Disability Travel - Delta To Blind Lady: Can You Sit Somewhere Else? This Flight Attndnt Doesnt Like Dogs

An Interesteing article from consumerist (http://consumerist.com/5230056/delta-to-blind-woman-can-you-sit-somewhere-else-this-flight-attendant-doesnt-like-dogs)
I wonder what FTers have to say about this:
Natalie is pretty angry. Lately whenever her mother, who is blind, has to travel, she seems to run into trouble. As Natalie puts it, as far as airline regulations go a seeing eye dog is equivalent to a wheelchair, and the appropriate accommodations should be made without hassle. It's too bad on her last flight, Natalie's mother had to sit in the bulkhead next to a Delta employee with a fear of dogs.

" My mom is a medallion member of Delta Airlines. This should get her a few perks and privileges because she flies so much."

"Instead, several times she has almost been kicked off of her flight. Why? Because she is blind and travels with a guide dog. It's ridiculous—the Americans with Disabilities Act allows her to travel on planes with a dog and requires the airline to make an accommodation. Instead, she has been put through the wringer."

"My mother almost always requests bulkhead because there is extra space for the dog. She calls ahead to make sure this is possible. She's an experienced traveler, and just completed her 30th flight with her current guide dog."

Natalie goes on to explain that last year, she and her mother were bumped from the bulkhead seats and almost missed their flight as they fought with a ticket agent over upgrading to a coach seat. Then this past weekend her mom faced a new unnecessary inconvenience.

"Fast forward to this weekend. My mom went to Oregon. On the way home on Flight #4693, where the bulkhead seat was not an emergency row, she thought she was good to go. But then she was approached by a Delta employee and told that a flight attendant on the flight was scared of dogs and that she'd have to change her seat. No, I'm not joking."

"My mom didn't budge. Delta didn't either. Until a CRO [Complaint Resolution Official] told them that my mom needed to be allowed on the plane."

"Throughout the flight, the supposedly terrified attendant bothered her every time the dog's tail was in the foot space of the seat next to her — which was empty — asking her to move the dog."

"I'm writing because I'm fed up. Businesses, and it seems especially Delta, don't understand that even though these dogs are cute and cuddly, they should be treated like wheelchairs. They are tools and devices and by law must be accommodated for."

"Both of these incidents should have been handled before they reached the consumer. In this case, my mother. Who is blind. Traveling is dang hard enough."

Americans with Disabilities Act does not apply to airlines. The ACAA is the applicable law.

Americans with Disabilities Act does not apply to airlines. The ACAA is the applicable law.

In any case, arn't guide dogs allowed on the aircraft?

Also, what is this CRO the article talks about? I have not heard that term before.

I'm confused on if this was a working FA or nonrev. It sounds like the CRO settled the situation and she was allowed to stay where she was. I'm also confused on where the mother was when this interview was done???

An Interesteing article from consumerist (http://consumerist.com/5230056/delta-to-blind-woman-can-you-sit-somewhere-else-this-flight-attendant-doesnt-like-dogs)
I wonder what FTers have to say about this:

If the woman had an irrational fear / phobia of dogs, I could see why she would act like this (though I don't agree with it), but couldn't the FA been the one to make the change? Like work/sit in a different part of the cabin? (No idea what kind of plane, layout it was, so who knows if it is possible)

In any case, arn't guide dogs allowed on the aircraft?

Also, what is this CRO the article talks about? I have not heard that term before.

The DOT requires that airlines have a CRO (complaint resolution official) available at all times for handling issues of 14 cfr part 382.

A few points...

-Consumerist usually only posts one side of a story.
-The fear of dogs, as with many phobias, a genuine problem. The FA is #1 responsibility is to insure the safety of the passengers onboard. If he/she is distracted by a dog or fear of the dog, that may distract him/her from carrying out their job.
-Nowhere do I see it on DL.com that it is required for DL to give a bulkhead seat to those traveling with a dog. And that's the only issue I see with the post. The mother wasn't happy that she didn't get her "almost always request(ed)" bulkhead seat.
-The mother didn't get denied boarding, didn't get harrassed, didn't seem to get discriminated against, so I missing what the issue was? A rude (or fearful) FA?

