[nfbwatlk] Airline Discrimination Incident

[Marci Carpenter]

Hi Mike,

I’m so sorry you experienced this discrimination.

Here is what the Air Carrier Access Act says (14 CFR part 382). I got this from the NAGDU app on my iPhone.

“Carriers shall permit a service animal to accompany a qualified individual with a disability in any seat in which the person sits, unless the animal obstructs an aisle or other area that must remain unobstructed in order to facilitate an emergency evacuation or to comply with FAA regulations.”

Since your dog was not blocking the aisle they were violating the law by asking you repeatedly to move.  Call me if you want to pursue a complaint. You may also want to contact Marion Gwizdala, the President of thee National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU). The NAGDU email address is info at nagdu.org <mailto:info at nagdu.org>. The phone number is 1-888-624-3841.

Marci

 
> On Apr 6, 2015, at 2:12 PM, Michael Forzano via nfbwatlk <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Yes she was completely under the seat. They were claiming that she would be obstructing the aisle, that is, blocking the passenger in the window seat from getting out during an evacuation. In other words, they were implying that I would just sit there and wait to be helped if there was an evacuation and my dog would block the other passengers in the row from getting out. Once I was the only passenger left in the row they were happy.
> 
> Mike
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Apr 6, 2015, at 5:03 PM, Mike Freeman <k7uij at panix.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi, Mike.
>> 
>> Did your dog fit completely under the seat in front of you or did it, in
>> fact, protrude into the aisle?
>> 
>> I don't remember any specific regulations re dogs and aisle seating although
>> there are regs prohibiting stuff sticking out into the aisle.
>> 
>> Mike Freeman
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbwatlk [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michael
>> Forzano via nfbwatlk
>> Sent: Monday, April 06, 2015 2:01 PM
>> To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [nfbwatlk] Airline Discrimination Incident
>> 
>> Hi All,
>> I was wondering if anyone knows what the regulations are regarding guide dog
>> handlers sitting in aisle seats on a plane with their dogs? on my flight to
>> New York on Wednesday night I was asked multiple times if I would be willing
>> to move to a window seat because my dog would be obstructing the aisle if
>> there were to be an evacuation. I have never been asked this before, and it
>> is my personal preference to sit in an aisle seat, so I said that I would
>> rather not move. In the end they asked the passenger in the window seat to
>> move and she agreed, so I had the entire row to myself. The flight was
>> delayed about 20 minutes I believe as a result of the incident. Even though
>> it worked out in the end it was still a frustrating experience and I don't
>> feel anyone should have had to move, I should not have even been asked. I
>> contacted JetBlue about the incident and they are denying any violation of
>> Department of Transportation regulations since they claim I was still able
>> to get to my de  stination on schedule. Does anyone have any suggesttions of
>> what I should do next? I was asked four separate times to move and I want to
>> do what I can so others don't have to go through this. Happy to send the
>> report I wrote up as well as JetBlue's response if anyone is interested. 
>> 
>> Also, wanted to apologize for my messages on the thread regarding Sushil's
>> incident. Having experienced what I feel was discrimination first-hand, I
>> can say it is definitely a terrible experience to be denied something that
>> should be your right by law. 
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> Mike
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
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> 
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