You may have heard about Maria Fraterrigo, the NYC grandmother stranded in Puerto Rico after Frontier Airlines refused to let her fly with her pet parrot. Just days earlier, they’d let the pair fly there from JFK.
The good news is they’re both back home now.
Back on January 4th, Fraterrigo initially boarded her Frontier Airlines flight at John F. Kennedy International Airport with Plucky, a 10-ounce African Grey, in a TSA-approved carrier, without any problem. However, according to WABC-TV, WCBS-TV and CBS News, their trip home was put on hold on April 5th, when the grandmother tried to get on her return flight with the bird and airline staff told her no.
An airport employee told the octogenarian: “You won’t be able to make the flight. Get rid of your bird and give it to somebody,” her son, Robert Fraterrigo, told ABC channel 7.
“I have been traumatized. It’s like I am abandoned,” Maria said, per WCBS. “My medicine is home, doctor’s appointment. Everything is just a nightmare.”
Frontier’s stance was: “Our policies with respect to large birds, including parrots, is clearly stated on our website and it is a customer’s responsibility to ensure they understand both our policies and that of government agencies regarding the transport of animal species. Parrots do not qualify as emotional support animals under our policies nor those of any other U.S. airline that we are aware of.”
Maria’s son, Robert Fraterrigo, said he has been trying to work with the airline to find a solution because the bird was very important to his mom. He said that Plucky “gave her so much comfort” after his father’s death.
He said that his mom had a letter from the vet saying that Plucky was “an emotional support animal,” and the flight staff accepted the letter and, “there was never a question as to what type of bird my mother was bringing.”
Unfortunately, Frontier told him that the staff at JFK had made a mistake and that large birds such as parrots weren’t allowed onboard, which is true – according to Frontier Airlines’ website. Only “small household birds” are allowed onboard, and even then, only on domestic flights. The airline also specifies that “large birds,” including “parrots, macaws, cockatoos, birds of prey” are “never accepted” onboard.
Maria was refunded about $190 for her ticket and issued a $250 voucher. But Robert told WABC-TV and WCBS-TV that his mother was still stuck in Puerto Rico, with no way home.
“This is an island. This is not where my mom can jump in a car, or I can jump in a car and go get her,” he told WCBS-TV.
Robert told WABC-TV that he has reached out to smaller airlines to see if his mom could get on a private charter to get her to Tampa, FL, where he lives, but couldn’t find anyone. He told ABC, “My mother did nothing wrong and she just needs to be taken care of and sent home, she didn’t want anything else but to go home and no one wants to help.”
Meanwhile, Maria told the TV outlets that she refused to leave Plucky behind, and all she wanted was to return back to New York City with her parrot. She told WCBS-TV, “… I want to go home. That’s all I want. I want to go home.”
“I just want to get home. That’s it. With my bird,” she added.
Finally, nearly a week after her ordeal began, Maria was allowed to fly home with Plucky on Frontier flight 3548.
Robert said that countless calls and emails, as well as specific people, were instrumental in making it happen.
“Senator Schumer, Representatives Torres and Espaillat had helped. It’s been a team effort. I think it’s ridiculous that it took all of this to get done,” Robert said.
Frontier Airlines did ask for a certificate from the vet to prove Plucky was healthy to fly. They also wanted proof that he was purchased in the U.S.
Shouldn’t have happened
Of course, the staff at JFK should never have allowed Plucky onto the plane to Puerto Rico in the first place – he was too large to be considered a “small household bird,” and pets that offer “emotional support” don’t count as service animals.
That being said, once Frontier did make the mistake, it was pretty much their fault Maria and Plucky were stuck in Puerto Rico. Suggesting to get rid of the bird was ridiculous, of course. But it shouldn’t have taken such an effort for the airline to be willing to do something.
It’s probably good for Maria if she doesn’t fly again, if she ever intended to bring Plucky along.
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