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

Wed Apr 14 14:25:52 UTC 2010

>From the FAA.gov

D. Service Animals1
A service animal is (i) an animal individually trained and which performs 
functions to assist a person with a disability; (ii) an animal that has been 
shown to have the innate ability to assist a person with a disability, e.g., 
a seizure alert animal; or (iii) an emotional support animal.  You should be 
aware that there are many different types of service animals that perform a 
range of tasks for individuals with a disability.

Service Animal Permitted to Accompany Passenger on Flight and at Seat 
Assignment
You must permit dogs and other service animals used by passengers with a 
disability to accompany the passengers on their flights.  In addition, you 
must permit a dog or other service animal to accompany a passenger with a 
disability to the passenger's assigned seat and remain there as long as the 
animal does not obstruct the aisle or other areas that must remain 
unobstructed for safety reasons.  [Sec. 382.55(a)]  The service animal must 
be allowed to accompany the passenger unless it poses a direct threat to the 
health or safety of others or presents a significant threat of disruption to 
the airline service in the cabin.  See also Appendix VI, DOT Guidance 
Concerning Service Animals in Air Transportation; FAA Flight Standards 
Information Bulletin for Air Transportation (FSAT) #04-01A, "Location and 
Placement of Service Animals on Aircraft Engaged in Public Air 
Transportation" http://www.faa.gov/avr/afs/fsat/fsatl.htm

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: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 10:18 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] why do we have to let airlines know that you have a dog

> also you can go to
>
> http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/publications/animals.htm
>
> this is the most up to date, I am still looking other areas as well.
>
> 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: "Robert Stigile" <rstigile at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>; <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 10:03 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] why do we have to let airlines know that you have a 
> dog
>
>
> Hello All,
> I think that whether one sits in Bulk head or not is up to that
> person.
> I personally do not sit there, because I have had my dog bumped
> from one side to the other, when we were in rough turbulants, and
> the dog I had at the time, was injured.
> I sit in a regular row, with my dog under the seat in front of
> us, and I have my feet straddling either side.
> This keeps the dog from being bumped around.
> I have had Airline crew try to change my seat without my
> permission, and I have had airline crew feel that if I did not
> sit in bulkhead I would not be able board the plane.
> I told them to go look at the law, and the next thing you know,
> they were telling me it is ok to sit in the seat I booked, which
> is what I knew in the first place.
> I learned of a new item when flying home from my state Board
> meeting this last weekend, which is that Southwest says, that
> they must put an indicator on my boarding pass, that states I
> have a dog, and that they have to tell the flight crew before I
> board, that I am bringing a dog on board, so that they know there
> will be a dog, in case something happens to the plane in flight.
> I guess, you learn something new everyday.
> Take care,
>
>
> Robert Stigile
> E-mail: rstigile at sbcglobal.net
> Skype: robertstigile1
>
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Wed, 14 Apr 2010 07:57:53 -0400
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] why do we have to let airlines know that you
> have a dog
>
> I am sorry to say that I was not aware of this position that the
> bulk head
> is the worst place for a guide.  may I get the reasons why,
> because as a new
> be I have been led to believe this to be true when I fly.  I had
> in the past
> coveted such seating due to leg room.  But if it is unsafe for my
> guide I
> would so like to know why so that I might make proper
> accommodations for his
> safe travel.  Thanks.
>
> Albert J.  Rizzi, M.Ed.
> CEO/Founder
> My Blind Spot, Inc.
> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> New York, New York  10004
> www.myblindspot.org
> PH: 917-553-0347
> Fax: 212-858-5759
> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the
> one who is
> doing it."
>
>
> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf
> Of Michael Hingson
> Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 11:17 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
>
> 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?ichael Hingson Group, INC.
> ?? ?peaking?ith Vision?
> ?????????ichael Hingson,?resident
> ???????????? (415) 827-4084
> ??????????nfo at michaelhingson.com
> ??????? ??www.michaelhingsoncom
>
>
> for info on the new KNFB Reader?obile, 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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