[captak]

I landed in Newark afraid I was having a heart attack after the worst flight I have ever had on United - and I have had many flights on United.

I am a million mile flier with United. I made my reservation for CDG-EWR on United 55 on June 15 through United.com and booked my seat - emergency exit row aisle seat. Later I added and paid for a Pet reservation code PRD52E. I arrived at the airport 3 hours ahead of my flight to check in, check baggage and receive my boarding pass. I boarded in Group 2 so was on the plane early. A flight attendant was across the aisle for the duration of the boarding process. I stowed the dog carrier under the seat in front of me. The plane was check several times before push back. At no point was anything said about my seat assignment.

When the plane started to taxi to takeoff a male flight attendant noted the dog and stopped the taxi. I was them immediately surrounded by three large male flight attendants all speaking at once and I was told I was jeopardizing my fellow passengers. I had my hands with palms extended to protect myself because I felt so intimidated and attacked. I kept asking what I had done wrong. The head attendant Lee Jewell moved me to what he claimed was the "only seat where someone was willing to trade" - a window seat in regular coach. Really??? Nobody else on the plane in the entire Economy Plus section wanted an emergency exit row?

I explained that I get panic attacks sitting on the window and his response was either that or they would return to the gate and they would put me and the dog off. I asked again for an appropriate seat for a flier with my status and was told emphatically that only the window seat was allowed for either a dog or a baby - even though there were babies in arms in non window seats on the flight. I knew better than to argue since once on the plane you have no rights. Having three large male flight attendants surrounding you while you are seated is very scary.

I sat terrified on the window until the seat belt sign was off and then went to the restroom at the back of the plane where I sat for 15 minutes and tried to get a grip on what had just happened. Then I tried to stand at the back of the plane to mitigate the panic attack and chest pains. I was told I was not allowed to stand there unless I told a lie about the dog being a service dog. I would not lie so returned to the seat.

I sat for 7 hours with chest pains - afraid to ask for even a glass of water until landing in Newark. I have never felt so afraid and intimidated on a flight - and it was the flight attendants! I would not even make eye contact because I was afraid of retaliation. What did I do wrong to be treated like this and told in front of other passengers that I was jeopardizing their lives?