seat selection - got ousted by a service dog

[Katie]

Well, seething is never a useful or positive state of mind. Blind people or others with medical equipment or bassinets or whatever need to travel as much as any of we able-bodied, and the best response would be to accept that the good seat has been given to someone with a better need.

Absolutely. I calmed down and got over my upset when I realised it was a blind person with their guide dog. Up until the man stood up to go to the loo and was asking his travelling companion how many rows to count headrests to get back to the loo, I had not realised he was blind. I did not see that the dog was a labrador until they or we got off; if I'd seen that I might have guessed that it was a guide dog.
Until seeing he was blind I assumed that it was a regular everyday pet dog, like the dogs I've seen in carriers on US domestic flights. I didn't know if it was teacup poodle size or chihuahua size or what it was, as it was sitting on the ground and I didn't really see it. I seethed because of my assumptions about the size of the dog and thinking it was a pampered pooch in a carrier, and I've seen those dogs sitting in their carriers under seats on US flights before, so didn't see why the bulkhead was needed.
Of course, once I realised what was going on, that all changed. It was interesting to see how my assumptions helped form my reaction!

 

[simongr]

+1. This simply doesn't happen in Australia.

I have been bumped twice for 23 A/B or J/K for a service dog. If you have an issue with being moved from a seat in any cabin, regardless of status, for someone who needs assistance then you may want to revisit your moral compass.

I was extremely impressed by how well behaved and calm the dogs were flying. I imagine for an animal it must be quite a strange experience.

Whilst I agree that someone with a service dog would have more entitlement than me to a better seat maybe the airlines could assist by not letting the bump happen at the airport or on board. If I went to check my booking/select seats and couldn't get row 4 I would assume someone else had. Or if my booking changed after I had selected the seat as a QF agent had allocated to a service animal - that's fine.

I think finding out on board is not a good outcome.

I just checked my upcoming booking and there is no option for a special request that a service animal would be on board - might be useful to prevent problems occurring...

 

[markis10]

I just checked my upcoming booking and there is no option for a special request that a service animal would be on board - might be useful to prevent problems occurring...

No different to bassinet needs, you wont get told if its going to be used while those that need it have ways of requesting it.

 

[Skyring]

Absolutely. I calmed down and got over my upset when I realised it was a blind person with their guide dog.

I used to get angry and upset when someone cut me off in traffic or did some smartarse stunt. I'd seethe and swear to myself, pound my fist, try to beat them at the next lights...

After a year or so taxidriving I shrugged my shoulders. Why dump my happiness for nothing?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I must be missing something? How can anyone be complaining about being bumped, at any stage, for someone with a guide dog? Even in the 'worst case' scenario and you find out once on board... what difference does it make? you still should move. Even if a platinum keeps their seat in row 4 they should proactively offer to move if the pax + guide dog is in another row and wants the extra space. No questions.

 

[burmans]

I used to get angry and upset when someone cut me off in traffic or did some smartarse stunt. I'd seethe and swear to myself, pound my fist, try to beat them at the next lights...

After a year or so taxidriving I shrugged my shoulders. Why dump my happiness for nothing?

I agree, lifes too short to sweat the samll stuff (there could be a book title in that). You just get ulcers!

 

[Skyring]

I must be missing something? How can anyone be complaining about being bumped, at any stage, for someone with a guide dog? Even in the 'worst case' scenario and you find out once on board... what difference does it make? you still should move. Even if a platinum keeps their seat in row 4 they should proactively offer to move if the pax + guide dog is in another row and wants the extra space. No questions.

Ah, Katie didn't realise it was a guide dog. Thought it might be a poodle or something.

Just wondering, did the blind guy have the window seat?

For the dog, i mean.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ah, Katie didn't realise it was a guide dog. Thought it might be a poodle or something.

Just wondering, did the blind guy have the window seat?

For the dog, i mean.

No no - this wasn't in response to Katie It was in response to the comment about a blind pax having 'more entitlement' to a 'better seat'. When dealing with a blind pax, or other passenger with a disability, 'more entitlement' and 'better seat' shouldn't be in the same sentence as it implies the able bodied passenger still has some entitlement to that better seat... they don't. The blind passenger needs to be given the most appropriate seat to accommodate their needs... there is no competition as to who else might want to claim to that seat.

 

[simongr]

Whilst I agree that someone with a service dog would have more entitlement than me to a better seat maybe the airlines could assist by not letting the bump happen at the airport or on board. If I went to check my booking/select seats and couldn't get row 4 I would assume someone else had. Or if my booking changed after I had selected the seat as a QF agent had allocated to a service animal - that's fine.

I think finding out on board is not a good outcome.

I just checked my upcoming booking and there is no option for a special request that a service animal would be on board - might be useful to prevent problems occurring...

