[NAGDU] FW: [Njagdu] Blind woman and guide dog kicked off American Airline flight

Thu Mar 16 15:31:16 UTC 2017

I agree they owe her more than an appology
I dont prefer bulkhead but if that is the only place for her dog then maybe it would work but she in no way deserved to be thrown off the plane
I flew American in January and somehow chose bulkhead when i booked and when I boarded they noticed that the dog would be laying on the feet of the person in the middle and they moved that person
Have a great day

Robert Stigile 
818-381-9568


> On Mar 16, 2017, at 8:12 AM, Tracy Carcione via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I think they owe her more than an apology.  I've had to re-book a flight
> when one was cancelled, and it was a huge hassle.  Add to that the distress
> of being thrown out for nothing.
> I was gaily assuming she wanted to switch to the bulkhead, but maybe she
> wanted to switch away.  In my experience, when there are 3 people in the
> bulkhead seats, the dog is all over everyone's feet.  However it was, the
> airline crew way over-reacted.
> Tracy
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Chantel Cuddemi
> via NAGDU
> Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2017 11:06 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: Chantel Cuddemi
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] FW: [Njagdu] Blind woman and guide dog kicked off
> American Airline flight
> 
> I saw that article on another list!
> How horrible! I am very disappointed .
> They owe her an apology for this.
> Chantel.
> On Thu, Mar 16, 2017 at 10:58 AM Tracy Carcione via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
> 
>> I wonder, as airlines have started charging for sitting in the 
>> bulkhead, if it will be harder to switch to sit there.  I don't care 
>> myself, but some do.
>> 
>> Tracy
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> From: NJAGDU [mailto:njagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ginger 
>> Kutsch via NJAGDU
>> Sent: Monday, March 13, 2017 9:41 PM
>> To: New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Cc: Ginger Kutsch
>> Subject: [Njagdu] Blind woman and guide dog kicked off American 
>> Airline flight
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Blind woman and guide dog kicked off American Airline flight
>> 
>> Samantha York, WLBZ 7:24 PM. EDT March 13, 2017
>> 
>> Video at
>> 
>> http://www.wlbz2.com/news/local/blind-woman-and-service-dog-kicked-off
>> -ameri
>> can-airlines-flight/422219883
>> <http://www.wlbz2.com/news/local/blind-woman-and-service-dog-kicked-of
>> f-american-airlines-flight/422219883>
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> FRANKLIN, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- After requesting a different seat -- 
>> Sue Martin, who is blind, and her service dog were kicked off of an 
>> American Airlines
>> 
>> flight -- she said the pilot claimed she was a "danger to the flight".
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Sue Martin of Franklin has had her seeing eye dog, Quan, for the past
> year.
>> She depends on him to navigate through her daily life. Martin had 
>> never run
>> 
>> into an incident like this before her most recent trip to San Diego. 
>> There were several connecting flights -- all of which went smoothly 
>> until her connector
>> 
>> flight from Washington DC to Dallas. She requested a different seat on 
>> the aircraft after she saw it would not accommodate her service dog. 
>> "There was not enough room for a 75 pound dog and three adult humans" 
>> Martin said.The two were asked to step off of the plane after several 
>> requests were made to change seats. "The man said, you have to leave 
>> the plane -- I asked him why and he said the crew had decided I was a
> danger to the flight" Martin said.
>> "I've
>> 
>> never had anything happen like this before". Martin claims there was 
>> no altercation between she and the flight attendants and that she 
>> couldn't understand why it escalated the way it did.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> She was traveling with her husband as well -- they had to re-book 
>> their flight with a completely different airline at a different 
>> airport. "I stood up, reached for Quan's harness and almost began to 
>> cry -- this is just so far out of the realm of anything I have ever 
>> experienced in all my years of travel" Martin said. "I felt helpless, I
> felt afraid, I was terrified.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Martin filed three separate complaints with the Airline -- it says it 
>> will be investigating the matter. NEWS CENTER reached out to the 
>> airline as well, a spokesperson said "We take all disability 
>> complaints very seriously, and are thoroughly investigating these 
>> allegations".
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Martin stated she's worried about traveling with the airline in the 
>> future, especially if she is alone.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> "Some reassurance that American will better train its personnel is the 
>> only way I will feel comfortable getting on another American Airlines
> flight"
>> Martin said. "I mean if they can kick a blind person off a plane whose 
>> dog is perfectly behaved, what can they do next? I don't know".
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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