This Golden Retriever Experiencing International Business Class Will Make Your Day
A golden retriever named Merlot experienced business class like someone walking into their dream vacation. The video, posted on Instagram on January 7 through @merlotthegoldie, immediately caught people’s attention. Merlot happily bounced down the aisle with his tail wagging nonstop and the kind of grin that made everyone around him smile too.
The excitement on his face was impossible to miss. He looked completely thrilled just to be there, soaking in every second of the experience while passengers watched him pass by. One caption summed it up perfectly: “Nobody on this plane is happier to be here than him.”
Merlot Had One Job and Still Couldn’t Hide His Excitement
Part of what made the video so enjoyable is that Merlot is not just a pet on a luxury trip. He’s a certified medical alert service dog who travels internationally with his owner, Uğur Ozdemir, because of a health condition. That made his excitement even funnier because, despite all his training, he still reacted like a dog, completely thrilled to be there.
Service dogs are usually known for being serious. They stay focused, calm, and disciplined even in stressful environments like airports and crowded flights. Merlot clearly knows the assignment, too. Ozdemir explained that the golden retriever takes his role seriously and stays highly trained during travel. Still, business class apparently tested his professionalism for a few seconds.
The video shows Merlot trying his best to contain himself while boarding a Turkish Airlines flight for the first time in the airline’s spacious business cabin. He wiggles, paws excitedly at the floor, and grins the entire walk to his seat. The contrast between “working service dog” and “dog absolutely losing composure over extra legroom” made the video impossible to ignore.
People connected with the video because Merlot reacted the way many travelers secretly would if they walked into business class for the first time. The post quickly picked up thousands of likes and more than 120,000 views as people kept replaying his reaction. His owner added, “He waited for this flight his whole life,” which made the moment even sweeter.
A Bigger Conversation Behind the Moment
The attention around Merlot’s flight also sparked discussion about traveling internationally with larger service dogs.
Ozdemir said he hopes sharing these moments helps make the process feel less intimidating for people who rely on service animals while traveling. It’s important because flying internationally with large dogs still involves plenty of confusion, paperwork, and restrictions, depending on the airline and destination.
The viral clip also connected back to Paws Abroad, a pet travel platform founded by Marisa Hoskins and her brother after they had difficult international pet travel experiences themselves. The company helps pet owners organize travel plans and documentation for overseas trips.