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

cheryl echevarria cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com
Wed Apr 14 09:58:14 UTC 2010


I just fly southwest or jetblue or other airlines that allow you to sit 
where ever you like, I usually take the front seat since that has the most 
leg room and the dog can curl up comfortable.

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 2:20 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] why do we have to let airlines know that you have a dog


> Marion,
>
> It does help to know the law inside and out!  Doesn't mean you won't get
> hassled, though, does it!  There's the rub, I guess.  For me, I try as 
> much
> as I can to smooth things out ahead of time, whether by discussing the
> presence of the guide -- as with my usual cab company, because I have a
> relationship with them -- or by showing up early enough to talk to the
> person at the desk by the gate (it's late; can't remember the person's
> title) to discuss my needs and wants as far as seating goes...  Well, on 
> our
> first and so far only flight, I was really lucky, I think, too, in that 
> the
> airline (Continental) crew were all really great and accommodating --
> offering me more than I asked for or thought I needed! -- without being
> pushy or patronizing or controlling.  They made sure, given spare seating,
> that I had a good place to give my pup plenty of room by leaving a spare
> seat between me and the next passenger.  I think they even told me I could
> let her sit there!  I chose not to.  I wasn't any more prepared for the
> hydraulics, since I hadn't clued in we were right over the wing, than my
> dog. /lol/  The passenger in the aisle seat was really tall, and like 
> dogs,
> so he kinda provided a physical barrier without getting uptight when she
> tried to take off as the plane did -- only in the opposite direction! 
> /lol/
> She settled down once we were in the ari, and went to sleep, but I was
> pretty sure there for a few seconds that she was going to jet out of the
> plane through the roof!
>
> Well, it was the first flight for both of us in guide dog terms, so we did
> pretty well, and we were fortunate to have good airline staff working with
> us.  Next time, though, I'm definitely going to safe up to go first class
> for me -- no more back spasms for hours here, thank you!  And we won't be
> over the hydraulics, so no leaping poodles!  Then again, nearly 2 years
> later, she's all grown up and calm and settled.  Who knew?  /smile/
>
> This is an interesting discussion.  The chances of my having to apply
> anything I learn or decide this convention season is nill to none, but I
> like to be informed ahead of time, so if it's not 'til next year, I will 
> be
> better prepared then, right?
>
> Whether I will inform in advance or not remains to be seen.  But I do like
> hearing the different sides of the issue from regular travelers and from
> those who do know the law inside and out!
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Marion Gwizdala
> Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 7:06 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
>
> Jenine,
>     Perhaps the "better way" to handle this is to not notify the airlines 
> we
>
> will be traveling with a guide dog or other service animal and require 
> them
> to follow the law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of 
> disability!
> I once traveled from Tampa to St.Louis, MO to do an educational program on
> the ADA to attorneys and police officers on behalf of the Illinois 
> Attorney
> General's Office and had a flight attendant "advise" me that I was 
> required
> to sit in a bulkhead seat. When I "advised" her that I would not sit 
> there,
> she told me it was the law. I again "advised" her as to where I was going,
> what I would be doing there, and that I had a much better understanding of
> the Air Carrier Access Act than she. I further "advised" her that, if she
> insisted on violating my civil rights by forcing me to accept an
> accommodation I chose to refuse, I would file a Federal law suit against 
> the
>
> airlines and her. After consulting with the pilot, she "advised" me that
> they were going to make an exception for me! I wonder how many others she
> intimidated into submission, violating their civil rights! It's too bad we
> are "advised" to compromise our civil rights because of the ignorance and
> custodialism of the airline industry!
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion Gwizdala
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jenine Stanley" <jeninems at wowway.com>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 9:25 PM
> 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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