Crackdown on Service Animal Frauds on Delta

[Semiologist]

Someone at Delta finally came to their senses. Unfortunately it won't be long before this new rule goes to court.

http://www.newsweek.com/delta-airli...eing-brought-airplanes-service-animals-785819

 

[seminole4life1]

Great, now crack down on the fake wheelchair folks getting priority boarding- not a huge deal for airlines that have assigned seats but always amazes me that 10-15 people need wheelchairs for all my Southwest airlines flights.

 

[ZZ828]

Long overdue. Get a letter from a doctor and you’re good. That’s not asking much.

 

[Fijimn]

Great, now crack down on the fake wheelchair folks getting priority boarding- not a huge deal for airlines that have assigned seats but always amazes me that 10-15 people need wheelchairs for all my Southwest airlines flights.

At least they have cracked down on letting the entire family on with grandma in the wheel chair. I was flying out of Chicago and the gate agent was letting groups of 5 and 7 on with the wheel chair.

 

[seminole97]

Long overdue. Get a letter from a doctor and you’re good. That’s not asking much.

From the article:
“In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, one cannot demand identification from someone to prove that their pet is a service animal, making it simple for people to claim their untrained pet is allowed on a plane outside its carrier.”

IBTL?

 

[LesClaypool]

Few things anger me more than those frauds.

Guy brought a German Shepherd on a recent flight and called it an emotional support dog...and then that behemoth dog (who thank goodness was well behaved and patient as can be) is supposed to try and fit underneath the seat without disrupting other passengers’ space?! Gimme a break.

There needs to be a size limit on these animals, in addition to the other hoops to jump through already listed in the article. Sure, have an “emotional support animal”...just make sure it’s under 25 lbs. Doesn’t seem unreasonable.

 

[OrlandNole]

Few things anger me more than those frauds.

Guy brought a German Shepherd on a recent flight and called it an emotional support dog...and then that behemoth dog (who thank goodness was well behaved and patient as can be) is supposed to try and fit underneath the seat without disrupting other passengers’ space?! Gimme a break.

There needs to be a size limit on these animals, in addition to the other hoops to jump through already listed in the article. Sure, have an “emotional support animal”...just make sure it’s under 25 lbs. Doesn’t seem unreasonable.

Or buy another ticket for your best friend.

What happens when one of the airlines gets their ass sued because another passenger is attacked. I bet we'll see stricter flying rules.

 

[Semiologist]

Or buy another ticket for your best friend.

What happens when one of the airlines gets their ass sued because another passenger is attacked. I bet we'll see stricter flying rules.

It's already happened. 28 stitches.
http://www.ajc.com/travel/delta-pas...-escape-says-attorney/nYtlgO1rGbVMv68XekCWUL/

 

[NDallasRuss]

From the article:
“In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, one cannot demand identification from someone to prove that their pet is a service animal, making it simple for people to claim their untrained pet is allowed on a plane outside its carrier.”

IBTL?

Besides, even if you could ask for a letter from a doctor, the same people that buy the fake "service dog" vests for their dogs would also just get a fake doctor's letter. The airline isn't going to be able to verify the letters anyway.

I think maybe the ADA language needs to be revisited to compensate for the reality that some people are just dishonest and always try to take advantage of others' good intentions.

 

[phideltflg]

Seriously a fraud. My wife and I were traveling on Delta recently. We both got first class upgrades, but our seats were separated. She ended up next to a guy with a German Shepherd “support dog”. She spent half the flight trying to keep the dog from jumping into her lap. Thankfully, the dog was sweet, but not at all trained, especially for a five hour flight from Honolulu to LA.

 

[seminole97]

Seriously a fraud. My wife and I were traveling on Delta recently. We both got first class upgrades, but our seats were separated. She ended up next to a guy with a German Shepherd “support dog”. She spent half the flight trying to keep the dog from jumping into her lap. Thankfully, the dog was sweet, but not at all trained, especially for a five hour flight from Honolulu to LA.

My mom worked in a vet’s office for years as a tech and in the back office. German Shepherds are among the most unpredictable.

 

[FSU_UCLA]

ESAs are one of the very few aspects of my job that really annoys me. It’s utter chaos with very little professional guidance or regulation. We have had to establish a special in-house committee that meets weekly to deal with all of the letter requests. Just last week, we were dealing with a guy who wanted to be allowed to keep his emotional support snake in the residence hall.

 

[F4Gary]

I've had a "support" parrot and a "support" monkey among the various dogs and cats on my flights.

 

[LesClaypool]

I've had a "support" parrot and a "support" monkey among the various dogs and cats on my flights.

That's incredible. A monkey?

 

[FSU_UCLA]

I've had a "support" parrot and a "support" monkey among the various dogs and cats on my flights.

I haven’t had a monkey yet, but I did have a support tortoise, a support sugar glider, and a support cockatoo in the last year.

