[NAGDU] bulkhead seating

margo Downey margo.downey at roadrunner.com
Sat Jan 27 15:05:55 UTC 2018 

Too bad we can't have the invisible cloak Harry Potter wore.  Seriously, Julie, I agree with you.  

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie McGinnity via NAGDU
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2018 10:59 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Julie McGinnity
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] bulkhead seating

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?
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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

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