas police said the monkey was not ‘loose’ in the cabin and remained with its owner throughout the flight.
It is not the most unusual creature to be used as an emotional support animal on a plane.
Other animals to cause a stir in-flight in recent times include a 70-pound pot bellied pig, a turkey and even a kangaroo.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season