 

[seminoledq]

I have status on Southwest but they still won't let me bring a "support female midget" on the plane to store under the seat.

 

[Semiologist]

I have status on Southwest but they still won't let me bring a "support female midget" on the plane to store under the seat.

Do you have proof of ownership of said "support being"?

 

[PoopandBoogers]

Here is an emotional support duck.

 

[TexSkills]

Wish they would crack down on people who have those blue handicapped parking tags that hang from your rearview mirror. I know two people that have them that shouldn't.

 

[NDallasRuss]

I have status on Southwest but they still won't let me bring a "support female midget" on the plane to store under the seat.

Was she wearing the vest though?

**Coincidentally, a google image search for "dwarf leash" returns the following, and bunch of similar results:

 

[cfbfan23]

Seriously a fraud. My wife and I were traveling on Delta recently. We both got first class upgrades, but our seats were separated. She ended up next to a guy with a German Shepherd “support dog”. She spent half the flight trying to keep the dog from jumping into her lap. Thankfully, the dog was sweet, but not at all trained, especially for a five hour flight from Honolulu to LA.

At least you didn’t have to sit next to it.

All animals should be kept with the luggage. Exception for seeing-eye dogs.

 

[LesClaypool]

Here is an emotional support duck.

 

[DFSNOLE]

Or buy another ticket for your best friend.

What happens when one of the airlines gets their ass sued because another passenger is attacked. I bet we'll see stricter flying rules.

Even more common, what if another passenger has allergies?

 

[Semiologist]

Even more common, what if another passenger has allergies?

The passenger with the allergies gets bumped. Can't argue with a law.

 

[travnole]

The airlines can't seem to figure out (or show any desire to) enforce overdimensional carry-on luggage, how do you expect them to figure this out?

 

[PoopandBoogers]

Thats awesome. Cant really get mad at that one.

 

[Semiologist]

I think that duck is thinking, "I can fly on my own. Why am I stuck in this?......AFLAC...."

 

[ggmike1992]

I have status on Southwest but they still won't let me bring a "support female midget" on the plane to store under the seat.

What about the overhead storage?

 

[DFSNOLE]

The passenger with the allergies gets bumped. Can't argue with a law.

Really? I had no idea that a passenger with an allergy to pet dander would be the one negatively affected by someone who insist little Fi-Fi is a service dog.

 

[OrlandNole]

I think I shared this with you before, but Ashley Judd goes to my gym and is allowed to bring her emotional support dog everywhere, including the wellness floor. I've done spin class with Ashley and Shug.

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

Real service dogs are amazing animals, but I'm not buying the whole ESA scam. I'd ban them from traveling in the cabin.

We saw a lady at the airport the other day chatting on the phone while her dog took a monster piss on the concourse floor. My wife let her have it.

 

[Fijimn]

My niece is at ODU getting a degree in training service animals. She told me that only ODU and Utah St. offer a 4 year degree. She has very strong opinions about people abusing a type of therapy that she strongly believes in.

 

[NDallasRuss]

My niece is at ODU getting a degree in training service animals.

This seems like something better suited to a vocational school than to a university!

 

[Fijimn]

This seems like something better suited to a vocational school than to a university!

Why? I believe it's a research science? Probably a little more technical than becoming a "life coach"

 

[F4Gary]

I think I shared this with you before, but Ashley Judd goes to my gym and is allowed to bring her emotional support dog everywhere, including the wellness floor. I've done spin class with Ashley and Shug.

She needs one because as it helps her deal with being a dirty woman.

 

[Nole Lou]

Really? I had no idea that a passenger with an allergy to pet dander would be the one negatively affected by someone who insist little Fi-Fi is a service dog.

Absolutely. You might end up on a list too, if you complain about it too much. So the person with the real malady (allergies) is removed from the flight to accommodate the person with a fake malady.

 

[cfbfan23]

The passenger with the allergies gets bumped. Can't argue with a law.

The person with allergies is supposed to report their condition to

I think I shared this with you before, but Ashley Judd goes to my gym and is allowed to bring her emotional support dog everywhere, including the wellness floor. I've done spin class with Ashley and Shug.

Having seen her cheering on Kentucky B-ball, I really really hope she spends a lot of time wiping down the equipment after she's done with her workout.

 

[goldmom]

Wish they would crack down on people who have those blue handicapped parking tags that hang from your rearview mirror. I know two people that have them that shouldn't.

I'd just like to clarify I'm not one of those people, okay?

 

[seminoledq]

What about the overhead storage?

Then I would lose the benefits of her being on the floor in front of me.

 

[TexSkills]

Wish they would crack down on people who have those blue handicapped parking tags that hang from your rearview mirror. I know two people that have them that shouldn't.

I'd just like to clarify I'm not one of those people, okay?

No, you're not but you know who I'm talking about