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/special_travel_needs/services_travelers_disabilities/special_concerns/index.jsp

An Interesteing article from consumerist (http://consumerist.com/5230056/delta-to-blind-woman-can-you-sit-somewhere-else-this-flight-attendant-doesnt-like-dogs)
I wonder what FTers have to say about this:

I call bull on the story because of this:
Natalie goes on to explain that last year, she and her mother were bumped from the bulkhead seats and almost missed their flight as they fought with a ticket agent over upgrading to a coach seat (emphasis mine)

Where were they originally booked to sit? In the cargo hold?

A few points...

-Consumerist usually only posts one side of a story.
-The fear of dogs, as with many phobias, a genuine problem. The FA is #1 responsibility is to insure the safety of the passengers onboard. If he/she is distracted by a dog or fear of the dog, that may distract him/her from carrying out their job.
-Nowhere do I see it on DL.com that it is required for DL to give a bulkhead seat to those traveling with a dog. And that's the only issue I see with the post. The mother wasn't happy that she didn't get her "almost always request(ed)" bulkhead seat.
-The mother didn't get denied boarding, didn't get harrassed, didn't seem to get discriminated against, so I missing what the issue was? A rude (or fearful) FA?

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/special_travel_needs/services_travelers_disabilities/special_concerns/index.jsp

+1, and I am grateful that Natalie did not join FlyerTalk for the sole purpose of posting a rant about her mother's experience.

An Interesteing article from consumerist (http://consumerist.com/5230056/delta-to-blind-woman-can-you-sit-somewhere-else-this-flight-attendant-doesnt-like-dogs)
I wonder what FTers have to say about this:

Write a curteous certifed letter to Anderson and explain the situation
Ask for a written letter from a Delta executive, who is responsible for this type of situation, for your mother to carry with her in case she has issues in the future or you will have to contact the appropriate Federal Agencies.
Provide the detailed flight/day info and mom's FF#
Delta Airlines
Executive Offices
Mr. Richard Anderson
1030 Delta Blvd.
Atlanta GA 30354-1989

I am sure you will get a response.
Heck, I got a letter back ehen I complained about Ginger Ale going away.

Certain seats (usually bulkheads) are set aside for the handicapped. Delta goes a bit farther than is required by limiting most bulkhead seats for assignment by the gate agents.

Bulkheads are the appropriate place for service animals. My wife (Plat at the time) was once booted from one to make room a bomb-sniffing dog & his handler.

I think the FA in this case needs to work the back of the plane. If she wasn't on duty, she should have taken the seat she wanted assigned to the blind woman.

A few points...

-Consumerist usually only posts one side of a story.
-The fear of dogs, as with many phobias, a genuine problem. The FA is #1 responsibility is to insure the safety of the passengers onboard. If he/she is distracted by a dog or fear of the dog, that may distract him/her from carrying out their job.
-Nowhere do I see it on DL.com that it is required for DL to give a bulkhead seat to those traveling with a dog. And that's the only issue I see with the post. The mother wasn't happy that she didn't get her "almost always request(ed)" bulkhead seat.
-The mother didn't get denied boarding, didn't get harrassed, didn't seem to get discriminated against, so I missing what the issue was? A rude (or fearful) FA?

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/special_travel_needs/services_travelers_disabilities/special_concerns/index.jsp

Flight 4693 appears to be operated by a Skywest CRJ. So there would only be one FA on board if indeed it was a 50 seater.

Given that Natalie doesn't know about ADA vs. ACAA, I don't give this a whole lot of credit.

David

Flight 4693 appears to be operated by a Skywest CRJ. So there would only be one FA on board if indeed it was a 50 seater.


Yep. Looks like a CRJ-100.

An Interesteing article from consumerist (http://consumerist.com/5230056/delta-to-blind-woman-can-you-sit-somewhere-else-this-flight-attendant-doesnt-like-dogs)
I wonder what FTers have to say about this:
...Fast forward to this weekend. My mom went to Oregon. On the way home on Flight #4693,...

Flight 4693 is currently a CRJ-100 from PDX-SLC and is operated by SkyWest.

1. Delta sold the ticket but is not the operating carrier.

2. There is only one F/A on a CRJ-100.

If the flight attendant was indeed spooked by the pooch, there would be no alternative work arrangement available (i.e. having one F/A work the front and another work the back).

As a practical matter, CRJs should be avoided by those with disabilities even though the airlines are obligated to accomodate. I know, I know: "But we got a better fare...":rolleyes:

If the flight attendant was indeed spooked by the pooch, there would be no alternative work arrangement available (i.e. having one F/A work the front and another work the back).


