[NAGDU] bulkhead seating

[S L Johnson]

Michael:

The seating issue goes back to the poor training of airport staff.  Far too 
many of them still insist that a blind person always take the bulkhead seat 
when we travel with our dogs.  Some will listen when we explain our reasons 
for requesting a regular seat but too many of them argue and insist we sit 
in the bulkhead or else be removed from the flight.  I wish the airlines 
would allow us to help train their staff how to deal with guide dog handlers 
and our dogs.  The same lack of training often happens going through 
security.  Most of the time I can just explain that I will step through 
first then call my dog.  This is quick and I get on to my gate with plenty 
of time.  On the other hand, sometimes I have had guards push me through or 
try to pull my dog away from me without me telling them how I want them to 
handle my dog.  I do not understand why they have to feel all along the dog. 
Anyone can see that there is no place to hide anything under their harness. 
Some dogs get very nervous when being touched by strangers.  I would rather 
take off the harness and let it go through in the basket while I take my dog 
through as she is wearing an airport leash that has no metal to cause the 
alarms to go off.  I have had too many experience when I am suddenly 
surrounded by several big burly guards all shouting at once.  In addition to 
being totally blind I have an auditory processing disorder that makes it 
impossible for me to process what is being said when too many people are 
talking all at once and complicated by all the other background noises at 
the security check points.  My stress level when going through security is 
always extremely high as a result of all this confusion.  Some guards will 
let me slip my shoes off and step right through the scanner but others push 
and pull me over to some chairs to give me a pat down.  This takes up a lot 
of time, makes me late for my flight and makes me feel like I am being 
treated as a criminal when I have not done anything wrong.  All these 
problems could be handled with much less stress if only the airline staff 
were better trained and everyone knew what to do and what to expect with a 
guide or service dog.  If the staff were better trained they would be able 
to spot those fake service dogs who are not behaving properly.  It is so 
frustrating to me that I am always very anxious and reluctant any time I 
have to fly.

Sandra Johnson
SLJohnson25 at comcast.net

-----Original Message----- 
From: Michael Hingson via NAGDU
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2018 8:02 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: Michael Hingson
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] bulkhead seating

Hi,

Some will disagree, but in my opinion the bulkhead is the worst place for a 
guide dog. First, there is not necessarily more room. Second, our guides 
will take up foot space available for other passengers. Finally, and most 
important, it is the least safe place for a dog especially when encountering 
turbulents. There is nothing in the bulkhead row that will prevent a guide 
dog from bouncing during a turbulent situation. On the other hand, when a 
guide dog is placed under a seat in a non-bulkhead row, (a place where there 
is plenty of room for the guide and for us) the dog will be prevented from 
bouncing around by the seat above them.

It is not difficult to train our guides to go under a non-bulkhead seat. I 
question any airline employee's knowledge of safety and security when they 
insist that I sit in a bulkhead seat when accompanied by my guide dog.


Best Regards,


Michael Hingson

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of margo Downey via 
NAGDU
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2018 4:52 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users' 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: margo Downey <margo.downey at roadrunner.com>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] bulkhead seating

Yeah, I don't understand flight attendants' reasoning about the bulkhead. 
It seems as though airlines personnel need further training.



-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie Johnson via 
NAGDU
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2018 5:34 PM
To: the National Association of Guide Dog Users NAGDU Mailing List
Cc: Julie Johnson
Subject: [NAGDU] bulkhead seating

Last time I flew, I was offered bulkhead seating.  The flight attendantâ?Ts 
reasoning, and this is as close to a direct quote as I can recollect: 
â?oHeâ?Tll be more comfortable because thereâ?Ts more space and he can 
stretch out.  Also if thereâ?Ts rough air heâ?Tll be safer because he 
canâ?Tt be tossed aroundâ?.

Hmmm...Iâ?Tm still trying to sort out the logic here.  Which is it, lots of 
space to stretch out or safety because heâ?Ts in a small space.

Julie
On The Go with Guide-and-Service-Dogs.com 
http://www.guide-and-service-dogs.com
also find my products in the Blind Mice Mega Mall 
<https://www.blindmicemegamall.com/bmm/shop/Directory_Departments?storeid=1916046>
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