[NAGDU] bulkhead seating

Sat Jan 27 03:59:27 UTC 2018

I agree with you, Julie.  When I go to the airport, I want to be
treated like everyone else.  If I am traveling with others, I do not
want TSA people telling my friends to "help her; tell her to come
here."  And if I am traveling alone, I don't want them asking me if I
have anyone to help me.  I want to be able to find my gate on my own
without TSA, and I don't want people stopping me every two feet to ask
me if I need help.  Essentially, I wish I could be invisible when I go
to the airport and board a plane.

I've gotten to the point at which I will simply ignore the flight
attendents.  When they try to insist that I sit in bulhead, I just say
that my dog fits better under a seat, and I invite them to watch as I
place my backpack in the overhead bin, remove my dog's harness handle,
and point to where I want to go under the sight in front of me by the
window.  We've done this so many times that he immediately responds,
and the flight attendents are amazed.  Lol  It's pretty funny.  I feel
kind of bad for having to use my performer voice on them and for
completely ignoring their direct requests, but I've never gotten any
angry responses after they see how well he fits under there.

It's a personal choice, bulkhead.  But honestly, I don't think I'll
ever want to sit there again.  I have also fit my dog on one of those
Fronteer planes, and that was definitely a feat.  We did it though
because my dog likes small spaces.  I plan to make sure all of my dogs
enjoy small spaces as much as this one.

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On 1/26/18, Bryan Gearry via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Marion, you must be in first class! :-)
>
> Sent from Bryan's IPhone
>
>> On Jan 26, 2018, at 5:04 PM, NAGDU President via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Bryan,
>>
>>    I am curious how "enormous" your pup is. My guide weighed in at 110 lbs
>> and was 30" at the shoulders. He fit under the seat in front of me quite
>> easily!
>>
>> Fraternally yours,
>> Marion
>>
>>
>> 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 Bryan Gearry
>> via NAGDU
>> Sent: Friday, January 26, 2018 12:19 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Cc: Bryan Gearry
>> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] bulkhead seating
>>
>> Jenine, an interesting phenomenon has happened in regards to "bulkhead"
>> seating. Some airlines use that as premium seating. You have to pay extra.
>> I have experienced that Delta and now Alaska Airlines. My Guide is a
>> enormous Golden. Now I have to pay on some flights a very high price to
>> sit in bulkhead. Delta wanted to charge me close to 300$ for that. AK Air
>> is charging me 75$. I never had to pay extra for bulkhead until about 6
>> months ago.
>>
>> Thanks for all the advocacy you do. Keep it up please!   Bryan Gearry
>>
>>
>>> On 1/26/2018 3:31 AM, Jenine Stanley via NAGDU wrote:
>>> Jordan,
>>>
>>> Let’s be specific here. Your big dog doesn’t or didn’t fit under a seat.
>>> I’ve had 2 larger dogs who fit just fine under most aircraft seats and my
>>> husband’s first dog was larger than mine. He curled up nicely under
>>> aircraft seats and preferred them to bulkhead. My smaller dogs spread
>>> like dirty laundry in larger spaces.
>>>
>>> One thing I encourage people to do at home before flying is to encourage
>>> your dog to lie down and under your dining room chair if possible, or
>>> other seats where they can lie completely under the seat so they get the
>>> practice of going into small spaces.
>>>
>>> Sure, bits and pieces can sneak out but generally, unless there’s an
>>> equipment box under that seat, most dogs can fit.
>>>
>>> Yes, the commuter jets and some larger jets have their seating configured
>>> so that the bulkhead space is much smaller, floor space-wise, than under
>>> the other seats. Once I point this out to the flight crew, they usually
>>> give up on forcing us to sit there.
>>>
>>> Just Sayin’.
>>>
>>>> On Jan 25, 2018, at 10:31 PM, Jordan Gallacher via NAGDU
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Nope they do not on this issue.  If it was unsafe they would not let you
>>>> do it.  Besides, a big dog will not fit under a seat anyway.  I have
>>>> tried and it does not happen. No way no how.  It does not happen.
>>>> Jordan
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>> <mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org>] On Behalf Of Scott Berry via NAGDU
>>>> Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2018 9:24 PM
>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org <mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org>>
>>>> Cc: Scott Berry <sb356607 at gmail.com <mailto:sb356607 at gmail.com>>
>>>> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] bulkhead seating
>>>>
>>>> Agreed and so we need to be the ones who do it cause no one else will
>>>> advocate on our behalf.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> On Jan 25, 2018, at 5:52 PM, margo Downey via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> 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
>>>>> attendant’s reasoning, and this is as close to a direct quote as I can
>>>>> recollect: “He’ll be more comfortable because there’s more space and he
>>>>> can stretch out.  Also if there’s rough air he’ll be safer because he
>>>>> can’t be tossed around”.
>>>>>
>>>>> Hmmm...I’m still trying to sort out the logic here.  Which is it, lots
>>>>> of space to stretch out or safety because he’s 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?st
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-- 
Julie A. McGinnity
President, National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division,
Second Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri
"For we walk by faith, not by sight"
2 Cor. 7