Can you imagine if the FA refused to work the flight and the flight was delayed or cancelled?

As a practical matter, CRJs should be avoided by those with disabilities even though the airlines are obligated to accomodate. I know, I know: "But we got a better fare...":rolleyes:

And you've never flown in or out of an airport where a CRJ (or some other similar Barbie jet) was the only choice?

Although this incident happened on DL, I believe the larger Flyertalk Community will be well-served, if this thread were moved to the FT Disability Travel Forum.
Thanks for your cooperation and participation..
Obscure2k
Delta Moderator

Question: would a working FA be sitting in a bulkhead seat often enough to notice (repeatedly) where the dog's tail was?

This quote: "Throughout the flight, the supposedly terrified attendant bothered her every time the dog's tail was in the foot space of the seat next to her — which was empty — asking her to move the dog."" makes it seem as if the FA were continuously seated one seat over, which suggests to me it was not the on-duty FA. I think an off-duty employee should have been moved to accommodate a paying pax.

I hope the dog pissed all over the plane !!!!

The way I read this the FA was not a member of the working crew or she wouldn't be sitting next to a pax....... Even if the FA was "working " the flight - why would she be seated in the bulk head row?:confused:

We must be talking about a non rev here and then the working crew would surely have found someone willing to trade with her but then again I bet she wasn't willing to trade for a worse seat was she?

"Throughout the flight, the supposedly terrified attendant bothered her every time the dog's tail was in the foot space of the seat next to her — which was empty — asking her to move the dog."

Does that mean there was an empty seat between the FA and blind woman? Don't CRJ's have a 2-2 configuration?:confused:

"Does that mean there was an empty seat between the FA and blind woman? Don't CRJ's have a 2-2 configuration?:confused:

Bingo! Story seems a bit fishy.

FWIW I have been on two DL MD-88 flights lately with a PAX and guide dog. Both were allowed on the plane early (before FC) without issue and were in the coach bulkhead row 10. No issues in flight althought I did see the dog was anxious to get outside of the terminal once on the ground... but that's another story.

If it was a CRJ, row 1 is very close to the jumpseat for the FA, so I could see someone with a phobia of dogs being afraid by being only a few feet from the dog. I was on a NW CRJ awhile back and a German Shepherd assistance dog was in 1C. As we started the takeoff roll, one of the storage lockers in the galley was not secured and came flying out landing about 2 inches from the dogs nose - the dog never even flinched.

Still, since animals are allowed in aircraft the FAs need to be able to deal with it. If their fear is going to affect doing their jobs, they should not be FAs.

Isn't it still considered cruelty to animals by letting them fly in a CRJ? :D

As a practical matter, CRJs should be avoided by those with disabilities even though the airlines are obligated to accomodate. I know, I know: "But we got a better fare...":rolleyes:

:rolleyes:
It would be so much easier if we didn't travel at all, wouldn't it?

As a practical matter, CRJs should be avoided by those with disabilities even though the airlines are obligated to accomodate. I know, I know: "But we got a better fare...":rolleyes:

I know this has been picked up by others already, but why should CRJs be avoided???

Although this incident happened on DL, I believe the larger Flyertalk Community will be well-served, if this thread were moved to the FT Disability Travel Forum.
Thanks for your cooperation and participation..
Obscure2k
Delta Moderator

I understand your point for logistical purposes but when you read the comments from the doubting public you might want to consider leaving a thread like this in your forum as a public service. More and more people are travelling with service dogs. Wouldn't it be helpful if everyone had some idea of basic courtesy to the disabled? Thx.

I was attacked by two dogs years ago and now definitely have a very active fear of large dogs. But service and seeing-eye dogs would never attack anyone, at least I've never in my life heard of this happening.

Service and guide dogs fly ALL the time. Fear of dogs should disqualify a person from being hired as a flight attendant. And if you're a non-rev, you don't get a vote about where you sit while traveling. If flying as a non-rev and you fear a nearby dog, get off the plane.

I know this has been picked up by others already, but why should CRJs be avoided???Because they're tiny, cramped, and uncomfortable for all species?

Because they're tiny, cramped, and uncomfortable for all species?

I've always been fond of CRJs and similar smaller commuter aircraft - I suppose it's personal choice really, although I can't imagine why it would matter to a dog.

Of course, these aircraft aren't well suited to certain disabilities (e.g. boarding can be an issue depending on mobility, certain mobility aids might struggle with lesser headroom above the seats etc).