[nagdu] why do we have to let airlines know that you have a dog
Robert Stigile
rstigile at sbcglobal.net
Wed Apr 14 16:50:50 UTC 2010
Hello All,
I can safely say, that Guide Dogs of America, stated when I was
getting my current dog two years ago, that they tell people, you
can sit in bulkhead if you prefer that, and they also tell people
the best way to put a dog in under the seat in front of you, if
you wish to sit in a regular seat as well.
So, they do not push bulkhead, they actually prefer that you sit
in regular seating with your dog, unless they are giving you a
dog that is large, they will then recommend that you sit in
bulkhead.
I hope this helps,
Robert Stigile
E-mail: rstigile at sbcglobal.net
Skype: robertstigile1
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Hingson" <mhingson at sbcglobal.net
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Wed, 14 Apr 2010 08:36:20 -0700
Subject: Re: [nagdu] why do we have to let airlines know that you
have a dog
Actually several schools have made these recommendations.
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 Steve Johnson
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 4:16 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
I think we need to be careful here, as to the best of my
knowledge, only one
school thus far has made these statements and inferring that the
*schools
believe they need to even say that the airlines should be
notified* to me,
is making a broad brush statement that other schools are doing or
have done
this, and I don't think it is something we want to do without
having factual
information that supports this.
Thank you,
Steve
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf
Of Michael Hingson
Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 10:17 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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