[Travelandtourism] Large Passengers, Traveling With Guide Dogs, Flying Privately

Sun Apr 28 20:01:20 UTC 2019

Hello everyone,

	We've used a number of airlines and have traveled with guide dogs. I have always been able to position my guide dogs under the seat in front of me or sit in the bulkhead with them. There's nothing wrong with sitting in a bulkhead seat provided it's your choice and not that of the airline. Over the years there have been a number of insidents where guide dog users were told they had to sit in bulkhead seats with their dogs. Some who refused to do so were arested and in a few cases abused by airline personnel or by the police. The NFB fought long and hard to stop the harassment of abuse of blind passengers by airlines a battle that has largely been won.

	I'm not sure what the situation is with Australian carriers concerning the carriage of large passengers but here airlines can require large passengers or as Southwest calls them "Customers of Size" to buy an extra seat if they're unable to sit in a single seat with both arms down. I personally encountered this garbage when I flew to the 2009 national convention on Southwest. If you have a large dog and are a large person you may want to consider buying an extra seat to insure you have ample space for your dog and for yourself to avoid airline madness over size.

	We were glad to learn that Congress recently passed legislation aimed at setting rules for airlines to follow concerning such things as bathroom size or seat width. Most airlines have 17-inch seats in coach. I believe the new rules will require seats on all airplanes to be 19 inches in the future putting an end to problems fased by large passengers when they fly.

	Another situation where we may elect to buy an extra seat is if Mary and I travel together insuring that we both along with a guide dog have ample room. Again if the choice is ours no problem. If you buy an extra seat for yourself on Southwest the amount for the extra seat will be refunded after travel is completed.

	Since Southwest doesn't serve some of the cities we visit we often use Delta. Delta does not have a customer of size policy like Southwest and other airlines. They're very good about insuring all of their passengers have ample room and will insure that there is plenty of room available at the passenger's seat to accommodate a guide dog.

	As I understand from other Australians who have flown here with their guide dogs Australian airlines routinely place a mat at the seat of the blind passenger for the dog to lie on during the flight. This is not a requirement of U.S. carriers but if your dog is used to lying on such a mat by all means use it.

	Much to its credit Australia was one of the first countries to adopt regulations to allow those who travel with guide and other service dogs to take them out of Australia and bring them back without the dog's having to undergo quarantine. New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, the UK, and Hawaii have since adopted similar laws and procedures making travel to and from such territories with guide and service animals possible.

	I don't know what your financial situation is like but don't rule out flying privately. We have lots of public and private air charter services here in the states. A recent innovation in this respect is the creation of airline memberships that allow one to travel for as much as possible for a monthly fee around $2000.00. This is just a little more than the cost of a first class seat on many of our commercial carriers. Surf Air is one such carrier. Perhaps as more subscription air charter services are established the monthly rate will decrease.

	Another type of public air charter is through a company called JetSuiteX. This carrier offers seasonal service between various destinations in the western united state. Their hub is in California but they also offer flights to Nevada, Utah, Washington State, Montana, and other west coast destinations. The service these carriers provide is a cut above that of commercial carriers and you shouldn't need to worry about accommodations for your dog or yourself. I've seen some JetSuiteX one-way fares for about the same price as a coach seat on a commercial carrier. Depending on where you're going don't rule out private and semiprivate air charter service. Happy travels.

Peter Donahue

-----Original Message-----
From: TravelAndTourism [mailto:travelandtourism-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Aleeha Dudley via TravelAndTourism
Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2019 9:47 AM
To: NFB Travel and Tourism Division List
Cc: Aleeha Dudley
Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] best experiences when traveling with a Guide Dog in US airlines

Hi, 
It has been my experience that no airline will guarantee you an extra seat for your dog, nor do they have to by law. However, if the flight is not full, most airlines will attempt to rearrange seating in such a way that you can have the extra space if you request it. That being said, they do not have to, and can choose not to. Also, here in the US, the front, or bulkhead row, is becoming somewhat of a grey area legally, because some airlines are requiring passengers to pay extra for those seats, along with window seats. Technically speaking, an airline is not required to upgrade your class of seating to accommodate your guide dog, so you might not get that bulkhead seat. Southwest Airlines is my favorite, as they don’t require you to pay for your first two checked bags, and they have an open seating policy, so, if you board first, you’ll have your pick of seats. I would not recommend Allegiant Airlines, as they are requiring forms be filled out for guide dog and other service animal handlers to be able to fly with them. To my knowledge, no other airline requires this. 
Now, to your questions about assistance, if you call the airline’s disability assistance line, they will note on your reservation that you need assistance if you request it. This usually involves assistance from the check-in counter at the airport through security and to your gate, where the gate agent will generally assist you from there. Some assistants insist on offering a wheelchair, and I personally don’t take them because I am able to walk with them, and it is not safe for my dog. Finally, you will be able to board first if you request that service, but it might not be automatically offered to you. Just ask the agent at the gate, who will work that out. 
I hope this helps.
Aleeha Dudley 

> On Apr 28, 2019, at 8:23 AM, Santiago Velasquez via TravelAndTourism <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Good day to you all. I hope this message finds you well.
> 
> I would like to apologise in advance if this message is a little bit long. I just want to make sure I cover everything.
> I will be traveling from Australia to the US this June for work, and I will have to move internally through a few different cities. I will be traveling with my Guide Dog and a companion. For those of you who are based in the USA, and travel with their Guide Dogs, I am hoping you can help with some recommendations.
> 
> This is not my first time in the USA, but it is my first time with my Guide Dog in the states. I am going to skip over the legalities of airlines and service animals, since I know they legally have to carry them. With that aside, here is where I am. If I travel internally in Australia, with any airline and my Guide Dog, below are the guarantees I have:
> 1. We are Always guaranteed an extra sit for the floor space for my Guide Dog.
> 2. We are always guaranteed assistance at the airport. From the checking counter, to the taxi ad the destination and everything in between.
> 3. Skipping the queues at the airport for security, ETC. And boarding first.
> 4. If traveling with a Guide Dog, we are always guaranteed a sit just after business/first class. Just behind the bulkhead for the extra space.
> The aforementioned support is guaranteed with all airlines at no extra cost.
> 
> I wanted to mentioned the stuff above so that you guys understand where I am coming from. Now, the states.
> 
> I have been reading, and as previously mentioned I know that legally all US airlines carry service animals. From what I have been able to see, all do it at no extra cost. However, from what I have been able to find, none will guaranteed an extra sit for the floor space for your Guide Dog. They will however provide reasonable support to a person who is traveling with a Guide Dog. But I have not been able to properly assess what this means. Not even from their Website. Some do mentioned assistance through the airport, but not much beyond that.
> 
> So, for my frequent US Guide Dog travellers by air, here is my main question:
> From your experiences traveling with your Guide Dogs internally in the USA by air, what has been the airline that has consistently provided you and your Furry friend with the best service and support?
> IF you can elaborate why, and what type of support that is, that would be great. Also, which airlines don’t have great reputation with their service and support when traveling with a service animal?
> 
> I understand that any opinions, or feedback provided is personal, and that two people might have totally different experiences with one airline, but anything that you guys can share is greatly appreciated.
> 
> Regards
> Santi
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