[nagdu] Service Dog's 'evacuation' forces emergency landing ofUS Airways flight to PHL

[Julie J. via nagdu]

Last time my son and I flew, he was really, really sick.  It was awful.  He 
of course, had the window seat, which made getting out and to the restroom 
problematic.  He didn't make it.  The other passengers were either kind or 
quiet.  No one said anything mean or hurtful at all.  The stewardesses were 
also kind and helpful.  It was cleaned up as best as possible and life went 
on.  We didn't make an emergency landing. There was no news story.  I did 
write to the airline later, thanking them for their compassion and 
understanding in dealing with the situation. It was Alaska Airlines and they 
have become my new favorite airline, for this and other excellent customer 
service.

I can understand the smell getting to people.  Planes are a small enclosed 
area and getting fresh air is problematic.  I can even understand needing to 
make an unexpected landing to deal with the situation for the comfort and 
perhaps health of the other passengers.  What I am having difficulty 
understanding is the utter lack of kindness and compassion.  The dog was 
obviously sick.  the handler didn't have some devious plan of making the 
other passengers suffer or to delay the plane.  The airline personnel did 
their best with what they had and when it turned out to not be enough, they 
made arrangements to take care of it.  Why do people have to be  so self 
centered?  Where has simple compassion gone?

Julie