[Wasagdu] Delta Airlines new policy

Fri Feb 23 01:09:08 UTC 2018

Thanks Mike for the info. It's a shame that some people who should probably know better took advantage of the airlines, not just Delta, and have been bringing their untrained, out of control dogs, snakes, or whatever on planes. I have to say the peacock attempt was the one that really blew me away.    Debby

On Feb 22, 2018 4:42 PM, Michael Forzano via WASAGDU <wasagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> It does say that we still need to travel with the documentation.
> That's not ideal, but I don't see Delta asking for it in practice. The
> policy no longer says that we have to check in at a ticket counter.
>
> Will be interesting to hear the NFB's position on it.
>
> Mike
>
> On 2/22/18, Michael Forzano <michaeldforzano at gmail.com> wrote:
> > The policy has been updated on the Delta website. It now says that
> > advance notice is encouraged but not required for customers traveling
> > with trained service animals.
> > https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/special-travel-needs/service-animals.html
> >
> > This is great news!
> >
> > Mike
> >
> > On 2/22/18, Marci Carpenter via WASAGDU <wasagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >> I am sure that the NFB will issue a statement if our position has
> >> changed.
> >> Last weekend President Riccobono said that we had sent a letter to the
> >> CEO
> >> of Delta right after the original policy was announced. He said that
> >> Delta
> >> only notified the NFB after the policy was released. In his letter to
> >> them
> >> he expressed our concerns and offered to meet with top Delta officials. A
> >> meeting was arranged in Atlanta but there were to be no top level Delta
> >> officials at the meeting so President Riccobono did not attend. Other
> >> Federation members did attend the meeting and voiced our concerns again.
> >> Nothing was resolved. As of last Friday we had received no word from
> >> Delta
> >> about any changes. If the policy has actually changed in a way that makes
> >> it
> >> less burdensome for blind people using guide dogs to fly Delta I am sure
> >> we
> >> will hear about it from our leaders.
> >>
> >> This list is for National federation of the Blind announcements and
> >> discussion. We don’t need to post ACB announcements. People wanting to
> >> read
> >> them can go to ACB lists to do so.
> >>
> >> Marci
> >>> On Feb 22, 2018, at 3:19 PM, Kaye Kipp via WASAGDU <wasagdu at nfbnet.org>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> I certainly hope so.  I need to see the whole thing.
> >>>
> >>> Kaye
> >>>
> >>> From: WASAGDU [mailto:wasagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org
> >>> <mailto:wasagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org>] On Behalf Of Becky Frankeberger via
> >>> WASAGDU
> >>> Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2018 3:00 PM
> >>> To: 'Washington Association of Guide Dog Users'
> >>> Cc: Becky Frankeberger
> >>> Subject: [Wasagdu] Delta Airlines new policy
> >>>
> >>> Forgive the shameless commercial. I knew you all would want to know
> >>> about
> >>> this change. NAGDU will have something a little more meaty then this
> >>> crap.
> >>> Becky
> >>>
> >>>  <> <>ACB Commends Delta for Revising Its Service Animal Policy
> >>> Link to Press Release: http://acb.org/delta-policy-revision
> >>> <https://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/acb.org?p=eyJzIjoic1lOX3V6LWJxTlVVeG5hTW1GWVNnbjVmMVVvIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvYWNiLm9yZ1xcXC9kZWx0YS1wb2xpY3ktcmV2aXNpb25cIixcImlkXCI6XCI4NTM3NmNhN2Y0YmY0YmVmYjI5MmI1ZGY3Y2FjOThkNFwiLFwidXJsX2lkc1wiOltcImVhOGI4NDk1ZDhiODBmNmFhYTVkMzM3MjY3N2I3ZDg5M2Y1ZTkyNjFcIl19In0>
> >>>
> >>> WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2018 – The American Council of the Blind commends
> >>> Delta Airlines for re-examining its recent policy on service animals,
> >>> relaxing constraints that negatively impacted travelers with guide dogs.
> >>> The revised policy announced today makes changes to a policy released
> >>> earlier this year that was intended to reduce the number of fraudulent
> >>> service and emotional support animals that have disrupted travel and, in
> >>> some cases, caused injury to passengers.
> >>>
> >>> “ACB is pleased to learn that Delta listened to the concerns ACB and our
> >>> members raised following the release of their January 18th change in
> >>> policy,” said Eric Bridges, ACB’s executive director. “The new policy
> >>> provides a much more workable solution that still allows for the freedom
> >>> of travel by passengers using guide dogs.”
> >>>
> >>> Since its inception, ACB has advocated tirelessly for equal access by
> >>> individuals who rely on the use of a guide dog. ACB played an active
> >>> role
> >>> in the passage of the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 and the Americans
> >>> with Disabilities Act of 1990. Both laws have established the
> >>> fundamental
> >>> right to access in places of public accommodation and across multiple
> >>> transportation networks, including all commercial airlines.
> >>>
> >>> “We look forward to working with Delta and other airlines to assure that
> >>> the skies remain accessible for all travelers, especially those who
> >>> experience the freedom that comes through traveling with a guide dog,”
> >>> said Anthony Stephens, ACB’s director of advocacy and governmental
> >>> affairs. A guide dog user, Stephens was actively involved in the 2016
> >>> Department of Transportation negotiations tasked with finding a solution
> >>> to the rise in service animal fraud.
> >>>
> >>> The initial policy change, released January 18th, would have created
> >>> multiple barriers to free and independent access to air travel by
> >>> consumers with guide dogs. Passengers with service and emotional support
> >>> animals would have been required to provide prior notice, and upload
> >>> relevant documents affirming the dog’s training and vaccination records.
> >>> The revised guidelines relax many of these policies for individuals with
> >>> legitimately trained service animals, which have already undergone great
> >>> scrutiny and training before being released in the community with their
> >>> handlers. Passengers traveling with trained service animals will still
> >>> be
> >>> required to have their dogs vaccinated and be able to provide proof of
> >>> vaccination should issues or injury arise as a result of the animal.
> >>>
> >>> ACB recognizes Delta’s desire to assure that in the rare case of injury,
> >>> the appropriate documentation can be made available. We thank Delta for
> >>> listening to its customers and redrafting a policy that does not
> >>> discriminate against travelers who rely on their service dogs to be
> >>> independent.
> >>>
> >>> The American Council of the Blind is a national membership organization
> >>> whose purpose is to work toward independence, security, equality of
> >>> opportunity, and improved quality of life for all blind and visually
> >>> impaired people. Founded in 1961, ACB’s members work through more than
> >>> 70
> >>> state and special-interest affiliates to improve the well-being of all
> >>> blind and visually impaired people <>.
> >>>
> >>> <image001.jpg>
> >>>
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> >>
> >
>
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