[NAGDU] Airlines/preboarding

Tue Dec 6 15:49:40 UTC 2016

Well then please tell me how you shove our dog under a seat anjd get them to
stay there, and don't say things like " "oh just apply what they taught you
at school".  Not being sarcastic, geuninely curious, who knows I might try
it.

Dan the man

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Stacie Hardy via
NAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2016 10:42 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Stacie Hardy
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Airlines/preboarding

Hello All,

Hope our email finds everyone doing well and gearing up for the fast
approaching Christmas holidays. I echo Marion's thoughts regarding this
topic. My guide dog, Cash, AKA his majesty isn't exactly on the smaller end
of the spectrum. He's a healthy 85 lbs and 26 inches at the shoulders.
Fortunately, Cash is a nester, and likes to be in closed in spaces. I'm
always amazed at how he can make himself fit. Raul and I do quite a bit of
traveling and have a system in place that works for us. 
Soon, we'll be adding another guide dog to the mix, and I'm sure, he or she
will fit in just fine. We've had numerous discussions with flight attendants
regarding our not wanting to sit in the bulkhead. One attendant even said he
was going to call the "supervisor." That of course never happened, I think
this guy was spouting out hot air.

--
Stacie Hardy

In every guide dog, there beats the heart of a puppy raiser.
Twitter: @PatriotsGirl7

On 12/6/2016 3:58 AM, NAGDU President via NAGDU wrote:
> Jessica,
>
> 	I, too, am part of a two-dog family. Actually we are currently a 
> four-dog family, as we have my wife's retired guide dog and our 
> daughter and granddaughter, along with their dog,  are currently 
> living with us while their home is being built. When Merry and I 
> travel by airline, we preboard, as well. I believe this is respectful 
> of other passengers, as getting our dogs situated, especially my little
boy, takes some time.
>
> 	I would like to address the bulkhead issue for everyone's 
> consideration. I know we have gone through this before, but it 
> deserves repeating. About a year ago, there was a story about a 
> toddler sitting on its parents lap when the airplane encountered 
> severe turbulence. The child was thrown from the parent's lap and was 
> injured. Consider the fact that there is no restraint for a dog lying 
> in the bulkhead as there would be if the dog were under the seat. 
> Also, my little boy is about 42" long, 30" at the shoulders, and 
> weighs in at 110 lbs. When he sits on the floor in front of me, I have 
> no room for my 34" legs! Furthermore, if we were to encounter the type 
> of turbulence experience by the aforementioned toddler, I would not 
> want my 110-pound dog to become a missile in the cabin. I know we want 
> our dogs to be comfortable; however, my dog and I are just as 
> comfortable under the seat in front of me - even more comfortable than 
> in the bulkhead - while being much safer for him and other passengers.
BTW, I find seat belts rather uncomfortable, as well, but I wear them
nonetheless!
>
> 	I realize the choice of seating is a personal preference; however, I

> will continue to urge those with service dogs to consider making the 
> safer choice!
>
> Fraternally yours,
>
> Marion Gwizdala, President
> National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU) National 
> Federation of the Blind
> (813) 626-2789
> President at NAGDU.ORG
>
>
> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the 
> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise 
> expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind  
> people and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is 
> not what holds you back.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jessica 
> Diaz PC via NAGDU
> Sent: Monday, December 5, 2016 10:47 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Cc: Jessica Diaz PC
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Airlines/preboarding
>
> Hello,
> My husband and I also are a 2 dog family and we always preboard. For 
> me it is just easier and my main concern is getting the bags and dog 
> situated in a not crowded environment. Also, as a side note, I use the 
> line with Delta as well for requesting the bulkhead. For me when I 
> fly, I want the dog to have room. He is big and his comfort matters to 
> me. Delta is our go to provider for travel seeing as we use there credit
card and always get tons of miles.
> They are awesome.
> Jessica Diaz And Saunders
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Peter Wolf 
> via NAGDU
> Sent: Saturday, December 3, 2016 6:05 PM
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Peter Wolf <pwolf1 at wolfskills.com>
> Subject: [NAGDU] Airlines/preboarding
>
> Following up on Sandra's comment.
>
> We do preboard, particularly because we are a two dog family (guide 
> and service).  For the airline, it seems to fit their methods 
> naturally to do pre boards.  But I am very sensitive to this, and 
> wouldn't care if it was preboard, or just a regular seat halfway down the
plane.
>
> I know that no matter where we are, or in what seat, I am going to have
have
> whole plane load of people behind me, possibly waiting for me.  So.   My
dog
> and my luggage are dialed in.  I extend leash after turning right just 
> inside the door to enter the center aisle, and tell Metukah "lead".  
> She tows me down the aisle lightly, two feet ahead of me, and I 
> follow.  At our seat, we duck her in fast.  Standing, sitting or 
> laying, I don't care, for now.  But she goes in and stays there out of 
> the way.  It might even be in the seats opposite mine.  No prob because no
one's on the flight yet because
> we are preboarding.   Next, I throw the bags right onto the seats or seat
> floor, and get out of the center aisle.  Being first aboard, the 
> overhead bins are almost always empty.  Then, if you notice, actually 
> plenty of room to stand in front of the aisle seat in our row, and 
> just slip bags up into the overhead, like a "layover" basketball shot 
> so to speak, even as people walk by in the center aisle onto the 
> plane.  I don't mean throw them - I find that I can duck my head up 
> from under the bin at the aisle seat and clear the bin, so that I can 
> just reach up and roll in the bag without getting out to block the 
> aisle.  Or, if this is a hassle for any of you, I also just get in the
aisle and do it, but be out of the aisle in 30 seconds.
> That would be if I'm loading my gear and my wife's too.
>
> So for me this isn't about disability, except that it is nice to have 
> pre boarded; it's really only a normal courtesy to treat loading in 
> like a mission, clear out fast and let people get boarded!
>
> Happy flying!
> Peter
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