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

Wed Apr 14 17:55:59 UTC 2010

I would not think to loudly about that. Wouldn't want to give people more of 
a chance to discriminate against us. They seem to invent enough on there 
own. That would be a completely impractical plan. Thank god!

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Julie J" <julielj at windstream.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 1:33 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] why do we have to let airlines know that you have a dog

>I wonder if this isn't a part of new safety regulations?
>
> Just pondering using a guide dog cover to get an attack trained dog onto a 
> plane for use in undesirable behavior.   I'm not creative in this 
> department, but terrorists seem to be.
>
> Just thinking out loud,
> Julie
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Robert Stigile" <rstigile at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 11:46 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] why do we have to let airlines know that you have a 
> dog
>
>
> 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?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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