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

Jonathan Lyens jonathan at lyens.com
Thu Apr 15 03:50:58 UTC 2010


Albert,

This begs the question for all blind passengers of "who's responsibility are you?" Denoting only the blind people on the ticket that you are the blind passenger so they know they need to come help you during an emergency implies you, the blind person, do indeed need the help.

Jonathan

Jonathan T. Lyens MPA 
Email: jonathan at lyens.com 
Fax: (321) 256-8896 
Skype: jlyens 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Albert J Rizzi
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 7:13 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

It makes sense that they mark your ticket to be able to ensure the tracking
of your dog in the unlikely event of an emergency.

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 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


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-----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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