[nagdu] self identification

[Cindy Ray]

I never self-identify. Sometimes the airlines decide they must make a different boarding pass for me that says I have a emotional support animal. Mostly it seems no issue. I know that when Southwest said I must ride in the bulkhead because it was their policy, I looked up their policy and it said the same thing as the Air Access Act does. Don't know about U.S.Air. I like to preboard; I do that anyway without notifying them in advance, and this works every time. The only reason I do it to get the dog in before others are around. Maybe I should even stop doing that.
CL

On Nov 23, 2013, at 1:27 PM, "Michael Hingson" <Mike at michaelhingson.com> wrote:

> Genine,
> 
> While I understand your reasoning for self identification, the fact is that
> the airlines make up the rules as they go, and they are good at intimidating
> people who may not be strong enough to resist their extreme lack of
> sensitivity, knowledge of the law, and common sense.  For these reasons I
> usually do not identify in advance.  Here is a case in point.
> 
> Last Saturday I made a reservation on US Air.  (I usually use American as I
> am executive Platinum on AA and can get most places with them.)  However,
> because AA didn't fly where I needed to go I chose to fly US Air as it was
> the best choice for my needs for a particular flight.  Given the experience
> Al Rizzi had and because I wanted to get the full experience of how US Air
> would treat me I decided to try an experiment and identify that I was
> traveling with a guide dog.  Usually I do not so identify as I can simply
> request in advance the seat I want and get it.  (I refuse to fly in the
> bulkhead as it is unsafe and so that is not an issue.).
> 
> Anyway, immediately upon identifying the existence of my guide dog I was
> told that US Air's policy was that I would be required to sit in the
> bulkhead row.  I simply flat out said "no" and that I would be sitting
> elsewhere.
> 
> After being put on hold for five minutes the agent came back to inform me
> that she, with her supervisor's permission, put me in a non-bulkhead seat,
> but that I might be changed back to the bulkhead at the airport.  The agent
> switched my seat even though she had said that US Air's policy was that I
> had to sit in the bulkhead row?  Really?  So much for a "policy".
> 
> I have no specific knowledge of the US Air policy, but I will learn it.
> However, it doesn't matter.  The ACAA does not require me to sit in the
> bulkhead nor even by a window.  Many blind passengers do not have my level
> of experience and may not fight as hard.
> 
> I realize that at the airport people may also have the same fight to fight.
> Even so, the fight is less likely if the airline has less time to make up
> rules or become entrenched in a position.  If you think it is bad for blind
> people with guide dogs I submit that people in wheelchairs often have even
> more difficult times.  I have seen this happen with my wife, Karen, almost
> every time we fly.
> 
> Finally, self identification should not be necessary as we should not have
> to be singled out as a class.  If you really can make a case for needing to
> identify yourself and your guide in advance to get a specific seat, and if
> that works for you, then so be it.  If, for example, you feel that you need
> the bulkhead then I can understand advance notice being given to the
> airlines as that will be the only way you get that seat.  I would say again,
> however, that bulkhead seats are arguably unsafe for guide dogs.  As a
> result, Since most guide dogs will fit under non-bulkhead seats advanced
> self identification is unnecessary and can only lead to more fights and
> difficulties just as with taxis. 
> 
> 
> Best,
> 
> 
> Michael Hingson
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jenine Stanley
> Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2013 07:46 AM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: [nagdu] self identification
> 
> Marion, 
> 
> I agree with you in most cases. Self identification just is not necessary as
> someone working with any type of assistance dog. 
> 
> Air travel though is a bit different in a couple ways. I do self identify
> there because: 
> 
> 1. It's a very restricted environment. It's not like another plane will just
> pull up to take you where you want to go. 
> 2. I want to pre-board for very specific reasons, to get the seat I want,
> which I'm pretty proactive about, and to get all dog-related issues settled
> ASAP so I can plug in and tune out. :) 3. But most importantly, under the
> Air Carrier Access Act, if I want a specific seat or type of seat as an
> accommodation for dog, I have to self identify, at least 48 hours before the
> flight. 
> 
> So there ya go. 
> 
> Do I do this with taxi cabs, restaurants, stores, etc.? Absolutely not. 
> 
> Jenine Stanley
> jeninems at wowway.com
> http://www.twitter.com/jeninems
> 
> 
> 
> 
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