[nagdu] Access Denied on Airline

[Julie McGinnity]

Hi Miranda,

I am very sorry you had to experience this.  I would suggest you
contact Marion Gwizdala directly by emailing president at nagdu.org.  He
will be able to help you in your next steps.  You certainly should be
reimbursed for your expenses, and the staff who work this airline, no
matter how small, should know the laws-Air Carrier Access Act in
particular.  I don't see why two service dogs can't be on even a small
airplane, and I doubt that is a reason to deny you access, but Marion
is an expert on the laws.  Glad you got home safely in any case.

On 2/21/15, Miranda Morse via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hello All,
>
> Flying home yesterday from Chicago O'hare airport I was denied access to
> fly
> home on AirChoice One. I fly with this airline frequently because they are
> a
> small airport in my town and I travel monthly. The first time I flew with
> them I had had an issue but I was able to resolve it rather quickly and I
> was able to catch my flight.
>
> Yesterday first the flight desk attendant demanded that I show her my guide
> dog's paperwork. For 30 minutes we disagreed with her and tried to tell her
> that they were not required, she made several calls to her supervisor and
> other locations of AirChoice One and then they finally found out that they
> could not require such paperwork. Then they denied us access because they
> said their was another service animal already checked in for the flight.
> They say that their baggage of carry policy says that only one animal can
> be
> transported at a time. This is a very small airline and their planes have
> only 8 passenger seats. So one hour later we had missed our flight. We
> tried
> to contact their corporate office but because it was late Friday night
> their
> was no one their, once again due to them being a small airline.  Their
> policy does say that they are to offer the next available flight to
> passengers when this occurs but there was only 1 seat available the next
> day. So since we were only 4 hours from home we rented a car and drove
> home.
> They did not even offer to accommodate us in a hotel.
>
> What steps do I need to take to be reimbursed for the flight tickets and
> expenses of renting a car. Also what do I need to do to get this policy
> changed in their airline so I do not have to ever have this happen again or
> have it happen to someone else.  Is their policy legal.
>
> Any suggestions and assistance is greatly appreciated!
> Thank you in advance.
>
> Miranda
>
>
>
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-- 
Julie McGinnity
National Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary,
Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President, National Federation
of the Blind of Missouri recording secretary,
graduate Guiding Eyes for the Blind 2008, 2014
"For we walk by faith, not by sight"
2 Cor. 7