[Micgdu] Delta Airlines Service animal Policy Evolves

Fri Mar 2 15:20:09 UTC 2018

    For your knowledge the link to go to , to see Delta’s information is not correct.
I would like to know if the 48 hour rule is still in place.
Thank you.
Russell Smith
PanHandle President
Coeur d Alene Idaho

From: NAGDU President via Micgdu
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2018 5:00 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users ; coagdu at nfbnet.org ; flagdu at nfbnet.org ; Michigan Guide Dog Users Committee List ; New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users ; nyagdu at nfbnet.org ; oagdu at nfbnet.org ; txagdu at nfbtx.org ; vagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: NAGDU President
Subject: [Micgdu] Delta Airlines Service animal Policy Evolves

Please circulate the following message as widely as appropriate.

Dear Members & Supporters,

                On January 19, 2018, Delta Airlines circulated a news release announcing their new policy concerning the carriage of emotional support and psychiatric service animals, as well as trained service animals, in the aircraft cabin. This new policy, scheduled to take effect on March 1, 2018, was in response to a growing safety concern over emotional support and psychiatric service animals (ESAs) and negatively impacted those of us who use guide and other trained service dogs. This policy required those intending to travel with their trained guide or other service animals to notify the company at least 48 hours in advance of their travel, submit documentation of the dog’s immunization record, and required those accompanied by service animals to check in at the customer service counter rather than curbside, online, or through a self-service kiosk. The National Federation of the Blind and its special interest division, the National Association of Guide Dog Users, expressed our concern over this policy, believing it was incongruent with the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). We requested a face-to-face meeting with Delta Airlines and met with them on February 2 at their headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

                During this meeting, Anil Lewis, Executive Director of the Jernigan Institute, and I began a productive dialogue with upper level management of Delta, including the chair of their advisory board on disability. As a result of this meeting and through scores of email messages, Delta Airlines and the National Federation of the Blind circulated a joint news release announcing an enhanced service animal policy that seemed congruent with the ACAA. However, Delta’s website concerning this policy did not seem to reflect our mutual understanding contained in the press release. We continued our dialogue with Delta to create an official policy statement that more closely aligns with our interpretation of the ACAA while ensuring the safety of all of Delta’s passengers.

                I am pleased to announce that the National Federation of the Blind and the National Association of Guide Dog Users have worked collaboratively with Delta Airlines to create a policy that protects the civil rights of the blind and other disabled individuals who use guide or service animals while ensuring the safety of all Delta passengers. This current policy states,

If you are traveling with a trained service animal, in some cases you may be asked to show:
1.      The animal’s Veterinary Health Form and/or an immunization record or other proof that the animal's vaccinations are current within one year of the travel date
2.      While not required, customers are encouraged to upload this documentation to My Trips<https://www.delta.com/mytrips/> through the Accessibility Service Request Form

You can view the source file by following the link below

Delta's Service Animal Policy<wlmailhtml:Delta%20Airlines%20Service%20Animal%20Policy%20Evolves-.docx>

                Delta assures us valid tags issued by your local animal services department will suffice as “other proof that the animal's vaccinations are current”. The National Federation of the Blind and the National Association of Guide Dog Users will be hosting officials from Delta Airlines at our Jernigan Institute in the near future to discuss the specific procedures to implement this policy. As these procedures are created, we will circulate them widely so that all Delta Patrons who use service animals will understand their rights and responsibilities under this policy. We are also aware that other airlines are watching this policy evolve and we are working proactively with other airlines to help them create and implement sound effective policies. We will keep our membership and the flying public abreast of our advocacy efforts on this issue.

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala, President
National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)
National Federation of the Blind
(813) 626-2789
President at NAGDU.ORG

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind  people and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds you back.

Marion Gwizdala, President
National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)
National Federation of the Blind
(813) 626-2789
President at NAGDU.ORG

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind  people and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds you back.

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