[Travelandtourism] Southwest Airlines and Customers of Size

[Peter Donahue]

Hello everyone,

    And it's that uncertainty that has me very suspicious of these seating 
policies for large passengers. None of this happened when we flew on Delta 
last November. This is an actual case in point of the problems large 
passengers are now facing not unlike one airline that respected a guide dog 
users wish to sit in a non-bulkhead row while another demanded that said 
passenger sit in the bulkhead row. When the passenger failed to comply they 
were ruffed up and halled off of the plane by the police. Guide dog users 
never knew what to expect and on occasion still encounter such treatment 
despite passage of the ACAA. One would think that the airlines would be 
doing a far better job of disability awareness training with their flight 
crews making the occurrence of such incidents practically nonexistent. Other 
types of passengers are now fighting the same type of battles. Again study 
the history of the NFB's dealings with the airlines and government agencies 
to help you make the connection. All the best.

Peter Donahue

From: "Peachtree Travel" <info at peachtreetravel.net>
To: "NFB Travel and Tourism Division List" <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 9:16 AM
Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Southwest Airlines and Customers of Size


Peter:

You will probably never know if that seat was blocked off for your dog on
that trip.  It could be as simply as flight wasn't full or someone who
originally was assigned that seat decided or requested to sit some where
else.

Maurice

Independent Travel Consultant
http://www.Peachtreetravel.net
1-888-831-3180
Reservations at peachtreetravel.net
Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel CST-1018299-10

----- Original Message ----- Hello Cindy and everyone,

    Just one reminder. There was a guide dog in the picture and that
shouldn't be forgotten. Recall that the original post contained Southwest's
policy concerning the carriage of assistance animals including guide dogs.
The policy states that the dog may occupy the passenger's floorspace and the
floorspace of the adjacent seat. Many times when I've flown with my dog I've
been the only passenger in the row. Last summer this was true on two legs of
the flight. One of our other chapter members accompanied me in the row
during the remaining flight segments. There was still an empty  seat that I
assumed had been blocked off so my dog Johnny would have more room. If
Southwest indeed blocked off that seat why should they turn around and
expect me to pay for it? Had I not had Johnny with me I would need to pay
for the second seat or fly on another airline.


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