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

Wed Apr 14 10:46:52 UTC 2010

plus I have to know the rules for help people with travel with there service 
animals.

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: "Jenine Stanley" <jeninems at wowway.com>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 6:26 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] why do we have to let airlines know that you have a dog

> Cheryl,
>
> When going to Hawaii and the UK, yes, you do have to notify the airline 
> you
> have a service animal because both places have quarantine regulations that
> the airline must meet and even with the exemptions for service animals, 
> the
> airline must be informed and notify the airport that you are coming with
> your dog and to have quarantine staff on hand. In the UK, I believe you
> can't even get off the plane until you are checked by the quarantine 
> service
> vet but I could be wrong on that one.
>
> These are obviously exceptions to the rules that govern travel in the
> continental US.
>
> As I said, I fly a lot and honestly, though there are times when I've not
> notified an airline, I just don'
> T find that much difficulty with my dog, notifying or not. I find that 
> most
> issues happen in the cabin when a flight attendant doesn't know the law,
> prior notification or not. I've had seat assignments changed arbitrarily 
> by
> cabin staff when everyone else involved knew the law and respected my 
> choice
> of seating.
>
> So, I'
> All respectfully disagree that it's an open invitation to discriminate
> against us by telling the airline.
>
> That said, I will not tell a taxi company or other ground service that I
> have a service animal. It's irrelevant. Why? Because getting another taxi 
> is
> a lot easier and less time and financially intensive than getting another
> flight.
>
> 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: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 5:40 AM
> 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
>
> they said especially with Hawaii and England.  I told karen last night she
> is the Consumer Service person that took over for Barrie.
>
> 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: "Michael Hingson" <info at michaelhingson.com>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 11:16 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] why do we have to let airlines know that you have a 
> dog
>
>
> Hi all,
>
> I am with Marion on this one.  I find that airline personnel tend to make 
> up
> rules often as they go along.  They do so whether or not I tell them I use 
> a
> guide dog, but it tends to be worse if they know in advance.
>
> It is unfortunate that the schools believe they need to even say that the
> airlines should be notified.  The schools are promulgating something 
> better
> off handled in a different way.
>
> I find that when confronted by an airline person who says I must sit in 
> the
> bulkhead I simply ask "show me the law".  The airlines keep copies of 
> their
> manuals, policies and related materials on all aircraft.  If they cannot
> show me the law usually that is the end of it.  I have had more
> confrontational situations as some on this list know.  An airline was 
> taken
> to court by me and the NFB in the 1980s.  We settled that case, but I fear
> that airlines did not learn from their mistakes.
>
> International flights may be a different situation depending on the laws 
> of
> the countries to which we are traveling.  If we need to inform an airline
> for the purpose of international travel it is not for the benefit of the
> airline but rather because the country involved requires notification from
> the airline prior to the trip as well as on approach.
>
> Many guide dog schools either explicitly or implicitly encourage bulkhead
> seating for guide dog users under the premise that there is more room for
> the dog.  This is also unfortunate especially since the bulkhead is the 
> most
> dangerous place for a dog.
>
>
> Mike Hingson
>
>
> The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
> "Speaking with Vision"
> Michael Hingson, President
> (415) 827-4084
> info at michaelhingson.com
> www.michaelhingson.com
>
>
> for info on the new KNFB Reader Mobile, visit:
> http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com
>
>
>
>
>
> -----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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