Global321

No need for documentation. If someone has a need, they have a need. You do not owe anyone an explanation.

I would hope the commenter was talking about the fakers... 100 feet is a very short distance. Baggage claim to a parked car - if that was his/her intent - is obviously much farther.

I think we have all experienced the folks that can barely walk onto the plane and then race you off the plane - I hope that is what the commenter was talking about.

FA's talk about the fall snow bird salvation flight people... Up to 1/3 wheelchairs to get on the flight in the North and very few upon landing of the flight down south.

So if anything, we should all be angry at the fakers, the real disgrace. But feel free to be angry at commenter too. Or me

CHOPCHOP767

You're really not supposed to do that, according to US' policy. In fact, the only time service animals are even mentioned is with respect to Hawaii:

http://www.usairways.com/en-US/trave...pets.html?re=1

I book in row 2 for that very reason and as US a319 flyers know, the space under the seat is terrible, even a small dog bag.

It seems like at the very least United has a policy for emotional support animals. It may be completely abused, but at least there's a policy. I will add that JetBlue is actually pretty strict with the 'pet stays in the bag' rule. One time my little guy had his head out and I was told he has to remain completely in the carrier.

morelegroom

My wife is very distressed at the thought that she inconveniences any other passengers so she always walks on and off the plane. Many people with neurological conditions function much better when it is warm. Jetways are cold in the north and warm in the south in winter. Also by the time she gets to the Jetway DW is routinely exhausted. She does much better after several hours of sleep on the plane.

BearX220

A genuine service animal is easy to spot, and not just because its human may have draped a vest over it. Their demeanor is great. I've seen them curl up very small on the cabin floor against their peoples' legs and remain serene and unperturbed by noise, motion or turbulence for hours at a time. How do they not need to relieve themselves for four or five hours? I've never seen a real service animal cause trouble. Fake "support animals," on the other hand, are a different story, getting out of hand and bothering people, and when their humans claim "support" status it hurts the rep of real service animals.

Global321

Put her at ease knowing that 99.9% of us flyers are perfectly fine waiting for someone with a medical condition. And who cares about the other 0.1%!

weero

Don't you think that it is ways too obvious where you pulled these numbers from?

The concern is a real one - people get irritated if they feel that the medical condition is just used a pretence or entirely fabricated. And while some people had it coming - during my last departure from FRA a guy with a bandaged finger was using the disabled boarding sequence - I feel for those who have a nearly invisible impairment as they get the brunt en lieu of the abusers.

Global321

The numbers... sure... I guess I HOPE 99.9% of people don't mind people waiting for people with real medical issues.

But, as you mention above, a fair amount are fakes - and I understand people's frustrations. For these fakers, I believe karma comes to get you sooner or later! (I am not pretending to know who are the fakers, but some are obvious. I will let others judge them.)

DougieDugDug

No offense to your wife. I was implying the ones that abuse the system and claim disabilities just to pre-board and cut through security. Just like the people that suddenly develop a handicap when they arrive at Disneyland.

Global321

And like Disneyland, airlines will eventually get fed up with this. Again, why would anyone pay a pet fee going forward?

Disney - after seeing the 'medically challenged' swell - changed its policy. Now they wait there turn like everyone else. My guess is there has been a multitude of miracle cures at Disney!

FWAAA

You linked to the wrong page and that's why you didn't find anything about service animals or emotional support animals:

http://www.usairways.com/en-US/trave...s/animals.html

If the woman said it was a "service animal," then it was probably her emotional support dog, and it can sit on her lap if she prefers.

Every domestic airline (and, I suspect, so do most foreign carriers) has a policy covering service animals and emotional support animals.

PBQ

Oh man ... I wish I had thought of that before I paid $500 rt to fly my dog Sea-JFK in 2002.

jasonw3

The concept of "emotional support" animals is the biggest scam out there and is mainly used by people to get around paying additional fees to transport their pets. I know a girl who decided it was cheaper to call her pet an emotional support animal than to pay to transport it. She would tell people that due to HIPAA they couldn't ask other than to confirm it was for emotional support. I wish the airlines would crack down on this ridiculous loophole and stop this practice.

For the record, I have no issue with (and am quite impressed by) true service animals helping people who really need the mobility assistance, as long as they are trained as such. But this whole notion of mental crackpots needing to take their pets on planes because they're emotionally unstable is ridiculous. If they're that emotionally unstable, they best just stay at home.

weero

Not being a Buddhist, I'd prefer a more secular approach.

Global321

Any airline that falls for that crap deserves what they get. The regs clearly state you can ask several questions about the animal and the how the animal helps with the medical issue.

Yup. Sucker!

I did the same thing - I paid $500 as well... for one trip. I was a sucker too!

In the future - $99 for an annual pass with unlimited trips. A much better deal.

l etoile

Just a heads up that this thread has, at times, drifted from flying United with a service animal. Please keep to the topic.

Thanks.
l'etoile
UA moderator