[nagdu] airlines, bulkheads and who needs to know?
Michael Hingson
info at michaelhingson.com
Wed Sep 29 15:55:28 UTC 2010
All,
As often happens when meaningful and serious discussions begin someone
becomes offended and someone often speaks out with a bit of a sharper tongue
than they realized. Please do not become disenchanted nor angry, but do
respect the opinions expressed as valid even if they aren't yours.
For my part I refuse to sit in a bulkhead row as I regard it as a safety
hazard. Flight attendants spend their briefing time at take-off telling
passengers in bulkhead rows not to leave purses and personal items on the
floors of their rows during take-off and landing. They do this for a very
good reason. Objects can fly around as a result of unexpected aircraft
movement.
During the flight turbulents also can cause things to fly around. However,
the briefers do not concern themselves with this.
I have been on flights where turbulents during the flight and/or violent
movement during take-offs have moved my guide dog when we sat in a bulkhead
row. Also I was ejected once from a flight simply because I wanted to sit
in only the second row. During the trial the pilot stated that in his
opinion the guide dog posed a greater danger to other passengers in a panic
situation when the dog was in a row other than the bulkhead notwithstanding
the fact that in non-bulkhead rows dogs are more easily restrained.
Not everyone agrees with the non-bulkhead position. I respect that.
However, I do think there are real potential safety issues with sitting in
the bulkhead row with a guide in turbulent situations. Many of us do not
think about this and the schools certainly do not bring up this issue as
they like bulkheads.
The fact is that even 95 and 100 pound dogs have sat comfortably in
non-bulkhead rows if they are properly trained to do so by their handlers.
They can go under typical aircraft seats although it might be necessary to
remove the harness to make this happen.
Again, it is each individual's choice as it should be. We all need to
respect each other on this point.
As for giving advanced notification to an airline of the presence of a guide
dog the law does not require it nor is it necessary. Airline personnel are
famous for making up their own rules as they go along. I mentioned my
removal from an aircraft earlier. The flight crew violated its own airline
policy by insisting that I sit in a bulkhead row. The flight attendants and
pilot made up their own policy and didn't even apologize when they
discovered that they had gone against the rules and regulations of their own
airline. Airlines do not have to prepare for a guide dog.
The exception to this does concern international flights, especially when
traveling to certain countries. Some foreign destinations require the
airlines to complete forms and themselves notify the foreign country that
they will be carrying a guide dog on a particular flight. We don't make up
all the rules.
Now I have entered the fray, but I hope in an understanding way. Take care.
Best,
Michael Hingson
The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
“Speaking with Vision”
Michael Hingson, President
(415) 827-4084
info at michaelhingson.com
www.michaelhingson.com
for info on the new KNFB Reader Mobile, visit:
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-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Cindy Ray
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 7:58 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Traveling Advice
Actually, you shouldn't leave your dog in the room alone. It is a strange
surrounding for the dog. In any case, that will never cause a complication
for me because I do not leave the dog in the room. I guess lots of folks do
though.
On Sep 29, 2010, at 9:46 AM, Albert J Rizzi wrote:
> There is nothing wrong with expressing your opinion and I like you take
> serious reservation and contemplation before responding with my opinion
for
> fear of getting more then I bargained for. i however will go out on a limb
> and say that I prefer to sit in bulk head and also like to alert hotels
and
> such to the presence of my guide so he will not be a complication for
house
> keeping, or let me say a surprise in the event I leave him in the room. I
> have yet to have any complications or refusal of service ever.
>
> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> 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 Cindy Ray
> Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 10:29 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Traveling Advice
>
> Well, I think each of us who has traveled a lot has a different way of
> dealing with it, or somewhat different. I think really that at the end of
> the day it is what ends uup making you the most comfortable. I don't think
> there are necessarily right or wrong answers on these kinds of questions.
I
> was just expressing what I do, and I had hesitated to do that originally.
>
> Cindy
>
> On Sep 29, 2010, at 9:25 AM, cheryl echevarria wrote:
>
>> not giving advice anymore
>>
>> The biggest compliment you can pay me is to recommend my services!
>>
>> Cheryl Echevarria
>> http://Echevarriatravel.com<http://echevarriatravel.com/>
>> 1-866-580-5574
>>
>
Reservations at echevarriatravel.com<mailto:Reservations at echevarriatravel.com>
>>
>> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel
> CST-1018299-10
>> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Absolute Cruise and Travel
> Inc.
>>
>> join my yahoogroup
>>
>
echevarriatravel-subscribe at yahoogroups.com<mailto:echevarriatravel-subscribe
> @yahoogroups.com>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Cindy Ray<mailto:cindyray at gmail.com>
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 10:19 AM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Traveling Advice
>>
>>
>> I never let the airlines know, nor do I notify a hotel, that I am
> bringing a guide dog. Now, sometimes if someone else is making my
> reservation, they do that, but I encourage them not to. Soon as they even
> say I'm blind they feel they have to put me next to the elevator, and that
> is often noisy. Also, I don't prefer the bulkhead seating. They aren't all
> created equal. And another thing. They often want to make sure I have the
> double seat to myself. I prefer to really, but I am concerned when they
make
> sure I get it because I don't want people thinking it is a requirement.
> Fisher can make himself smaller. LOL.
>>
>>
>> On Sep 29, 2010, at 9:15 AM, Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC) wrote:
>>
>>> Why? Marian, I think you say no to this advice?
>>> Care to both offer perspectives?
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org<mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org>
> [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf Of cheryl echevarria
>>> Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 9:42 AM
>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Traveling Advice
>>>
>>> Have you made your reservations already, I would let them know you are
>>> traveling with a guide dog, as well as the hotel, you have rights on
>>> both since pet policies do not pertain to Guide/Service Animals.
>>>
>>>
>>> The biggest compliment you can pay me is to recommend my services!
>>>
>>> Cheryl Echevarria
>>>
>
http://Echevarriatravel.com<http://echevarriatravel.com/<http://echevarriatr
> avel.com%3chttp//echevarriatravel.com/>>
>>> 1-866-580-5574
>>>
>
Reservations at echevarriatravel.com<mailto:Reservations at echevarriatravel.c<mai
>
lto:Reservations at echevarriatravel.com%3Cmailto:Reservations at echevarriatravel
> .c>
>>> om>
>>>
>>> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel
>>> CST-1018299-10
>>> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Absolute Cruise and Travel
>>> Inc.
>>>
>>> join my yahoogroup
>>>
>
echevarriatravel-subscribe at yahoogroups.com<mailto:echevarriatravel-subsc<mai
>
lto:echevarriatravel-subscribe at yahoogroups.com%3Cmailto:echevarriatravel-sub
> sc>
>>> ribe at yahoogroups.com<mailto:ribe at yahoogroups.com>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: Kolby
> Garrison<mailto:kolby12091988 at gmail.com<mailto:kolby12091988 at gmail.com>>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2010 10:29 AM
>>> Subject: [nagdu] Traveling Advice
>>>
>>>
>>> Hello Everyone,
>>> I will be flying to the state of Washington in November, and staying
>>> in a hotel for at least three nights. I have not ever flown or stayed
>>> in a hotel with my Guide Dog before, and I would like to know if those
>>> of you who have flown or stayed in a hotel with your dogs before have
>>> any advice for me. I will have layovers exceeding two hours on the way
>>> to and from my destination. Are there things that I can do to make my
>>> and Sunny's airport, airplane, and hotel experiences as positive and
>>> hastle free as possible?
>>> Thank you in advance for any advice that you have the time to share.
>>> Kolby
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nagdu mailing list
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