[nagdu] self identification

Mon Nov 25 01:07:10 UTC 2013

Marion, it's not exactly a rhetorical question. 

If you want an accommodation under the ACAA, then you do have to self
identify. If you don't, then you don't. Very simple. 

I want the flexibility to ask for a different seat than the one either they
assign me or change me to and so I do self identify. My choice, not my edict
for all. 

It's just like Michael noted with frequent travelers tending not to want
bulkhead seating at all, because we know the risks and have experienced some
of the issues with being placed there. Yet, others choose these seats, for
their own reasons. 

I'm glad NAGDU is helping to educate the airline industry. We all need to do
so by not only reporting bad behavior but rewarding good behavior with
things like positive comments if we had a good experience or got something
worked out reasonably. 

Jenine Stanley
jeninems at wowway.com
http://www.twitter.com/jeninems

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of National
Association of Guide Dog Users
Sent: Sunday, November 24, 2013 7:20 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] self identification

Jenine,
	Does the ACAA require blind or otherwise disabled people to give
advance notice? Since this is a rhetorical question, how does this fulfill
any legal responsibility? I think the better approach is to help educate our
peers and the airline industry. NAGDU is working on doing this very
diligently and Albert's experience will be a good example to the industry as
to why it would be good to work with us!

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jenine Stanley
Sent: Sunday, November 24, 2013 11:03 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] self identification

OK Marion, here's my reasoning. 

Granted, the airlines seem indeed to make it up as they go along in terms of
seating.  However, if we do have adverse situations like what happened to Al
Rizzi and we have to deal with completely unreasonable crew members, it's
just my belief that we should have all of our legal ducks in a row. 

Hey Airline staff, I self identified. I asked to pre-board. I asked for a
specific seat with a specific reason for that request. It's not like I just
showed up and you had no idea what to do. I, unlike you, followed the
regulations set forth in the Air Carriers Access Act. 

Sadly these days it's all about CYA. 

Now, if you don't care about what seat you have and are fine with the seat
assigned, then no, there's no need to self identify as you don't need to do
that for pre-boarding, until you are literally at the gate that is. 

I look at this whole thing as one of those situations in which we are
eventually, through the formal complaint processes, going to hammer the
actual rules into people. I fear I'm way, way, way too optimistic. :) Jenine
Stanley jeninems at wowway.com http://www.twitter.com/jeninems

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of National
Association of Guide Dog Users
Sent: Sunday, November 24, 2013 6:01 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] self identification

Jenine,
	I agree with #3, if one needs a certain seat; however, I'm not sure
how either the restricted environment or the desire to pre-board would
require advance notification. Merry and I generally pre-board for the same
reasons you state and neither of us have ever given advance notification.
Maybe you can share a little more about this.

Fraternally yours,
Marion

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jenine Stanley
Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2013 10:46 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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