Emotional Support Animals. Are you kidding me? A rant.
Nov 21, 2008, 10:58 am
#121
Join Date: Mar 2004
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I was referring to the dog that had pictures posted about it's urinating and defecating in the cabin.
There was an FA there, but not the owner. If the owner does not need to be accompanied by the dog at all times, then it can go into a travel container (still in the passenger cabin) with it's food and sanitary needs provided for in there. That would in fact keep the animal closer to the owner than was the case.
Steve
There was an FA there, but not the owner. If the owner does not need to be accompanied by the dog at all times, then it can go into a travel container (still in the passenger cabin) with it's food and sanitary needs provided for in there. That would in fact keep the animal closer to the owner than was the case.
Steve
Nov 21, 2008, 11:47 am
#122
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Thank you, Dallas49er. At least someone was actually able to read what I said as opposed to assume I hate dogs and people with disabilities.
I finally spoke to the very kind woman who called from the AA Executive Office, and she apologized for the whole situation. She explained that AA has no choice but to allow the animals on board if the people have a letter from an MD, which these people did. However, she said that, while they can't control whether or not these people could fly with the animals, AA staff can make adjustments and accomodations when it comes to seating. She apologized again that the FA live up to the standards AA hopes for and she offered me 5k miles for the situation. I thanked her and told her I understand AA's predicament. She said that the FA would be spoken to about the incident.
I finally spoke to the very kind woman who called from the AA Executive Office, and she apologized for the whole situation. She explained that AA has no choice but to allow the animals on board if the people have a letter from an MD, which these people did. However, she said that, while they can't control whether or not these people could fly with the animals, AA staff can make adjustments and accomodations when it comes to seating. She apologized again that the FA live up to the standards AA hopes for and she offered me 5k miles for the situation. I thanked her and told her I understand AA's predicament. She said that the FA would be spoken to about the incident.
OBTW-Maybe it's just my computer, but there is an advertisement for Pet Carriers right underneath your last post. Conspiracy theorists-Start your engines!
Nov 21, 2008, 11:55 am
#123
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Nov 21, 2008, 12:18 pm
#124
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Excellent. ^^^^
Personally, I find the presence of babies that make noise and soil themselves on board revolting...FAR more offensive than any lovely dog. The restrictions placed on bringing animals on board (or into restaurants in the USA) are absurd. If you can bring your soiled baby into a restaurant, and I have to tolerate it, you should be able to tolerate a dog.
Personally, I find the presence of babies that make noise and soil themselves on board revolting...FAR more offensive than any lovely dog. The restrictions placed on bringing animals on board (or into restaurants in the USA) are absurd. If you can bring your soiled baby into a restaurant, and I have to tolerate it, you should be able to tolerate a dog.
Nov 21, 2008, 12:27 pm
#125
Join Date: May 2004
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Nov 21, 2008, 12:46 pm
#127
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SFO
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I'm not anti-baby or anti-pet, though I am allergy-reactive around some dogs and virtually all cats. I would be upset at having to sit near some uncrated pet that spreads dander and hair, so it's too bad that the FA didn't do some creative shuffling to appease everyone.
One thing that us allergy sufferers can do onboard, however, is keep the air blower open and on full blast to keep the air in and around your face circulating. That way, you hopefully won't ingest any floating hair or dander -- and cold air always helps stop the reaction process (for me at least, but I suspect it's same for most people)...
Of course, if it's an obvious service dog, there's not much to be done about that. Grin and bear (/dog/cat) it.
Last edited by WanderingGent; Nov 21, 2008 at 12:50 pm Reason: Added two more cents
Nov 21, 2008, 12:53 pm
#128
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Cheers.
Nov 21, 2008, 1:01 pm
#129
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Nov 21, 2008, 5:44 pm
#130
Join Date: Dec 2005
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Babies don't cause allergies... though they may be cooing, drooling germ factories.
I'm not anti-baby or anti-pet, though I am allergy-reactive around some dogs and virtually all cats. I would be upset at having to sit near some uncrated pet that spreads dander and hair, so it's too bad that the FA didn't do some creative shuffling to appease everyone.
One thing that us allergy sufferers can do onboard, however, is keep the air blower open and on full blast to keep the air in and around your face circulating. That way, you hopefully won't ingest any floating hair or dander -- and cold air always helps stop the reaction process (for me at least, but I suspect it's same for most people)...
Of course, if it's an obvious service dog, there's not much to be done about that. Grin and bear (/dog/cat) it.
I'm not anti-baby or anti-pet, though I am allergy-reactive around some dogs and virtually all cats. I would be upset at having to sit near some uncrated pet that spreads dander and hair, so it's too bad that the FA didn't do some creative shuffling to appease everyone.
One thing that us allergy sufferers can do onboard, however, is keep the air blower open and on full blast to keep the air in and around your face circulating. That way, you hopefully won't ingest any floating hair or dander -- and cold air always helps stop the reaction process (for me at least, but I suspect it's same for most people)...
Of course, if it's an obvious service dog, there's not much to be done about that. Grin and bear (/dog/cat) it.
Nov 21, 2008, 5:46 pm
#131
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Nov 22, 2008, 7:50 am
#132
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With their poise, they can be identified very easily as such, even without their harness. I've never knowingly seen one not in a harness, as I understand that that is part of their training--they are "on the job" while in harness, and they can be more playful and loose when "off the job" and out of harness.
Other than possibly needing to wake up the pax w/ needs to have him move the dog momentarily to be able to get out to the aisle (possible for the dog were taking up that much space), which is very rare for me to do other than on a 2000+ mile flight, you wouldn't even notice them. I would be happy to sit next to a pax with such a service animal, though the likelyhood is not high as I'm usually in the exit row.
Steve
Nov 22, 2008, 9:43 am
#133
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Nov 22, 2008, 10:08 am
#134
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Very sorry for your discomfort - I mean that - but in my experience (limited) you can't just bring a dog on and claim it is a service animal. You need to provide documentation to that effect. My guess is it is unlikely these folks were flouting the rules, and more likely that you were caught in a rough situation where there wasn't going to be any mutually acceptable resolution. Sounds like your drugs kicked in towards the end, so at least it wasn't a permanent situation.
Nov 22, 2008, 10:11 am
#135
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The OP reported itchy and watery eyes, congestion. For the record, peanut allergies lead to anaphylactic shock and often sudden death. The two are not even remotely close.
As far as over-application of perfume goes, I agree it's annoying. And yet, it is still not life threatening.
