[il-talk] Fwd: UPDATE regarding Delta Air Lines policy regarding animals

Wed Feb 28 23:49:17 UTC 2018

Hi everyone, from the Seeing Eye here's a Q&A with some updated
information for guide dog users traveling with Delta

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "advocacy at seeingeye.org" <advocacy at seeingeye.org>
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2018 15:28:57 -0600
Subject: UPDATE regarding Delta Air Lines policy regarding animals
To: Harris Singer <harris.singer at gmail.com>

The Seeing Eye

Dear fellow Seeing Eye graduate,

As many of you already know, Delta Air Lines announced changes to
their policy for service and emotional support animals to go into
effect on March 1. They received a lot of criticism and based on that
feedback, have changed some parts of the new policy.

Under the revised policy, still scheduled to go into effect on March
1, passengers with service animals will no longer be required to
complete the check-in process at a Delta ticket counter. Instead,
passengers will once again have the option of checking in
electronically, at a kiosk or at curbside. Also, advance notice is no
longer mandatory so you will be able to travel on short notice or
transfer from another airline to Delta without restriction. However,
Delta's new policy for service animals still requires you to "travel
with the animal's Veterinary Health Form and/or an immunization record
or other proof of vaccination."

Here's a brief Q&A that may help answer some of your
questions.

Q: What immunization record does Delta require?

A: Delta only requires proof of your dog's rabies immunization.
You are no longer required to show proof of a distemper vaccination. A
valid rabies vaccination certificate from your veterinarian meets this
requirement.

Q: What is Delta's Veterinary Health Form?

A: Delta's Veterinary Health Form is an alternative to a rabies
vaccination certificate and can be downloaded from the company's
web site. If you choose to use this form, your vet has to fill it out
with the date of your dog's rabies immunization, the vet's
office info, and the vet's signature. The form is valid for one
year from the date the licensed veterinary professional has signed it.
You must keep the original with you at all times while traveling. The
form is available here:
http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=9ICeYoKMHVO0ky0RR8DyHQ .

Q: Can I use my dog's rabies immunization record instead of
Delta's form?

A: Yes, you may use your dog's rabies vaccination record in lieu
of Delta's Veterinary Health Form as long as the vaccination
date is valid during your travel, and the veterinary office
information is included on the certificate. You can ask your vet for
extra copies of your rabies certificate and simply keep one stored in
your passport or luggage at all times.

Q: What "other proof of vaccination" will Delta accept as
proof of rabies immunization?

A: According to an agent on Delta's Disability Assistance Line,
you may use your vet's printout of services rendered as proof of
rabies immunization as long as it is current within one year of your
travel dates. There have also been questions about using your
dog's rabies tag as proof of vaccination. To date, we have been
unable to confirm with certainty that a rabies tag can be used since
we continue to receive conflicting responses from Delta's
Assistance Line agents.  However, as is the case with the rabies tags
issued by The Seeing Eye, many rabies tags only show the year when the
vaccination was administered so it's not clear if the tag would
even be acceptable after that year ends, even if the vaccine is valid
for three years. Given the apparent confusion among Delta
representatives, and the lack of guidance about using rabies tags, you
may wish to bring along your dog's rabies certificate as a
backup if you choose to use your dog's rabies tag as proof of
immunization.

Q: Why do I have to keep proof of rabies immunization with me while
traveling at all times?

A: Delta has not shared a reason for requiring proof of vaccination,
nor has the airline shared when, or by whom, passengers can be asked
to show this documentation.

Q: What can I expect when flying on Delta in the near future?

A: Graduates flying on Delta in the immediate future may encounter
some confusion among airline representatives as Delta's new
policies for service animals and emotional support animals are rolled
out. One way to help the process go more smoothly is to immediately
identify your dog as a service animal that has been specially bred and
trained to mitigate your disability. Also, be sure that you understand
your rights, and if you are prohibited from checking in online, at a
kiosk, or at curbside, immediately ask to speak with a CRO (Complaint
Resolution Official). You can read more about your rights at:
http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=OxA8dQm5GCTjMS_YqAsmhA .

Please call The Seeing Eye at 973-539-4425 or email
advocacy at seeingeye.org if you experience problems on your Delta
flight. This will help us track any ongoing issues.

In closing, many thanks to those of you who responded to the call for
action against Delta's initial policy. For much of his life,
Seeing Eye co-founder Morris Frank tirelessly advocated for the
rights of people who are blind to travel by air without the need for
special permission, but simply as he put it, "as blessedly
ordinary passengers." Everyone here at The Seeing Eye salutes
you for personifying the pioneering spirit and determination of Morris
Frank and other early advocates of the guide dog movement.

Sincerely,

Ginger Bennett Kutsch
Advocacy Specialist
The Seeing Eye, Inc.
Morristown, New Jersey
(973) 539-4425
www.seeingeye.org
http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=X8nI_whVEnFUooitKhvjUA

P.S. Here are some helpful resources for your next Delta flight.

Delta's accessibility assistance line: 404-209-3434

Delta - Service and Support Animals:
http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=dAnoXw4OhhujbyVgdkTVFA

The Seeing Eye
10 Washington Valley Road
Morristown, NJ 07960
ph (973) 539-4425
e info at seeingeye.org

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