[Ohio-talk] Another view - I don't have it in for any airline

Sun Nov 17 19:03:36 UTC 2013

Deborah, it was a very good article.  I hope your trip to Florida goes
well.  Are you flying through Philadelphia or Charlotte?  As you can
tell, I have used U.S. Airways a few times.On 11/17/13, Deborah
Kendrick <dkkendrick at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Since the whole airline situation has everyone talking, I thought I'd share
> my newspaper column, in today's Columbus Dispatch, with you all.  You could
> go read it yourself, but I am pasting it here, courtesy of NFB NEWSLINE.
> Would love to hear what you think of my spin on the situation.
>
> Deborah Kendrick commentary: Common sense can smooth out a flight. Sunday
> November 17, 2013 6:58 AM At first, I admit, I paid attention to the story
> only because I had just booked my flight to Florida for Thanksgiving and
> had
> found the procrastinator's lowest fare to be on an airline I've never
> patronized: U.S. Airways. A story combining U.S. Airways and "guide dog" in
> its lead naturally garnered my attention. Albert Rizzi and his dog, Doxy,
> were kicked off a U.S. Airways flight from Philadelphia to Long Island on
> Wednesday night. The flight was delayed. Maybe you've been there - everyone
> cramped in their tiny spaces, sitting on the tarmac, waiting for the plane
> to just take off already. Guide dogs are typically extremely well trained,
> but they are living creatures, after all, and this one was apparently
> restless after an hour and a half. The flight attendant told Rizzi to get
> his dog completely under the seat. When he couldn't do that, she called
> security, the plane returned to the gate, and the man-dog team were
> escorted
> off the plane. What made the story noteworthy was the reaction of the
> remaining 30-some passengers. Removing Rizzi from the plane was absurd and
> uncalled for, many passengers protested. The pilot came out of the cockpit
> and pronounced the flight cancelled. In a powerful act of solidarity, the
> passengers followed Rizzi and Doxy, many of them then taking the bus back
> to
> Long Island rather than booking another flight. Email lists and Facebook
> pages have been buzzing with the outrage and support of guide-dog users and
> general empathizers. Everyone has a story. And most of the stories
> represent
> a simple lack of communication and common sense. The problem is not so much
> that there aren't regulations in place. There are. The problem is that each
> airline and airport employee - whether working security, curbside check-in,
> or serving coffee to the squished human cargo - has a tendency to interpret
> rules in line with his or her own personal biases. Here are just a few of
> my
> own experiences when flying with dogs: I have been told while going through
> security that I cannot touch my dog until we have both been inspected. I
> have been told while going through security that I must touch my dog until
> we have both been inspected. I have been told that I absolutely can not sit
> in a bulkhead row. I have been told that I must sit in a bulkhead row and
> nowhere else. I could go on, but you get the gist. Each of these "rules"
> has
> been stated with absolute conviction and authority by the employee involved
> and, luckily for me, I have dissuaded them of their convictions through
> good, old-fashioned conversation and explanation. No doubt I have been very
> fortunate. I have never been kicked off a plane. In fact, I've often
> received unexpected treats because some other human loves cute canines.
> Gate
> agents have generously given me a seat with an unoc'cup'ied one beside it
> so
> my dog can stretch out. Flight attendants have been known to move me to
> first class because they like Labradors. And fellow passengers have begged
> to mind my dog while I go to the rest room at the back of the plane. I have
> had several guide dogs over time - ranging from 46 to 86 pounds, including
> a
> German Shepherd, a few golden retrievers, both black and yellow labs. And
> I've flown more times than I can possibly count. What I've learned is that
> every person using a service animal develops a personal style for handling
> the traveling-with-dog situation. Some dogs fits easily under a seat, and
> some don't. Some sleep through anything, while others are a bit more prone
> to anxiety. These are humans and dogs we are talking about here. Living
> beings simply are never going to be as compliant or predictable as
> inanimate
> objects. If other airlines - indeed, other businesses of all types - want
> to
> avoid being the center of similarly unpopular headlines, here's all you
> need
> to do. Test your employees for common sense from time to time. And require
> that anyone dealing with customers has a certain measure of respect for
> other humans - even ones who use dogs to guide them on and off the plane.
> Albert Rizzi's fellow passengers clearly possessed that kind of respect for
> a fellow human. Maybe U.S. Airways should hire some of them. Deborah
> Kendrick is a Cincinnati writer and advocate for people with disabilities.
> dkkendrick at earthlink.net This article is provided to you as a courtesy of
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> The NFB-NEWSLINER Team.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dawn
> Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2013 8:18 PM
> To: 'NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List'
> Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] I don't have it in for any airline
>
> Hello  I am laughing   this is so funny  everyone  have a blessed day  and
> thank God for the N F B  and all the wonderfull people  who are members
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of COLLEEN
> ROTH
> Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2013 7:36 PM
> To: ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] I don't have it in for any airline
>
> Well if Wanda has been an NFB Member for 188 years she was definitely
> pre-NFB.
> Happy 73rd Birday, NFB.
> We were formed in Wilke-Barre November 16, 1940.
> Go have some yummy to celebrate.
> Colleen Roth
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Marianne Denning <marianne at denningweb.com>
> To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Friday, November 15, 2013 10:51 am
> Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] I don't have it in for any airline
>
>>
>>
>> Wanda, you don't look as old as you must be if you have been an NFB
>> member for 188 years.  (smile)
>>
>> On 11/16/13, Wanda Sloan <wsloan118 at roadrunner.com> wrote:
>> > I agree.  I have been a NFB member for over 188 years and this issue
>> > with the Guide Dogs has always been a topic of aggravation for the
>> > blind
> users.
>> > On going education is very necessary.
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> > Marianne Denning
>> > Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2013 12:09 PM
>> > To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List
>> > Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] I don't have it in for any airline
>> >
>> > Cheryl, we did that several years ago in Cincinnati, excuse me,
>> > Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Airport.  I think it is ongoing
>> > education that needs to happen.  Great idea!
>> >
>> > On 11/14/13, Cheryl Fields <cherylelaine1957 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> Mary Ann,
>> >>
>> >> Some years ago I had a dog and I never had a problem traveling, by
>> >> air or bus. The majority of my problems were with people and their
>> >> cars, smiles, my dog was big and they always wanted him to get in
>> >> the back seat.
>> >> Do you think we should have some guide dog users and wheel chair
>> >> users schedule some conversations with local administration of
>> >> airlines to offer some education for their employees? This could be
>> >> helpful and get directly to the problems.So many airline employees
>> >> move from city to city, once educated they can spread the word and
>> >> learn about the nfb.
>> >>
>> >> Blessings,
>> >> cheryl
>> >>
>> >> On 11/14/13, Marianne Denning <marianne at denningweb.com> wrote:
>> >>> Please don't think I hate any airline.  It looks like there is a
>> >>> pattern developing at U.S. Airways and that is of concern.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
>> >>> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
>> >>> (513) 607-6053
>> >>>
>> >>> _______________________________________________
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>> >>> for
>> >>> Ohio-talk:
>> >>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/cherylelain
>> >>> e19
>> >>> 57%40gmail.com
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Peace
>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
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>> >> enn
>> >> ingweb.com
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
>> > Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
>> > (513) 607-6053
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Ohio-talk mailing list
>> > Ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
>> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org
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>> > for
>> > Ohio-talk:
>> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/wsloan118%40r
>> > oadrunne
>> > r.com
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/marianne%40de
>> > nningweb.com
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
>> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
>> (513) 607-6053
>>
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>
>
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-- 
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053