[NAGDU] PLEASE READ: U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Final Rule on Traveling by Air with Service Animals

[Michael Forzano]

i read through the PDF of the actual regulations. It does say that the form is a standardized one created by the DOT, and that it has to be made available to fill out electronically. So by the sound of it, we can theoretically fill it out, submit it to the airline and not have any sort of interaction about it at the airport. If that's the case, I'm not too worried about it. But the question of what airlines can do if they don't like something on the form is a good one. My concern is if there is too much room for interpretation in how this is implemented it could cause issues for us. For example what if someone is unaware that they need to fill out a form? The regulations state that it has to be made available at the gate, but obviously that would not be an accessible format. So who would assist in filling it out? The gate agent? As they are very busy they could easily make an argument that they don't have time to help without delaying the flight and deny boarding.

- Mike

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 2, 2020, at 9:58 PM, Lauren Bishop via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 
>> 
>> I’m really not happy about the forms because I believe they are unnecessary. The rules do say that we would not have to check in at the ticket counter, but we could have our forms checked at our departure gate. If we are being completely honest, I don’t know how likely it is that our forms are going to be checked unless we are traveling during off peak travel times. Gate agents are very busy people, and they have so many more important things to deal with like making sure that the unaccompanied minor gets to where they need to go, and that gate checked luggage gets on the plane. I am sure that people with emotional support animals havemade it through the airport without having their paper  were checked more than once. I have actually already started travelling with my dogs rabies certificate and ID just because airlines are getting a little crazy, but I have never had to provide the information. 
> Lauren 
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