[nagdu] why do we have to let airlines know that you have a dog
Robert Stigile
rstigile at sbcglobal.net
Wed Apr 14 16:46:07 UTC 2010
Hello,
What the supervisor told me, since I asked for one, due to the
poor conduct of the employee, is that they have to put this
indicator on your boarding pass and let the pilot know, but in no
way does it keep you from boarding.
Robert Stigile
E-mail: rstigile at sbcglobal.net
Skype: robertstigile1
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jenine Stanley" <jeninems at wowway.com
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:13:29 -0400
Subject: Re: [nagdu] why do we have to let airlines know that you
have a dog
Interesting Robert,
I flew Southwest last week and will again in a couple weeks and
I've only
heard this once, from a sky cap in New York several years ago who
insisted
I couldn't go in without this mark on my reservation. He was
quite wrong of
course and out of line at that point.
Southwest did not used to allow any pets on the plane. That
policy has
changed but I think they can only go in cargo.
I guess I wouldn't mind if they noted my dog's presence for
purposes of
emergency though.
Jenine Stanley
jeninems at wowway.com
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf
Of Robert Stigile
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 10:04 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog
Users;
nagdu at nfbnet.org
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 Michael Hingson Group, INC.
“Speaking with Vision?
Michael Hingson, President
(415) 827-4084
info at michaelhingson.com
www.michaelhingsoncom
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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