Hi Reddit,
Yesterday I flew back home using a mid budget airline (I’m not gonna name them yet). I was travelling between EU countries with my assistance dog and had all my documents prepared and sent beforehand since this is their process. My dog, F 30kg Labradore Retriever, was approved and added as an accommodation to my tickets. On the flight there it was a full flight and they couldn’t give me an extra seat (they apologised when boarding; I never asked) for her (I have no issues with that; she can fit in the foot space of my seat). On the way back at the airport a manager came to me to tell me he made it happen that my dog gets her own foot space even that being a full flight, and told me next time I buy her a ticket to secure a second seat. I thanked him for the seat, and I said that I don’t mind travelling with shared foot space, since that’s how we usually travel. He told me that he had an issue with her travelling in a shared foot space. I asked him to write it down and sign it, but he refused. The discussion is over.
That didn’t sit right with me. On their website is stated that assistance dogs travel free of charge regardless the size of the dog. On the forms that I sign, there’s a clause stating “My dog fits in the foot space of my seat”. I am well informed that the default is her travelling in my seat. So I wrote to the airline explaining the whole situation and how if their staff deemed that she won’t fit in a shared foot space, it’s not my responsibility to pay for an extra ticket since on their website it’s stated that assistance dogs travel for free. Furthermore, I didn’t ask for this, it was made happen without them ever consulting me.
A day later (after a good sleep) I feel like I might have over reacted by reporting him. So Reddit, AITA for reporting an airline employee for telling me to buy an extra ticket for my assistance dog on my next trip?
EDIT: The foot space dimensions given by the airline are 68cm x 40cm x 23cm. My dog nose to tail base is 70cm.
NTA if the airline staff member is going directly against airline policy that’s something that needs to be addressed.
INFO I’m concerned about a 30kg dog being in the foot space of an airline seat row because those spaces are incredibly tight especially for this sized dog. Do you sit next to the window so your dog does not obstruct the other passengers in your row from getting in and out? If you do not sit next to the window, aren’t you concerned with your dog getting trampled when your fellow passengers want to get out of their seat. The safety implications are very concerning. It’s like someone shoving their back back in that space and you’re not allowed to do that because of safety reason mentioned above. What airline offers this appalling service? (edited for clarity)
From experience with said airline: every trip I was either given an extra window seat for my dog or I was seated on a window seat with her (I’ve never had issues with them before), so there are some safety rules implemented. Usually if they cannot provide a seat we are seated in either bulkhead or business class (business class of this airline just has extra seat space it’s nothing special; ofc we don’t benefit from anything else business class offers like free wi-fi, meal, drinks). I’d rather not shame them yet, since I’m not sure was I in the wrong…
NTA you were not in the wrong!!! My daughter has a guide dog and honestly the amount of shit we’ve went through with rude ignorant people!!!
You should have absolutely reported him!!!
No – you have a service animal. You were not in the wrong.
The airlines are the ones ordering these planes with less and less room for each seat while also making tickets more and more expensive with all their additional fees.
They need to consider service animals and people with disabilities but they don’t care. It’s absolutely not your fault.
These airlines thinks we should sit in each other’s laps for hundreds of dollars and be thankful.
Can you suggest another solution? People with accessibility needs also need to travel. Why would someone trample a dog, rather than ask someone to move the dog momentarily so they can get out of the seat? These animals are usually well trained.
This is why the law exists. To protect the right of those with accessibility needs to travel just like anyone else can, albeit with constant admin and bs to deal with
NTA
Always advocate for you and your service dog if you can do so safely. Because you don’t know when you’ll have to deal with that same employee again (nothing is impossible, people move) and because it makes life a little easier for other people with service dogs (not your job, of course, but nice).
I have a service dog and live in a somewhat rural area. Every time I go out without someone approaching my dog I know it’s because other people explained the reasoning. Because other people had to show the law, over and over, for their dogs to be allowed in. Because other people normalized service animals.
So, if we safely can, I think we should all advocate for each other so the next person doesn’t run into the same bully and you don’t accidentally run into him again!
Knowing how small the space under your feet and the seat in front of you is, YTA. Can’t imagine a labrador fitting there properly and being happy. Maybe that is the reason they came to you. Because they doubt your dog fits in the space.
NTA. Disabled people face this BS day in and day out and you saved the next person who may not be as clear on the regulations and laws as you are, and may not be as emotionally able to face it as you seem to be, from illegal harassment.
Budget airlines with small foot area can’t be much room for an adult lab, I feel like he could have been concerned that you were ok with your dog being under the seat in that small space.
NTA. Their policy is clear on their website. The employee was in the wrong and it is a good thing to call them out on it. This was the employee can be told off and hopefully doesn’t repeat this behaviour.
Virgin Australia give you a seat for free for your Service Dog. You pay for yours but they give you the seat next to you as allocated space for your dog as the foot well may not be big enough
NAH. You should be able to travel with a legitimate assistance dog as part of your single ticket, but the airline crew are also right to be concerned about a 30kg dog in the footwell, especially if there’s an emergency.
That’s not a criticism of you or your dog, btw.
NTA.
Don’t feel bad. Theyll get corrected and that’s that. This is the EU so nobody is getting fired or punished over this. (Unless it’s a recurring problem and the employee has refused to improve after being given the chance.)