[NAGDU] going on US domestic flights with a guide dog

Mon Aug 6 14:34:22 UTC 2018

I've never had problems. The only time I had to fill out paperwork was 
when we traveled internationally, but I was well prepared for that.

On 8/6/2018 10:28 AM, David via NAGDU wrote:
> There is no form for service dogs, Dan.  I always carry a rabies 
> certificate, but that's it.  'Never been asked.  I do usually ask for 
> help scheduling enough time for Claire to relieve herself outside the 
> terminal when we have connections.  Claire refuses to enter airport 
> relieving areas - inside the terminal, or outside the terminal.  
> Fortunately, she will go in the street, beside the curb.
>
> I have found that airline personnel do not mind having a 'real' 
> service dog on board.  They've told me incredible stories about the 
> behavior of ESAs.  In fact, more than once, I have been told, "We are 
> so glad to have a real service dog on board.  Let us know if we can do 
> anything for your her."
>
> *David in Clearwater, FL*
> *david at bakerinet.com
>
> *
> On 8/6/2018 9:56 AM, Dan Weiner via NAGDU wrote:
>> thank you to all, I'm just anticipating that I'll have this type of 
>> conversation:
>>
>> "is that a service dog (or ESA, or whatever term_.
>>
>> Dan "I'm blind and it's a guide dog"
>>
>> Air line person "but it doesn't show here that you filled out the 
>> form required for service dogs".
>>
>>
>> Dan: "There's probably a misunderstanding, I'm blind and he's a guide 
>> dog and those requirements aren't needed for a guide dog".
>>
>> And so on and so on.  I just envisage a lot of confusion, and I do 
>> understand Melissa's point about talking to the airline in advance, 
>> I'm curious what accommodations you ask for or can potentially ask 
>> for, it might be something that would be good for me or my dog.
>>
>>
>> You take care
>>
>>
>> On 8/6/2018 9:49 AM, Mary Metzger via NAGDU wrote:
>>> My Seeing Eye dog and I recently traveled to and from Atlanta on 
>>> Delta.  Although I carried a rabies certificate with me I was not 
>>> asked for any documentation regarding my dog.
>>>
>>> Mary Beth Metzger
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Melissa 
>>> Allman via NAGDU
>>> Sent: Monday, August 06, 2018 9:06 AM
>>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog 
>>> Users' <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Cc: Melissa Allman <MAllman at seeingeye.org>
>>> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] going on US domestic flights with a guide dog
>>>
>>> Hi Dan and Parker. There is indeed a lot of confusion surrounding 
>>> this issue. At this point, you do not need to provide documentation 
>>> to the airlines proving that your dog is a guide dog or that you 
>>> need to travel with a guide dog. You can show up as you did before 
>>> if you would like. You should be able to check in on line or at curb 
>>> side or at the counter. People traveling with emotional support 
>>> animals can be required to complete documentation in advance of 
>>> traveling which is unfortunately where the confusion stems from.
>>>
>>> If you decide you want or need accommodations, you can let the 
>>> airline know. For example,, when I have flown American Airlines 
>>> recently a couple of times and put in my reservation that I am 
>>> traveling with a guide dog and need accommodations, it automatically 
>>> brings up this form requesting information about the accommodations 
>>> needed. Then they call you and ask for information about the weight 
>>> and breed of your dog. You can either take the call or not. I tend 
>>> to take the call because I have no objection to providing the 
>>> information since I know they are not using it to prevent me from 
>>> flying with my dog. I also know they cannot legally refuse to allow 
>>> me to sit in the seat I've purchased so if I'm available I take the 
>>> call and provide the information. Not all airlines do this, I'm just 
>>> sharing my recent experiences with American.
>>>
>>> Personally, I prefer to let the airlines know ahead of time about 
>>> the accommodations I'm requesting i.e. assistance getting to the 
>>> gate and preboarding because I'm a planner. This is a personal choice.
>>>
>>> Delta is requiring that all service animal handlers (using the ACAA 
>>> definition of service animals) carry a rabies certificate but I have 
>>> been told that unless there's an issue delta will not generally ask 
>>> people working with guide dogs to produce them and that they are 
>>> doing it because of the problems associated with emotional support 
>>> animals. Whether Delta should be requiring everybody traveling with 
>>> a service animal to carry proof of rabies vaccination is another 
>>> discussion that is not the focus of my email.
>>>
>>> International flights are another story and I won't' go into that, 
>>> but I do want to remind everybody that on flights that last 8 hours 
>>> or more airlines can ask for verification that the animal will not 
>>> need to relieve during the flight or that if it does, the situation 
>>> can be managed in a sanitary way.
>>>
>>> I hope that helps some.
>>>
>>> Melissa R. Allman, Esq.
>>> Senior Specialist, Advocacy and Government Relations The Seeing Eye, 
>>> Inc.
>>> P.O. Box 375, Morristown, NJ 07963-0375 (mail)
>>> 10 Washington Valley Road, Morristown, NJ 07960-3412 (deliveries)
>>> 973-539-4425 ext. 1724,     Fax:  973-525-1081 mallman at SeeingEye.org
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dan 
>>> Weiner via NAGDU
>>> Sent: Sunday, August 05, 2018 6:55 PM
>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>> Cc: Dan Weiner
>>> Subject: [NAGDU] going on US domestic flights with a guide dog
>>>
>>>
>>> Hello, beautiful people:
>>>
>>>
>>> Dan W. from Florida with the Parker dog here.
>>>
>>> I want to clear up  something. I hear a lot lately about various 
>>> airlines, Delta and United for example, requiring documentation, 
>>> whether vet records  or forms filled out for those of us who fly 
>>> with in quotes service dogs. I put in quotes because I'm a guide dog 
>>> user and that is what concerns me at this point.. Is any of this 
>>> stuff applicable to us.
>>> I had always thought that in domestic flights in the US that the FAA 
>>> regulations or air carrier access act allowed access without any 
>>> additional rigamarole, essential in my traveling days, I would show 
>>> up, on occasion I told when making the reservation that I had a dog, 
>>> most times I didn't, and I literally had no problems.  So what is 
>>> the scoop nowadays. It concerns me that when I look at several of 
>>> the guide dog school web sites here in the States that it seems like 
>>> they are just going along with  it telling students that "remember 
>>> to check with the airlines about t required forms" or something 
>>> strange like this.
>>>
>>> I haven't been flying in several years and am looking to get back in 
>>> to traveling by air which of course includes my pup.
>>>
>>> Who can give me the definitive answer...am I as a guide dog user 
>>> required to fill out these bizarre service dog forms  or do anything 
>>> else in advance or required to bring random documentation on 
>>> domestic US air flights...I don't mean in quotes "oh the airlines 
>>> are saying they want it so why not bring it..."smile, I mean the 
>>> actual requirements, I've even herd from some fellow guide dog  
>>> users saying "Oh I filled out the  forrs and I had no problems the 
>>> airline such and such was very
>>> nice"-- So I don't want that either, anyway you probably get it.
>>>
>>> Who wants to give me the skinny, the bottom line, the scoop...
>>>
>>>
>>> Yours,
>>>
>>> Dan and the Parker Hound
>>>
>>> smile
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
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>
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-- 
Keri Svendsen

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