Puerto Rico (WABC) – (This is an earlier version of this story. Maria and her parrot have returned home. Click here to see the update.)
The 81-year-old woman experienced a travel nightmare after visiting her family in Puerto Rico.
Maria Fretago put her pet parrot in a cage and took her to Puerto Rico. However, she wanted to return to New York City on the same airline that flew there, so they don't take the parrot home with her.
She said her emotional support animal, Plucky, is inseparable for over 20 years since the parrot was born.
But now, the 81-year-old grandmother of the Bronx and Parrot is left behind in Puerto Rico for what the airline did, but they refuse to fix it.
“I didn't shed any more tears, my heart is blank. I just want to go home. That's all, I don't ask for much,” Fraterrigo said.
Fraterrigo really approached the gray African parrot in 2019.
That's when her husband, Richard, a court officer who worked for the NYPD, passed away from cancer related to 9/11.
“He kept me moving, he spoke to me and made me laugh when I fell,” Fraterrigo said.
The couple loved traveling to Puerto Rico with Plackey, and did so for years before Richard's death.
“I'm ready to fly on the plane,” said her son, Robert Fretergo.
Her son, Robert, called on a long list of airlines, joined a chat with Frontier online, asked about taking his mother's 10-ounce bird on the flight, providing evidence that it was a service animal.
The representative replied in chat, “Great.”
Fraterrigo left JFK Airport on January 4th. Plucky was with her in a TSA approved career.
Then on Saturday, April 5, she cleared security at Puerto Rico's main airport, but when she reached the gate, Frontier employees told her they couldn't ride a flight with the birds.
“You won't be able to fly. You'll remove your bird and give it to someone,” Frataligo said.
Her son repeatedly contacted the Frontier. Frontier admitted a mistake while flying from New York, saying the bird was “not checked correctly.”
The airline issued a $250 voucher, pointing out its policy of refunding tickets about $190 and noting that it would not allow big birds like cabin parrots.
“My mother did nothing wrong. She needs to take care of her and go home. She wanted nothing but to go home.
He contacted the small airline to see if his mother could take her to Tampa on a private charter.
Eyewitness News reached out to the Frontier but received no response.
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