Fake Service Dogs
#181
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
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Spoke with my son more about it after the flight and he told me the FA told him that the female passenger (with the dog) had anxiety about flying and that was the reason she was entitled to be moved to a seat next to her male partner and the dog on their lap. Therefore, my son and friends had to be split up to accommodate them.
I am not aware of AA having a policy for people to sit together simply because there is a service animal
And, this is something the GA should have been handled. Surely the couple knew they didn't have seats together before boarding.
There usually pairs of seats together together on short notice. They are "preferred seats" , so if you don't have elite status and don't want to chance not sitting together, the pay the fee.
#182
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 5
I fly a lot and rarely see service animals. Most of the time it is for the blind. I don't agree with what this couple did, but I don't see it as a big issue. Was the dog a problem on the flight?
There are many more egregious problems when traveling. I find flyers with oversized carry-ons, those that talk at the top of their lungs on cell phones who refused to put them away on take off, a more distracting situation.
Full Disclosure: I'm a dog lover!
There are many more egregious problems when traveling. I find flyers with oversized carry-ons, those that talk at the top of their lungs on cell phones who refused to put them away on take off, a more distracting situation.
Full Disclosure: I'm a dog lover!
#183
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: East Anglia UK
Programs: BA-S UA LH-Sen KLM/AF-Plat.
Posts: 1,627
I fly a lot and rarely see service animals. Most of the time it is for the blind. I don't agree with what this couple did, but I don't see it as a big issue. Was the dog a problem on the flight?
There are many more egregious problems when traveling. I find flyers with oversized carry-ons, those that talk at the top of their lungs on cell phones who refused to put them away on take off, a more distracting situation.
Full Disclosure: I'm a dog lover!
There are many more egregious problems when traveling. I find flyers with oversized carry-ons, those that talk at the top of their lungs on cell phones who refused to put them away on take off, a more distracting situation.
Full Disclosure: I'm a dog lover!
#184
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 861
Well, it wasn't a dog, but this incident might have a place on this thread:
http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2014/1...pig-off-plane/
I know three people who readily admit to having gotten on-line certificates and uniforms for their pets simply because they don't want to pay for kennels when they travel. One has a badly behaved dog who will, 100%, irritate everyone on the plane on his first flight.
Another is a cat. As a dog lover, I wonder what kind of emotional support this cat provides (don't mean to start a dust up with that comment) but I am very allergic to cats and resent this. It is clear that the airlines are terrified to question any potential service animal, hence the flagrant advantage taking. This topic is picking up steam, but no
easy solution to cheating seems likely:
http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health...em-f8C11366537
http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2014/1...pig-off-plane/
I know three people who readily admit to having gotten on-line certificates and uniforms for their pets simply because they don't want to pay for kennels when they travel. One has a badly behaved dog who will, 100%, irritate everyone on the plane on his first flight.
Another is a cat. As a dog lover, I wonder what kind of emotional support this cat provides (don't mean to start a dust up with that comment) but I am very allergic to cats and resent this. It is clear that the airlines are terrified to question any potential service animal, hence the flagrant advantage taking. This topic is picking up steam, but no
easy solution to cheating seems likely:
http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health...em-f8C11366537
#185
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAS
Posts: 1,323
I have doubts about many of the service animals/owners on recent flights.
Here is an interesting article about this, from BBC News:
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31646970
Here is an interesting article about this, from BBC News:
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31646970
#186
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
Well, maybe the son and his friends have anxiety about being separated.
I am not aware of AA having a policy for people to sit together simply because there is a service animal
And, this is something the GA should have been handled. Surely the couple knew they didn't have seats together before boarding.
There usually pairs of seats together together on short notice. They are "preferred seats" , so if you don't have elite status and don't want to chance not sitting together, the pay the fee.
I am not aware of AA having a policy for people to sit together simply because there is a service animal
And, this is something the GA should have been handled. Surely the couple knew they didn't have seats together before boarding.
There usually pairs of seats together together on short notice. They are "preferred seats" , so if you don't have elite status and don't want to chance not sitting together, the pay the fee.
PS: If one had claustrophobia sitting in a middle seat might (also) be a problem.
#187
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Seoul, Korea
Programs: UA Gold, Starwood Gold
Posts: 36
Fake Service Dogs
British Columbia is taking action against fake service dogs.
"B.C. service-animal owners to require licence as family pets increasingly passed off as guide dogs"
http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/blog.html?b=news.nationalpost.com/2015/03/23/b-c-service-animal-owners-to-require-licence-as-family-pets-increasingly-passed-off-as-guide-dogs
"B.C. service-animal owners to require licence as family pets increasingly passed off as guide dogs"
http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/blog.html?b=news.nationalpost.com/2015/03/23/b-c-service-animal-owners-to-require-licence-as-family-pets-increasingly-passed-off-as-guide-dogs
#188
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
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The problem with fake vs. real service dogs is that once one gets "medical" certification (not hard to do), the fake sd is no longer fake.
#189
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,288
Every dog is a service dog, in fact, though that doesn't excuse fraud. Dogs get their meaning in life through service to their masters. Nonetheless, we've gotten into the business as a society of evaluating whether someone is sufficiently handicapped such that they should be permitted to take their dogs everywhere they go, or not, through the "service dog" designation.
Personally, I'd like to see dogs permitted more places rather than fewer, but that's because I really love my dog. I'd never fake this designation for my own dog, but I'm quite pleased to see dogs in public settings, including on planes. I understand not everyone agrees.
Personally, I'd like to see dogs permitted more places rather than fewer, but that's because I really love my dog. I'd never fake this designation for my own dog, but I'm quite pleased to see dogs in public settings, including on planes. I understand not everyone agrees.
#192
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,120
I suggest you read this very moving book about a soldier with PTSD and physical and head injuries. His dog is highly trained and makes it possible for him to continue his life.
http://smile.amazon.com/Until-Tuesda...=until+tuesday
Here is a youtube view about the author https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4dz5KSYbTs
http://smile.amazon.com/Until-Tuesda...=until+tuesday
Here is a youtube view about the author https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4dz5KSYbTs
#193
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I caught part of it. It showed how easy it is to buy fake credentials and some strange animals in this role, including a hedgehog and a miniature horse in a bulk head row. IIRC DL accepted one fake emotional support animal and denied one. There was also a scene with another airline, but I didn't see all of that part.
#194
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Programs: Delta, Starwood, Hilton
Posts: 455
I have a friend who is mostly deaf and her service dog has saved her life several times. If she happened to be on a flight with her dog, you might question it because she is not blind nor is she a terrified flier. But if there was an emergency, she would be much better off with the dog. Just a thought for those who do not know someone deaf.
#195
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,189
I have a friend who is mostly deaf and her service dog has saved her life several times. If she happened to be on a flight with her dog, you might question it because she is not blind nor is she a terrified flier. But if there was an emergency, she would be much better off with the dog. Just a thought for those who do not know someone deaf.