Overview

• Maria Fraterrigo, 81, was denied boarding on her April 5 return flight from Puerto Rico to New York with her emotional support parrot, Plucky, despite the bird being permitted on her outbound flight in January.
• Frontier Airlines acknowledged an error in the initial handling of the parrot but cited its policy against allowing large birds in the cabin as the reason for the denial.
• Fraterrigo, who has relied on Plucky for emotional support since the death of her husband from 9/11-related cancer, refuses to travel without her beloved pet.
• The airline has refunded her ticket and issued a $250 voucher but has not yet resolved how to get Fraterrigo and her parrot home, stating it is investigating the matter.
• Her son, Robert Fraterrigo, is exploring alternative travel options, including smaller airlines and private charters, but has not yet secured a solution.