I Love Flying Southwest Airlines

 

Last week I went home to visit the fam in good ol' Salt Lake City, Utah, or as some refer to it, the promised land:) I really get nervous to fly with Charlie without Paul around because

1. It is more difficult.  Especially going to the bathroom. Dragging in a dog and luggage into any itty bitty toilet stall cause the handicapped ones are never available (frowny face to those that steal them) is never fun and I am pretty sure Charlie ends up getting his face smashed either against the toilet as we enter or the door as we exit.

2. People are rude to me when Paul isn't around.  I mean my husband is wickedly sexy and strong (ish) looking, but for some reason no one bugs me when he is around.  I think it is cause he has a shaved head.  Everyone must think he is some skin headed freak who will hurt at any bad comment my way. Works for me.

3. I usually have to argue with the ramp agent for the bulk head seat so I end up at the back of the plane which is a disaster (thank you United Airlines for sucking so bad. PS. I will never fly with you again cause you lack customer service and human skills)

4. I end up sitting next to weirdos that make me feel like I have leprosy instead of seizures.

This time was different.  First of all, they checked my bag for free so I didn't have to deal with that which made 1. Going to the bathroom, much easier. Additionally, Southwest ticket check-in woman called the ramp agent to let her know I was coming and so they saved me a seat in the very front of the plane (literally saved it with tape over the seat and a sign that read DO NOT OCCUPY) so that Charlie would have room on the floor in front of me.  And they gave me a blue pre-board ticket so I could get on the plane first. Fixing problem number 3.  And number 4 was just pure luck.  I sat next to a charming man named Jesse who found Charlie to be amazing and he didn't spill coffee on me or reek of cigarettes like the guy I sat next to the last time I flew.  Plus Jesse is related to the talented blogger Nie Nie who I read regularly and you should too.

I highly recommend flying Southwest if you travel with a service dog.  I mean 5 stars, two-thumbs up, get it while it is hot kind of review.

Thanks Southwest for being one of the only airlines with customer service.

Below I have posted some additional stories about me flying with Charlie.

A airport service dog potty station inside the Dulles Airport
Flying in general
United Airlines denied me pre-boarding...argh
Didn't happen to me, but crazy dog out of cage on plane...yikes

Dog Potty for Patio

Now that Paul and I have moved to Colorado, I don't know if I mentioned that but yes Paul and I now live in Denver, Colorado, we live in a townhouse without a yard, which means every time the dogs need to do their business we have to take them outside.  It isn't so bad now, but I am sure soon enough if might get annoying especially since I am used to just opening up the back door and letting them run wild in the yard.  So I googled "dog potty for patio" and found this amazing device called the Porch Potty for Dogs. I am not sure if we will buy this or just make our own version. Check this thing out. It has its own fire hydrant and sprinkler system. This is very similar to the potty stations in the airports.

Denied Pre-Board by United Airlines

Last Sunday, February 13, I was flying from LAX to Dulles on United Airlines.  Because I travel with a service dog I have to check in at the ticket counter to show identification of the dog.  While waiting in line, the next available ticket lady took one look at me with my dog Charlie and said "Ma'am who is standing behind you?" I had no idea who they were, but she said "I will help you next" speaking to the people behind me.  Obviously she wasn't interested in helping me. I was standing in line, but for some reason I was bypassed.  I am not sure what her reason was.

When I was at the gate to board the plane the same woman was serving as the ramp agent.  My boarding ticket said boarding group 4, but in all my years of traveling with Charlie I have been allowed to pre-board.  Actually, most airlines inform when I check-in that I can pre-board so that I have more time to get adjusted in my seat and not feel rushed down the aisle.  When the ramp agent said that they were boarding first class passengers and those with special needs I got in line.  When I got up to the front and asked if she has asked for special needs passengers she took one look at me and said "You aren't in a wheelchair" and made me stand off to the side. I kindly asked her if I could please preboard because travelling with a service dog is a bit stressful and I take longer to get down the aisle and she just waved me off and said she would preboard in a minute.  I am pretty sure that when they say passengers with special needs that is the call for preboard and I am also fairly confident that I fall under that category.

She continued to call up boarding groups 1 and 2.  I stood where she told me to stand feeling like a fool off to the side as an example of the disabled girl who didn't understand directions. It was humiliating.  I kept asking her if I could board and she kept waiving me off. Finally, another ramp agent walked passed me and I kindly asked if this flight would be preboarding. She informed me that preboarding has already taken place. I asked her if I could preboard eventhough my ticket said boarding group 4 and she said of course.  So I headed down the ramp. 

By the time I got on the plane it will very packed.  Some passengers boarding accidentally stepped on Charlie, which could have been avoided if I was allowed to board early.  As I was boarding the plane I was greated by a flight attendent.  I explained to her that I was unhappy with the ramp agent and told her what had happened, and instead of her being helpful or apologetic she gave me a fake plastic smile and said "oh no compassion?" I felt so stupid and frustrated. As I navigated my way to my seat I held up the line of other passengers for quite a while while I walked down the aisle, put my luggage away, and got my service dog situated.  By the time I was sitting down I was in tears. 

