[Nfbnet-members-list] Delta Airlines Service animal Policy Evolves

[NAGDU President]

Please circulate the following message as widely as appropriate.

Dear Members & Supporters,

                 On January 19, 2018, Delta Airlines circulated a 
news release announcing their new policy concerning the carriage of 
emotional support and psychiatric service animals, as well as trained 
service animals, in the aircraft cabin. This new policy, scheduled to 
take effect on March 1, 2018, was in response to a growing safety 
concern over emotional support and psychiatric service animals (ESAs) 
and negatively impacted those of us who use guide and other trained 
service dogs. This policy required those intending to travel with 
their trained guide or other service animals to notify the company at 
least 48 hours in advance of their travel, submit documentation of 
the dog's immunization record, and required those accompanied by 
service animals to check in at the customer service counter rather 
than curbside, online, or through a self-service kiosk. The National 
Federation of the Blind and its special interest division, the 
National Association of Guide Dog Users, expressed our concern over 
this policy, believing it was incongruent with the Air Carrier Access 
Act (ACAA). We requested a face-to-face meeting with Delta Airlines 
and met with them on February 2 at their headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

                 During this meeting, Anil Lewis, Executive Director 
of the Jernigan Institute, and I began a productive dialogue with 
upper level management of Delta, including the chair of their 
advisory board on disability. As a result of this meeting and through 
scores of email messages, Delta Airlines and the National Federation 
of the Blind circulated a joint news release announcing an enhanced 
service animal policy that seemed congruent with the ACAA. However, 
Delta's website concerning this policy did not seem to reflect our 
mutual understanding contained in the press release. We continued our 
dialogue with Delta to create an official policy statement that more 
closely aligns with our interpretation of the ACAA while ensuring the 
safety of all of Delta's passengers.

                 I am pleased to announce that the National 
Federation of the Blind and the National Association of Guide Dog 
Users have worked collaboratively with Delta Airlines to create a 
policy that protects the civil rights of the blind and other disabled 
individuals who use guide or service animals while ensuring the 
safety of all Delta passengers. This current policy states,

If you are traveling with a trained service animal, in some cases you 
may be asked to show:
1.      The animal's Veterinary Health Form and/or an immunization 
record or other proof that the animal's vaccinations are current 
within one year of the travel date
2.      While not required, customers are encouraged to upload this 
documentation to <https://www.delta.com/mytrips/>My Trips through the 
Accessibility Service Request Form

You can view the source file by following the link below

<Delta%20Airlines%20Service%20Animal%20Policy%20Evolves-.htm>Delta's 
Service Animal Policy

                 Delta assures us valid tags issued by your local 
animal services department will suffice as "other proof that the 
animal's vaccinations are current". The National Federation of the 
Blind and the National Association of Guide Dog Users will be hosting 
officials from Delta Airlines at our Jernigan Institute in the near 
future to discuss the specific procedures to implement this policy. 
As these procedures are created, we will circulate them widely so 
that all Delta Patrons who use service animals will understand their 
rights and responsibilities under this policy. We are also aware that 
other airlines are watching this policy evolve and we are working 
proactively with other airlines to help them create and implement 
sound effective policies. We will keep our membership and the flying 
public abreast of our advocacy efforts on this issue.

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala, President
National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)
National Federation of the Blind
(813) 626-2789
President at NAGDU.ORG


The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the 
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise 
expectations because low expectations create barriers between 
blind  people and our dreams. You can live the life you want! 
Blindness is not what holds you back.



Marion Gwizdala, President
National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)
National Federation of the Blind
(813) 626-2789
President at NAGDU.ORG


The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the 
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise 
expectations because low expectations create barriers between 
blind  people and our dreams. You can live the life you want! 
Blindness is not what holds you back.

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