[NAGDU] Spirit Airlines incident

[Sherry Gomes]

In the past, most airlines did try to keep an empty seat next to me when I traveled with a guide dog, but now it's all about filling every seat with humans! I've also been told by a lot of puppy raisers and trainers that at least here, US airlines have certain times of the year when they won't transport animals in the cargo due to temps, too hot or too cold, SO I guess the cargo area isn't temperature controlled. Or wasn't in the past anyway.



-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Sharon S via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, September 7, 2022 6:47 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users' <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Sharon S <koala at areujoking.com>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Spirit Airlines incident

Hi, here the airline needs to block off one seat for our dogs. The only exception to that rule is if you get upgraded to business class. I've been upgraded a few times to business class and because of the extra foot room the dog can sit at my feet. However, this was with my small girls not sure how my big, long boys would go.

There was one trip where the airline said they couldn't block off a seat for my dog and therefor she would have to sit at mum's and my feet. Now, this was on the smallest planes the company had. In these planes there is hardly enough foot room for people without adding a dog to it. One suggestion was that they would put us in the back row so the dog could sit in the ial which I didn't like the idea of. One plane it could have been done because the plane ended at our row but another one had a hostess behind us, and she had a trolly she needed to bring out. Not to mention she was scared of dogs so wouldn't have been happy to step over the dog if the trolly wasn't an issue. Lucky for us the airline found spare seats in the end, so my dog got her seat.

The story that started this discussion doesn't make sense. If they did insist on putting the dog in the cargo hold then they should have put it where they normally put all pets travelling in there which would be pressurize and heated.

Bye for now.
From Shaz.
Canberra, Australia.

I don’t suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute.

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of gloria profusek via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, 7 September 2022 11:14 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: motleyglo at aol.com
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Spirit Airlines incident

Hi All,
I heard that story quite a while ago. The dog was not a guide dog. Most guide dog denial or removal stories seem to be related to the size of the dog or failing to restrain the dog.
 Removal Of Blind Man, Service Dog From Flight Sparks Outrage : The Two-Way : NPRservice dog removed from airplane - Bing video Here are some related videos. service dog removed from airplane - Bing video I have to say, the small seating space in a plane does not comfortably allow a guide dog (which is usually 60+ pounds) space to l lay for hours on end. Imagine a 60 pound child laying at his mother's feet during an entire flight without becoming fidgity or distressed. Not happening! Our dogs are well trained, true, but they are not machines and deserve an appropriate space on airlines. I would like to see airline regulations to allow guide dogs and handlers who notify the airlines in advance to have reserved bulkhead seating. Southwest accommodates me with bulkhead seats when flying with my 80 pound lab. Delta will make arrangements but I think you have to call and ask. Gloria



-----Original Message-----
From: Charlene Ota via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users' <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Charlene Ota <caota4 at gmail.com>
Sent: Tue, Sep 6, 2022 11:29 pm
Subject: [NAGDU] Spirit Airlines incident

I was wondering if anyone else has seen a situation that happened on Spirit Airlines in the last couple weeks.  I was at lunch last week and a couple of the people I was with had seen it on national news.  Apparently, someone was traveling with their guide dog and for some reason the airlines took the dog and put it in cargo, not in the pressurized area mind you, and the dog froze to death.  I was horrified to hear such a thing and haven't heard anything about it since.

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