[NAGDU] Booking Amtrak With a Service Animal

[Jordan Gallacher]

You would think after I have had conversations about this with Amtrak especially after some major problems a few years ago, they would have their brains straight, but apparently nope.  I was asked exactly the same types of questions when I used Amtrak a lot between 2010 and 2012.
Jordan

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 6, 2018, at 9:05 PM, Daryl via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I will be traveling on Amtrak in September. I booked my ticket last fall, when I had some extra money and my job got permanent. That's a whole other story. But because I chose to book a sleeper car for my trip, I figured it was probably best to disclose the presence of my service dog. They asked a whole bunch of questions, such as how long she's been my service dog, who trained her, how much she weighs, and a whole bunch of other questions that they really have no business asking. I was very much in the position of feeling like if I didn't answer the question, the agent wouldn't book my ticket. She put me on hold several times during the course of our conversation and every time she came back, she asked another question or two, then put me on hold again. I did call Amtrak the next day and they apologized for her behavior, which was definitely inappropriate as her manager definitely acknowledged. I had to call them for something else, because after all of that she didn't give me the discounted disability rate that she had promised me for my seat. That itself is not a big deal, but the whole booking experience was absolutely aggravating. Now that I think about it, I booked a second Amtrak ticket when I decided to cancel one of my destinations. I don't remember disclosing if I had a guide dog then. Oh well, it's not like they can turn me away...
> 
> Daryl
> 
>> On June 6, 2018 7:29:46 PM MDT, Jordan Gallacher via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Saw the same thing, and ahve the same thoughts as you.  I have actually
>> had quite a few problems with Amtrak over the years especially with
>> Amtrak asking questions they have no business asking about my dog.
>> Jordan
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>> On Jun 6, 2018, at 8:09 PM, Buddy Brannan via NAGDU
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Howdy,
>>> 
>>> Amtrak is doing something new lately. At least, since last time I
>> booked with them about a year ago, anyway. In their online booking
>> process, you can book as a person with a disability. They ask if you’ve
>> got a visual disability, hearing, or mobility. That’s not new. The new
>> part has to do with asking if you use a service dog. If, says the
>> website, you use a large breed (GSD, lab, etc.), you are asked to make
>> reservations by phone. 
>>> 
>>> I can definitely make a reservation and not disclose, or not disclose
>> my service animal. Still, it seems to me that these questions aren’t
>> exactly legal. What am I missing?
>>> 
>>> —Buddy
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> 
> -- 
> Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
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