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

Wed Apr 14 15:44:52 UTC 2010

Albert,
    It was very nice of them to make an "exception" for me, wasn't it? As 
for relief areas at airports, I think that the staff of a particular airport 
would be a better source of this information than the staff of an airline 
that is probably not anywhere near the airport on which you need 
information. JMHO!

Fraternally yours,
Marion


----- 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>
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 7:53 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] why do we have to let airlines know that you have a dog


> or for that matter the ignorance of the general public. She and the pilot
> made an exception? That is rich. I agree with you on the point that we do
> not need to advise any one of how we travel and move through this life as
> guide handlers. but, I am wondering, if we did advise in advance of our
> travel, would that open a dialogue of where break areas are in the 
> airports
> we may be flying in and out of getting sometimes greatly needed advance
> notice to quickly get our little buddy's to a place to get busy? Just a
> thought I had, given some of the threads on break areas in airports and
> trying to find them.
>
> 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 Marion Gwizdala
> Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 10:06 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
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/jeninems%40wowway.com
>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> Version: 9.0.801 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2808 - Release Date: 04/13/10
>> 02:32:00
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/blind411%40verizon.ne
> t
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/albert%40myblindspot.
> org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/blind411%40verizon.net