Hong Kong dog flies business class, sparking online row over pampering

In the video, the miniature long-haired dachshund named Fifi is seen snuggled under blankets.

British owner Helen Rosalie, who adopted the miniature long-haired dachshund in Hong Kong when the dog was one year old, she’s now four, said Fifi was “calm and collected” throughout the 11-hour flight, according to the South China Morning Post.

While Fifi looked comfortable, many online observers were not.

“It seems a bit sad that you’d prefer to spend tens of thousands on a dog and call it your daughter, when there are thousands of children in care homes that could become a real daughter,” one person wrote.

Another netizen said the video was “hard for me to see”, because the money spent on Fifi’s travel could have fed starving children and saved lives.

Many other followers were pleased to see airlines accommodating pets, while others commended Fifi for her exemplary behavior onboard: “My kids don’t behave this well,” wrote one.

However, the owner is quick to remind followers that Fifi is a certified therapy dog, a classification that grants her greater freedoms when traveling, compared with a standard domestic pet, according to Independent.