[NAGDU] Airlines/preboarding

Tue Dec 6 16:04:34 UTC 2016

Hello Dan,

Not sure I look at placing a guide dog under a seat as "shoving them 
under," but I think with proper training, some reassurance from their 
respective handler, most guide dogs do just fine with this expectation. 
I always feel such pride when we leave a restaurant or event an 
airplane, and I hear people say "wow, I didn't even know there was a dog 
here."

--
Stacie Hardy

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

On 12/6/2016 9:49 AM, Dan Weiner via NAGDU wrote:
> 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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