Service Animal?
Dec 13, 2012, 2:07 pm
#31
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: United - PG, Marriott Silver
Posts: 1,625
I have to confess: if they allowed pax to get "emotional support booze," I'd fudge a little and say I was mentally ill.
Dec 13, 2012, 2:22 pm
#32
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 256
The whole "emotional support animal" thing is a bunch of hokum. Primarily, it is just a ploy by "The Entitled" to get special privileges that honest people don't. For that tiny subset of people with "emotional support animals" who legitimately have emotional issues that are helped by the presence of the animal, I think they should just stay home and quit inconveniencing others.
Whatever happened to "emotional support PEOPLE" (friends and family members). If you need emotional support, then travel with a human. And if a human won't do, then just stay home!
Whatever happened to "emotional support PEOPLE" (friends and family members). If you need emotional support, then travel with a human. And if a human won't do, then just stay home!
Dec 13, 2012, 2:27 pm
#33
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: The SkyClub at F/G in MSP
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 92
And pit vipers! I think I feel a severe case of Acute Anger coming on, and my pit viper is the only thing that will calm me down...
Dec 13, 2012, 6:24 pm
#34
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: Waffle House DM
Posts: 467
I suffer from a severe emotional disorder that makes me constantly worry that other travellers are getting something I am not. My physician has prescribed a "companion frequent flyer" for me. It works very simply, I just take the trips and let my companion frequent flyer worry about all the injustices and report them on the internet. The only burden for me is I have to read Flyertalk regularly to see what unfairness has befallen my companion frequent flyer. The great news is so many of them seem willing to volunteer for this duty. I'm thinking of making them wear a small vest so other travellers know how constantly angry they are.
Dec 14, 2012, 11:48 am
#35
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 49
I suffer from a severe emotional disorder that makes me constantly worry that other travellers are getting something I am not. My physician has prescribed a "companion frequent flyer" for me. It works very simply, I just take the trips and let my companion frequent flyer worry about all the injustices and report them on the internet. The only burden for me is I have to read Flyertalk regularly to see what unfairness has befallen my companion frequent flyer. The great news is so many of them seem willing to volunteer for this duty. I'm thinking of making them wear a small vest so other travellers know how constantly angry they are.
But if there was no injustice, there would hardly be anyone left on FT!
Dec 18, 2012, 2:40 pm
#36
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Tundra Land (MSP)
Programs: DL Plat, DL SkyClub, SPG Plat, HH Diamond, National Emerald Exec
Posts: 269
I suffer from a severe emotional disorder that makes me constantly worry that other travellers are getting something I am not. My physician has prescribed a "companion frequent flyer" for me. It works very simply, I just take the trips and let my companion frequent flyer worry about all the injustices and report them on the internet. The only burden for me is I have to read Flyertalk regularly to see what unfairness has befallen my companion frequent flyer. The great news is so many of them seem willing to volunteer for this duty. I'm thinking of making them wear a small vest so other travellers know how constantly angry they are.
Dec 18, 2012, 3:53 pm
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
Kewl. Can I get free flights like the other emotional support animals do?
Dec 19, 2012, 8:36 am
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
Dec 19, 2012, 8:50 am
#40
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 378
I was on a Delta flight the other night where a woman had an "emotional support chihuahua" and another "emotional support dog".
She had two clearly untrained dogs--one on her lap, and another laying in the bulkhead row on some poor guy's feet for the entire flight.
Between blabbing on her cell phone, playing with her iPad while feeding the chihuahua pretzels, and adjusting her various expensive bling, it was fairly clear that she had no visible disability and was using the red vests to get her babies on the plane.
Even the gate agents laughed when they saw it, but said they could do nothing because of the red vests on the dogs.
She had two clearly untrained dogs--one on her lap, and another laying in the bulkhead row on some poor guy's feet for the entire flight.
Between blabbing on her cell phone, playing with her iPad while feeding the chihuahua pretzels, and adjusting her various expensive bling, it was fairly clear that she had no visible disability and was using the red vests to get her babies on the plane.
Even the gate agents laughed when they saw it, but said they could do nothing because of the red vests on the dogs.
Dec 19, 2012, 9:01 am
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,398
Does an "emotional support" animal count as a carry on for the passenger?
I know if I travel with my cat, in addition to paying the pet fee, the cat carrier also is suppose to be considered a carryon.
I think if Delta reduced the pet fee to a more reasonable amount, there would be less abuse of emotional support animals.
I know if I travel with my cat, in addition to paying the pet fee, the cat carrier also is suppose to be considered a carryon.
I think if Delta reduced the pet fee to a more reasonable amount, there would be less abuse of emotional support animals.
Last edited by jamesteroh; Dec 19, 2012 at 9:06 am
Dec 21, 2012, 1:55 pm
#43
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: DL DM; US GP; Fairmont PL; HHonors DM; Hyatt GP Diamond; Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 189
On my MSP-DCA flight the other night, an extremely chatty woman from SoCal boarded with an "Emotional Support Service Dog" which was, in reality, a 60+ pound Boxer which "smelled like dog" as polite society might say. There was no way this dog would fit under the seat and instead laid across the entire foot space for all three seats on the bulkhead. "Omar" kept pounding his big lug head into the seat back of my spot in F -- fortunately it wasn't anything that a little Woodford and some well practiced anger management tactics couldn't overcome.
In all seriousness, I think the whole service animal loophole is ripe for some real Sheena-works. Anyone can buy one of the vests on the internet and nearly everyone knows a doctor who will write a note. Plus, what happens if another pax is allergic to dog dander (as is my 7 year old)?
In all seriousness, I think the whole service animal loophole is ripe for some real Sheena-works. Anyone can buy one of the vests on the internet and nearly everyone knows a doctor who will write a note. Plus, what happens if another pax is allergic to dog dander (as is my 7 year old)?
Dec 21, 2012, 8:38 pm
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
In all seriousness, I think the whole service animal loophole is ripe for some real Sheena-works. Anyone can buy one of the vests on the internet and nearly everyone knows a doctor who will write a note. Plus, what happens if another pax is allergic to dog dander (as is my 7 year old)?
Emotional support animals don't need vests. And while there may be doctors willing to write a note for anyone, the requirements for an emotional support animal include a letter confirming that the person has been diagnosed with a mental or emotional disorder and that they can be helped if their emotional support animal accompanies them. While I'm sure there's some shenanigans going on, if they have the letter and follow the procedures, they're going to be with us. Might as well prepare (bring the benadryl) and get used to it.
Dec 21, 2012, 9:12 pm
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,026
Passengers with allergies to animals can ask to be re-seated elsewhere in the cabin.
Emotional support animals don't need vests. And while there may be doctors willing to write a note for anyone, the requirements for an emotional support animal include a letter confirming that the person has been diagnosed with a mental or emotional disorder and that they can be helped if their emotional support animal accompanies them. While I'm sure there's some shenanigans going on, if they have the letter and follow the procedures, they're going to be with us. Might as well prepare (bring the benadryl) and get used to it.
Emotional support animals don't need vests. And while there may be doctors willing to write a note for anyone, the requirements for an emotional support animal include a letter confirming that the person has been diagnosed with a mental or emotional disorder and that they can be helped if their emotional support animal accompanies them. While I'm sure there's some shenanigans going on, if they have the letter and follow the procedures, they're going to be with us. Might as well prepare (bring the benadryl) and get used to it.
Most of this is complete b.s. and I'd love if the airlines would start to take care of their passengers with allergies (like myself).
