[NAGDU] observations from a summer of flying.

[Michael Forzano]

That's concerning. Where were you asked these questions, at the
checkin counter or the gate?

Unless I'm checking a bag, I always check in online to avoid having to
deal with the ticket counter and potential questions. But seriously,
if I was held up for 5 minutes, let alone 20, I'd be asking to speak
to a CRO. Have these agents really never seen a lab guide dog in
harness?

Mike

On 8/1/18, The Pawpower Pack via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi y'all, I spent my summer flying around to different places and am
> noticing some things I thought I'd mention.
> I have a service dog that is always dressed in harness, she is a lab and her
> gear is clearly marked with patches that say SERVICE DOG.
> 1. on my flight with united, they asked if she was an ESA or an sd. They
> asked her age, weight, and breed. They did NOT ask about task training. They
> also gave me a raft of static for quote, not telling them ahead of time I
> was handicapped and had a dog. As I'm not in the habit of telling anyone
> anything of this nature, I said that informing anyone ahead of time was not
> required by law as she is not an ESA or a psychdog.
>  The united staff member then backup and said it was not the law but it was
> the nice thing to do.  Well we already know I'm not nice.
> 2. Delta asked same question, sd or ESA and then began asking questions
> about task training, giving me 3 choices. Was my dog a. a guide dog. B. a
> hearing dog. or c. a wheelchair or balance dog.
> ... I guess if you have an alert/response dog in this situation, you write
> it in, or ...
> I said she provides sound alert work, mobility assistance and guiding. They
> did not ask anything about breed at Delta.
> I was able to board all flights with no problem, but this 3 ring song and
> dance did tack about 20 minutes of extra time on to the already crammed
> airport circus.
> My current SDIT is an amstaff mix, one breeds I believe united has banned in
> the cabin. *sigh* She does not look too much like an amstaff and I could
> probably get away with gsd mix, but I think united will be my air carrier of
> last resort until they stop this breed-banning.
> I am glad to see staff at Delta asking some good questions and have no
> problem taking the extra time if we can have a reduction in the badly
> behaved dogs on aircraft.
> Hope everyone had a great summer! I plan to have an airport-free autumn!
>
>   Rox and the kitchen Bitches:
> Soleil, Rowan pawpower4me at gmail.com
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