Well said, all of it, but I especially liked the part about punching the TS card. Can non-military types use that line? I'd sure like to borrow it from time to time.
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I have no problem with AE not accepting the dog but shouldn't the agent who checked the family in have known about this? If it had been taken care of at check in, there wouldn't have been the scene on the plane and the other passengers would not have been inconvenienced. The Marine would have been able to change his plans at that time (since he didn't review the website for information).
As a "Former Naval Person" (with a lot more than 8 years if you count Reserve time), this is another flagrant example a twit "Playing the Veteran's Card".
I'm still scratching my head over why this guy thought he was entitled to different treatment because of his service record, but whatever.
Though a regular poster on FT, when I had to move 2 yrs ago, in March, w/my furpeople I took the time to look up the rules before figuring out the best way to move them w/the least amount of stress to human & furpeople. In my opinion, regardless of what the weather may have been @ time of check-in, flying in January (or March) thru any city north of the Mason-Dixon line is a nearly sure bet for temps below 45 @ some point; betting on anything different is just stupid.
The OP states DCA-JFK was a connection for these travelers. The temperature may not have been too low at the time the pax checked in.
Actually, jennj99738 raises a very valid point, one which relieves the dog owners of much of the blame. If AA employees don't know the rules, why expect the passenger to be the expert? The pax were connecting at JFK, not DCA. One would have to be slightly nuts to use AA at DCA as a connection point...it might literally be impossible. It was a noon flight (actually AE flights at DCA scheduled for noon generally wind up departing around 1 or 1:30, but that's a whole other story ) and I'm sure at the time they checked in, it was even colder and the counter and gate agents should have known better, unless there's some special check in procedure for those traveling with animals I don't know about.
Btw, as an Army vet myself, the term TS Card is unfamiliar to me, unless the T in TS stands for "tough" and the S stands for...well you know...and even then it doesn't make all that much sense. So for the non-vets and Army/Air Force vets, perhaps someone could define the term.
Being a member of the USMC for 8 years, you would think he would know how to follow rules or at least know what they are. Hell, it wasn't even Nov 10, so no birthday present would be due. Following rules is something that should have been learned in his life well before entering MCRD. When transporting dogs, especially during summer and winter, you need to know what the rules are.
TMOliver.... Having been a sailor (Operations Specialist) I loved the "Dog Watch" connection.
Whether he knew the rules or not, he had NO right bringing up the Marine nonsense. It is not relative to the issue.
Actually, jennj99738 raises a very valid point, one which relieves the dog owners of much of the blame. If AA employees don't know the rules, why expect the passenger to be the expert? The pax were connecting at JFK, not DCA.
I see. I misunderstood the OP. Yes, unless the temperature dropped suddenly, it is hard to understand why the dog was accepted at check in.
But while I do agree that agents should certainly know the rules, I don't agree that an agent's apparent lack of knowledge absolves the dog owners of their responsibility for also knowing the rules.
Quote:
Originally Posted by metsfan1962
One would have to be slightly nuts to use AA at DCA as a connection point...it might literally be impossible.
It's not impossible; I've booked connections at DCA several times. While I probably am nuts, I don't think connecting at DCA constitutes proof. I've seen far nuttier routing in the MR forum.
__________________ "When you have nothing to say, call the other guy an AApologist and hope nobody notices your deficiency."
Actually, jennj99738 raises a very valid point, one which relieves the dog owners of much of the blame. If AA employees don't know the rules, why expect the passenger to be the expert? The pax were connecting at JFK, not DCA.
One AA employee missing out on a specific rule is not enough to excuse the owner. Maybe the employee didn't realize they were supposed to check the expected temperature at the connecting airport. The rule still exists. The AA employee isn't going to be the one missing their flight. Either way, it has nothing to do with the rant about AA treats an 8 year Marine veteran any more than it would have anything to do with a 90 year old blind, crippled, and pregnant lady, if she had to miss the flight for that reason.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by metsfan1962
I'm pretty certain this was personal travel for them. Definitely not change in duty station to overseas. It's highly doubtful you'd be traveling with wife/gf AND personal pet because armed forces wouldn't allow either (although there might be some duty stations where you could do that, like embassy duty in Ottawa, etc). I'd imagine even in situations like that, there would be tons of paperwork for the dog, maybe even quarantines depending on location.
When a Marine has a permanent change in station, they usually are either 1 year unaccompanied, or 3 years accompanied, so yes, if it was his wife, if he'd been overseas for 3 years, she'd have been with him. As far as a dog, there would be paperwork, but a friend in the Air Force was going to take his dog to Turkey, so they can take pets with them. You have to follow all rules about quarantines and vaccinations based on your destination, but they'll let you take them.
It could've been their return flight from a duty station overseas as well.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oklAAhoma
Aha! If that's the case then I was right and the flight form DCA was a connection.
The military does all sorts of odd things as far as travel, so they might have several connections, depending on where they were eventually going to be stationed.
__________________ “The church is near but the road is icy, the bar is far away but I will walk carefully”
---Russian proverb
Aha! If that's the case then I was right and the flight form DCA was a connection.
Unless it's absolutely the ONLY way to get where you're going on AA due to WX, cancellations, overbooking, whatever, anyone connecting on AA at DCA (esp using AE) is in serious need of some basic FF education. OTOH, if you're a masochist who enjoys rock hard seats on jungle jets which usually offer minimal service and late departures and arrivals, then go for it.
... anyone connecting on AA at DCA (esp using AE) is in serious need of some basic FF education.
Ahem. Sometimes the extra miles and/or lower fares make DCA a wise FF decision, at least imho. YMMV obviously.
Quote:
Originally Posted by metsfan1962
OTOH, if you're a masochist who enjoys rock hard seats on jungle jets which usually offer minimal service and late departures and arrivals, then go for it.
I don't believe DCA is unique in those areas. It sounds like business as usual on AE flights from most airports.
__________________ "When you have nothing to say, call the other guy an AApologist and hope nobody notices your deficiency."
) and I'm sure at the time they checked in, it was even colder and the counter and gate agents should have known better, unless there's some special check in procedure for those traveling with animals I don't know about.
