You want to go on a flight with your service dog. You follow the
procedures getting all the information you may need ready. What do you
do when you're denied entry because your 'service dog' is just an
ordinary dog. Then you try another airline and the two of you are
allowed to fly without issue.
Would the ticket agent be skeptical of someone in a wheelchair? Using
American Sign Language?
A Continental Airline ticket agent did just that. A United airline
followed through and allowed the woman to fly with her service dog.
Continental has kind of admitted a mistake as they say the ticket
agent "failure to provide you with the correct information would be
considered a violation of federal disability law."
But Continental thinks the woman is a valuable customer and doesn't
want to lose her business as they "offered her a couple of coupons to
make good -- one for 10 percent off of a flight and another for a free
drink. She says she'll need to give them to a friend because she's
given up on flying for the time being."
Good job Continental. Hopefully this is an isolated incident and not
normal.
http://consumerist.com/2010/08/continental-refuses-to-believe-womans-service-dog-is-real.html
http://consumerist.com/2010/09/continental-sorta-apologizes-for-not-allowing-service-dog-on-flight.html