Passengers were left "gobsmacked" when one man arrived on a flight having booked a whole row of seats – for him and his dog.

Gabriel Bogner, 27, was travelling from Los Angeles, California, USA to New York City with his beloved dog Darwin, five, but had to buy three tickets so the pair could travel.

Darwin was an instant hit onboard, as he boarded, took a quick look around the cockpit and even said hello to the people in the first few rows (maybe she was trying to blag an upgrade?).

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Gabriel, a start-up founder, was moving from Los Angeles to New York and said this was Darwin's first time flying. He explained: "People were absolutely gobsmacked and shocked but everyone was so excited to see her. I've never seen so many smiling at an airport. This was rare, [it was] her first time flying.

"There were no issues, she was great and the entire crew was amazing. They did joke that she got an upgrade and I didn't but it was a very smooth trip."

It's not the first time this year that an adorable animal has caught other passengers' attention on a flight.

Over in Paris, cabin crew were tasked with looking after quite the VIP traveller on a flight to Lisbon; Gowi Nee Bu the koala bear.

Portuguese airline TAP hosted the marsupial as part of its work with the Threatened Species Conservation Programme. The fluffy creature flew economy, but was seated in a special transport cage with a log of wood inside for him to hold on to in a bid to make the journey more comfortable.

Like Darwin, he also had an entire row of seats to enjoy, sitting with his dedicated handler who was there to ensure the two-hour 30-minute flight was as smooth and stress-free as possible.

If you are planning to travel with your pet, make sure you check the rules with your airline and destination before you book a flight, as these can be vastly different depending on the route.

One woman recently caused uproar when she wasn't allowed to take her dog on a flight – so she abandoned him in the airport carpark.

According to the police, the woman abandoned her French bulldog in the airport carpark at Pittsburgh International Airport because airline staff didn't believe her story that the pet was an emotional support animal. She was reportedly told the pooch could travel if she put him in a crate in the hold, but instead she decided to ditch him.

The bulldog, which is thought to be around seven years old, is in good health and being kept at a local animal shelter, Sgt Donaldson told news channelWTAE .

The Allegheny County Police Department stated: "Don’t leave your pets behind! This morning at approximately 5:30 a.m., ACPD officers working at Pittsburgh International Airport were called to assist with a dog that was found unattended in a stroller on airport property.

"Officers were able to locate a microchip on the animal but attempts to reach the owner were unsuccessful. Investigators learned the dog’s owner was told by airline officials the dog needed to be placed in a crate in order to fly.

"The investigation revealed the owner then abandoned the dog near short-term parking and proceeded to board a flight. Police contacted the state dog warden to safely turn over the dog. A charge of animal abandonment is expected to be filed against the owner by the dog warden."

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