A TikTok user named LikeTotallyKelly has garnered attention online after explaining her decision to wear a mask during a recent plane journey due to allergies to dogs in her vicinity. In a video posted on Monday, July 8, which has since gone viral with over 221,000 views, LikeTotallyKelly addressed her followers directly while seated on the airplane, wearing a face mask and holding a drink.
In text overlaying the video, she clarified her reason for wearing the mask: “I’m wearing a mask because I’m allergic to dogs and there’s 3 of them on my flight near me. I would rather wear this than see pets go in cargo. Please don’t make assumptions when you see someone wearing a mask on a plane.”
Additionally, LikeTotallyKelly shared that she was offered a seat change due to her allergy but declined because she had paid extra for her current seat upfront. She emphasized that her purpose in posting the video was not to express frustration but rather to highlight her personal experience: “I’m posting to show ppl things happen & I didnt make a fuss over it.”
Explaining her options, she wrote, “My choices were: be a sneezy coughing itchy watery eye mess, move to the back, or wear a mask. I chose the mask.” She concluded by urging others not to judge individuals wearing masks because everyone may have different reasons for doing so.
The issue of traveling with pets on airplanes adheres to specific guidelines established by each airline, as outlined by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Meanwhile, the topic of face mask usage has remained pertinent since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Although the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) enforced the CDC’s mask mandate for travelers until May 2022, mask-wearing has since become optional.