I must be missing something? How can anyone be complaining about being bumped, at any stage, for someone with a guide dog? Even in the 'worst case' scenario and you find out once on board... what difference does it make? you still should move. Even if a platinum keeps their seat in row 4 they should proactively offer to move if the pax + guide dog is in another row and wants the extra space. No questions.

No no - this wasn't in response to Katie It was in response to the comment about a blind pax having 'more entitlement' to a 'better seat'. When dealing with a blind pax, or other passenger with a disability, 'more entitlement' and 'better seat' shouldn't be in the same sentence as it implies the able bodied passenger still has some entitlement to that better seat... they don't. The blind passenger needs to be given the most appropriate seat to accommodate their needs... there is no competition as to who else might want to claim to that seat.

Do you need a ladder to get down from your high horse?

I think splitting hairs about entitlement vs appropriate is arguing for the sake of it. If I rephrased my comment I might actually say "entitled to a more appropriate seat". What I think should be happening is that this is sorted out beforehand and not on board. So if a person with a service animal books a flight they get put in the most appropriate seat for them - I can then sort out my seating around that.

On a 73x that might mean the service animal is put in 4C so I pick 4D or 5D or 5C rather than get on board find the service animal in 4C and get moved to 9B. Anyone with special needs should plan ahead - if travelling with a baby I book the bassinet. If I am jewish I order the Kosher meal. What is hard about this? Sure there might be occasions where this doesn't work but why make it harder when we don't need to.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Anyone with special needs should plan ahead - if travelling with a baby I book the bassinet. If I am jewish I order the Kosher meal. What is hard about this? Sure there might be occasions where this doesn't work but why make it harder when we don't need to.

Qantas requires guide dogs to be notified to the airline at the time of booking.

Service Dogs | Qantas

 

[simongr]

Then the situation of being bumped should never eventuate - QF should be allocating seats appropriate to the traveller's needs.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Then the situation of being bumped should never eventuate - QF should be allocating seats appropriate to the traveller's needs.

blind people run late for flights too

but it seems also as pointed out above, sometimes QF might assign a seat that is not the best (bulkhead probably affords more space). If a blind pax was to board and requests a bulkhead, provided that seat does not contravene any safety requirements, they should be able to sit there and the other pax be moved.

 

[simongr]

blind people run late for flights too

So tempting to make a very inappropriate comment at this point...

 

[legroom]

I agree, lifes too short to sweat the samll stuff ....You just get ulcers!

Sorry, that (stress causes ulcers) is now an urban myth.

OTP, I apologise before hand

 

[mannej]

Do you need a ladder to get down from your high horse?

I think splitting hairs about entitlement vs appropriate is arguing for the sake of it. If I rephrased my comment I might actually say "entitled to a more appropriate seat". What I think should be happening is that this is sorted out beforehand and not on board. So if a person with a service animal books a flight they get put in the most appropriate seat for them - I can then sort out my seating around that.

On a 73x that might mean the service animal is put in 4C so I pick 4D or 5D or 5C rather than get on board find the service animal in 4C and get moved to 9B. Anyone with special needs should plan ahead - if travelling with a baby I book the bassinet. If I am jewish I order the Kosher meal. What is hard about this? Sure there might be occasions where this doesn't work but why make it harder when we don't need to.

Not always possible to book the bassinet in advance though is it? Yes I'm splitting hairs!

 

[burmans]

Sorry, that (stress causes ulcers) is now an urban myth.

Maybe true but I can seriously recommend not stressing over stressing.

 

[scheps]

actually, believe me, stress does cause ulcers but not the level of stress induced at a thread on a forum

I am actually traveling with a baby but no bassinet anyway, was thinking maybe baby want to sit next to doggy....

Don't get to do that everyday.

 

[scheps]

Anyway know if infant can't fly row 4? i was told there is no such rule but guess what!

Return leg, guide dog again apparently i am told by 131211. Except when i go and put my wife (no infant attached) one the seatmap, she can sit where the guide dog is supposedly sitting!!

Therefore, slightly in line with a previous post about guide dog not turning up.

ummmm..... maybe infants just cant sit in row 4 full stop... ??

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Anyway know if infant can't fly row 4? i was told there is no such rule but guess what!

Return leg, guide dog again apparently i am told by 131211. Except when i go and put my wife (no infant attached) one the seatmap, she can sit where the guide dog is supposedly sitting!!

Therefore, slightly in line with a previous post about guide dog not turning up.

ummmm..... maybe infants just cant sit in row 4 full stop... ??

only some groups of three seats have an extra oxygen mask.... so I'm not sure if both sides of row 4 are equipped as such?

 

[simongr]

ummmm..... maybe infants just cant sit in row 4 full stop... ??

only some groups of three seats have an extra oxygen mask.... so I'm not sure if both sides of row 4 are equipped as such?

I have heard that infants aren't allowed in row 4 previously.