Thanks United for discriminating against a person with a disability and singling them out in front of a group of people.  It really helped me feel more like a freak than I already feel most of the time.  I don't know why this woman choose to single me out that day and make my life more difficult, but it was truly unfortunate.  Maybe she doesn't have to let me preboard, but I wasn't asking for much and I obviously needed assistance. My ticket was even marked as needing assistance.

I guess my advice to those traveling with a disability is to choose a different airline. I have had great customer service with Delta and Jet Blue. 

Here are a couple of interesting articles about how United Airlines has been accused of discriminating against those with disabilities.  Has anyone else had a problem? Please share.


http://consumerist.com/2010/04/united-flight-attendant-refuses-to-help-disabled-woman-with-bags.html


http://www.examiner.com/airline-industry-in-national/united-hit-with-another-viral-social-media-complaint-but-responds-quickly

Employee Disability Discrimination and United had to pay out $600,000

Here is a story about US Airlines telling a man he could not fly due to his disability

Flying with a Service Dog- Airport Potty Stations

I love flying out of Dulles Airport in Washington DC because they have 2 service dog potty stations right in the terminals. The one Charlie used was by gate D1 (between gate D and C) and I believe there is another one between gates A and B.

This potty station really helps out when we have a long flight ahead of us. Recently we went to Anaheim to go to Disneyland and the flight was 5 1/2 hours so it was great to potty Charlie right before we boarded the plane. I wish more airports would design a room like this for those traveling with a service dog.

Please Bless This Never Happens To Me

Today I was sitiing in class and my friend emailed me this.  I started laughing out loud-I should not have read it during class. Please read this story.  This dog looks to close to Charlie and if he did this I would die a thousand deaths.

 
First there was Steven Slater, the flight attendant who used an inflatable slide for his job walk-off. Now, the Steven Slater of dogs: a 12-pound Manchester terrier named Mandy who escaped her cage mid-air and went on a biting rampage.
Mandy was on a U.S. Airways flight from Phoenix to Newark when her sedatives wore off. Her owner's seatmate tried to soothe her, causing Mandy to fly into a rage: She broke free of her cage, bit the strange soothsayer, then raced up and down the aisle, eventually biting a flight attendant, causing the pilot to take an emergency landing in Pittsburgh "in the interest of safety."
That's nothing. I once rode an airplane with a class of adolescent boys who went on penis-punching rampage. Since they punched only one another, however, the flight carried on with only one warning from the pilot and a lot of passive-aggressive sighing from onlookers. If only you could stow children in little cases underneath the seat in front of you. [NYP, Image of non-violent Manchester terrier via dodsports' Flickr]

article found here.

Fun Dog-friendly Getaways

For all my readers out there that love to bring their four-legged friend with them when they travel, here is a post, courtesy of Sunset Magazine, about dog-friendly vacation ideas. Sunset Magazine it a fabulous magazine for the West Coast of the US and I absolutely love it and believe anyone who lives in the West should have a subscription to it.

Let's pack up the car and head out. Where should Charlie and I go? I vote Carmel as that is where I want to move.

• 

  Cannon Beach, OR

• 

  Loews Coronado Bay Resort, Coronado, CA

• 

  The Sunset Tower Hotel, Los Angeles

• 

  Orcas Island, WA

• 

  Santa Rita Lodge, near Tucson

• 

  Carmel, CA

• 

  Camp Canine, Santa Barbara

• 

  Dairydell Canine, Petaluma, CA

• 

  Dunham Cellars, Walla Walla, WA

• 

  Golden Gate National Rec Area, San Francisco

PS. Have a Happy Weekend!

Flying with Charlie

For the most part flying with Charlie is fairly easy. Most of the time the airport employees take the time to notice his bright red vest with "I am a Service Dog" patches on it and so they understand that he is a working dog and not a pet. Because Charlie is a service dog, he gets to fly on the airplane with me at my feet and he doesn't have to ride in a little dog bag. Most of the time he charms the hearts of the flight attendants and they bring him peanuts and water.

Once while flying from DC to Salt Lake City, my flight was severely delayed and Charlie desperately had to go to the bathroom. I didn't have time to go back outside past the security and then back through security. The ramp attendant for Delta was so helpful and he took Charlie and me down onto the tarmac so Charlie could do his business. The frustrating part was that Charlie didn't know what to do cause there was no grass around. Eventually he figured it out.  Dulles has a dog potty station in the airport. Check it out.

Charlie and I have flown on many different airlines. Jet Blue and Southwest have been the best and United Airlines the worst (read my United flying story frustration). I fly Delta a lot and they are always great too. Read my raving review about flying Southwest with Charlie.

We have flown together to DC, Portland, Chicago, Reno, Long Beach, LA, Salt Lake City, and New York. Here are a couple of great pics from some of our trips together.

The Grand Canyon


My friend Jo and Charlie in Portland, OR

Disneyland-Charlie hated Jesse

 
 

Chicago --- I rented a bike in Chicago to see the sights, but I had Charlie with me so I used the pashmina scarf I had and made a sling to carry him in. He absolutely loved it.

Charlie is the best traveling buddy. I will post more images of our trips and adventures.