I was then met by an employee named George, whose behavior was shockingly rude, dismissive, and just not nice or welcoming. Instead of offering understanding or help, he made the process difficult and confrontational. He spoke with an attitude, showed no empathy, and made it clear he did not care about the situation. He insisted on up charging me to move to a quieter room, which felt punitive and completely unnecessary after I had just checked in.
This treatment alone would have been upsetting, but what happened regarding my emotional support animal made the situation significantly worse. I travel with my dog because I suffer from severe anxiety and depression, and the first employee had immediately acknowledged this without issue. George, however, chose to challenge it, question it, and turn it into a problem. Instead of showing sensitivity, he insisted on charging a seventy five dollar fee and repeatedly said we could speak to the manager about it.
Being treated this way during the holiday season, while managing grief and anxiety, was incredibly hurtful. It made me feel dismissed in a moment when I was vulnerable and already struggling. This was not simply poor customer service, it was a complete lack of compassion.