Quote:
Originally Posted by 36Monsters
While trying to fly back home for Christmas, I found out, rather unfortunately, that Southwest Airlines is not therapy dog friendly, regardless of what the law says!
I made it all the way to Oakland California from Burbank with my dog, my letters from my doctor, my military ID, and all his applicable paperwork...but the airlines would not let me continue on to Boise, Idaho! Worse still was that they absolutely refused to let me make other arrangements with Southwest...
So, there I was, at ten at night, with no other flights leaving to Idaho until the next morning. I had to rebook through Delta, find a hotel for the night, and make sure that I was able to get back to the airport the NEXT morning to make my flight!
Southwest, the entire time, claimed that I had never shown them proof of my dogs paperwork and that I had been "Sneaking" him on board and that he was a disruption to passengers (which is bull puckey as he was NEVER out of his carrier while on the flight and had been sedated and was sleeping). OUTRAGEOUS! I had ALL his paperwork, had been CLEARED through Burbank, and had spoken with numerous gate agents along the way, all who assured me I was fine!
JUST AN FYI...Southwest has had a history of unreasonable removals of passengers from their flights...from people with wardrobe the airlines felt was inappropriate all the way to a poor man with Autism who was not only kicked off, but shuttled for 12 hours on various flights around the country while his frantic family tried to track him down!
When we spoke with Southwest representatives concerning this matter they said that it was against their policies to allow any animals on their planes, regardless of the reason. When I quoted the laws as outlined by the Americans With Disabilities Act as well as the medical documentation as supplied by the VFW, the response was "Well, you don't look like you have any disabilities..." Apparently you have to be physically disabled to be allowed by Southwest, and even that is probably a big IF.
I am an Afghanistan/Iraq war veteran with diagnosed bipolar and post traumatic stress syndrome. My dog is an emotional support dog who not only helps me with flying but from reoccuring night terrors and panic attacks. He has, on one very serious occasion, saved my life. This dog is NOT A PET, he is my life line.
Boycot Southwest. Fly Delta.
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Hi 36Monsters....
As the spouse of a retired Delta pilot, I appreciate your sentiments about Delta. Boycotting Southwest is not the answer. But...there are things you can do to help enlighten them!
Having travelled a lot both with and without pets, I am quite familiar with each airline's policy regarding pets (I also live in Boise!). Southwest has never allowed animals aboard any of their flights regardless of the status. I am surprised you were allowed to bring your dog onboard at all.
I certainly hope you have written letters to Southwest Management regarding the treatment you received. The best way to address the situation with the airline is to state the facts - the dates and times of your flights, the airports you were in and if you have the names of any of the employees you encountered that would greatly help your cause.
If you and your therapy dog were allowed on one flight that should have set the stage for the remaider of your flights. The supervisors should have realized that and not hassled you on the last leg of your flight.
I wish you luck in recuping the costs of your delay in returning home. It's these types of situations that give traveling with therapy/assistance animals a bad name.