[nagdu] why do we have to let airlines know that you have a dog

Wed Apr 14 09:55:33 UTC 2010

I had offered in the future to GDF assistance in this, since again being in 
the field.

Recently Marion and I did a conference call with my host agency Montrose to 
educate travel agents about guide dogs, I realize that Marion wouldn't know 
all the issues of traveling out of the country, but like with the upcoming 
fundraiser cruise, which that information was totally wrong as well, that I 
was able to find out all the accessibility laws pertaining to traveling to 
the Caribbean.

They know I am a travel agent, because I am trying to work with GDF on a 
fundraiser was well, just waiting for approval.

Marion, you would be happy to know that they were also talking about 
ownership vs. custody of the dog.  Once I get a transcript of the call, I 
will love to pass it along to you.

Wondering if Merry ever received the letter since she is a grad or yourself 
about the call last night.

Cheryl Echevarria
Independent Travel Consultant
C10-10646

http://Echevarriatravel.com
1-866-580-5574

http://blog.echevarriatravel.com
Reservations at echevarriatravel.com
Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel CST-1018299-10

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 2:05 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] why do we have to let airlines know that you have a dog

> Jenine,
>
> Great info! Haven't had to consider the flying issues recently, but I
> generally do notify my regular cab company, just because I like having
> friendly relations with them.  They're not so johnny-on-the-spot out here 
> in
> the far 'burbs as they were when I was close to downtown, though, so I'm
> less likely to mention the poodle.  That's especially so if I'm calling
> another company.  Cab service is just unpredictable out here, so if I need 
> a
> cab, I don't need to wait forever...  Can't remember if I mentioned the 
> dog
> beforehand when I flew in 2008...  I got there plenty early, though, and 
> was
> able to check in with the person at the desk and just make sure everything
> was okay.  So it worked.  Except for the security on the layover in 
> Houston,
> where they were a little overzealous about protecting passengers from
> recently relieved poosles and sleep walking blind women.  /lol/  Wish I 
> knew
> the look I used when the large security guard -- with large hands and
> fingers, was snapping on gloves while telling me he would need to give my
> poodle a cavity search.  Not that I would let a security guard with tiny
> hands give my poodle guide a cavity search!  But as far as I was 
> concerned,
> this guy was *not* going to even think about it for another second!  So he
> apparently stopped thinking about it, took off the gloves and everything.
> Whew!  Next time I fly, I will have a better going-back-through-security
> strategy, that's for sure!
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Jenine Stanley
> Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 6:26 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] why do we have to let airlines know that you have a 
> dog
>
> Cheryl,
>
> The advice given on the call was general. It was also meant to answer the
> issue of international travel.
>
> Technically, on flights within the continental US, if you do not plan to 
> ask
> for any accommodations, such as the bulkhead seat, for your service 
> animal,
> then it's your choice as to whether to notify the airline that you will be
> traveling with your dog.
>
> There are probably as many opinions about this as there are handlers. If 
> you
> just don't want the potential conflict or if you want to handle things at
> the start of your travel planning instead of at the jetway doors, then you
> might choose to notify the airline that you have a service animal.
>
> There is one instance in which you are required to notify the airline.
> That's if you have what is classified as a psychiatric service animal 
> whose
> role is to assist you with tasks related to a mental health condition.
> Taking this type of dog, who often has fewer tasks in its training than a
> standard guide or service dog, does require prior notice and documentation
> provided to the airline. This category does not affect most of us with 
> guide
> dogs though.
>
> Remember that generally when we give advice to people about what we as the
> school think is correct, we do so based on the majority of people's 
> comfort
> levels. So though no, you technically are not required to notify airlines
> about your dog on domestic flights within the continental US, it certainly
> can lower stress levels for many people to do so.
>
> I fly a lot and always notify airlines that I am traveling with my dog. I 
> do
> it for a rather sideways reason though. I want to make sure the flight 
> crew
> knows that no, there is no federal law that requires me to sit in the
> bulkhead seats if I choose not to do so.
>
> Hope that clears things up.
>
>
> Jenine Stanley
> jeninems at wowway.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of cheryl echevarria
> Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 7:26 PM
> To: nagdu
> Subject: [nagdu] why do we have to let airlines know that you have a dog
>
> On GDF conference call they are saying that we need to let airlines know 
> we
> have guide dogs with us.
>
> Why, that is not so.
>
> Cheryl Echevarria
> Independent Travel Consultant
> C10-10646
>
> http://Echevarriatravel.com
> 1-866-580-5574
>
> http://blog.echevarriatravel.com
> Reservations at echevarriatravel.com
> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel 
> CST-1018299-10
>
>
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