Flying with a Large Service Dog | American Airlines and Spirit Airlines
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- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
- I recently flew with my service dog on American Airlines and on Spirit Airlines. We want to share our experience as a service dog team on these airlinesI recently flew with my service dog on American Airlines and on Spirit Airlines. We want to share our experience as a service dog team on these airlines. Overall, flying with a service dog on American Airlines was a pretty average experience, and flying with a service dog on Spirit Airlines was FULL of challenges. Southwest Airlines will ALWAYS be our favorite choice for flying with a large service dog.
Bailey is a large service dog, weighing roughly 70 lbs. Any clips or photos of her on the plane are representative of her size and tucking skills, but not all service dogs will fit in the same way. Also, not every service dog team on a plane will experience things the same way, so we can only speak to our personal experience with these airlines.
Have questions, comments, or suggestions? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below! If you want to see more from us, subscribe for more videos!
Follow Bailey on Instagram:
@baileytheservicepupper
baileytheservicepupper
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Future handler here (currently in the application process) whose dog will most likely be a lab or golden. Having a printout with you of the airline's service dog policy can also be helpful if you end up with an employee who doesn't know the rules, isn't following the rules, or is following them but is still giving you a hard time. Same goes for other disability policies if using other/additional mobility equipment/have other disabilities that require accommodations/assistance when flying - I did that the first time I flew with a higher end wheelchair (inherited my grandma's folding custom wheelchair), and it's a good thing I did (I printed both the airline's policy and the specific ACAA section regarding it, and highlighted the relevant lines), because there were some gate agents who weren't familiar with the rules for stowing a folding wheelchair in the cabin - all I had to do was hand them the printout so they could read it.
Wish I could take my pick of airlines, but only one of them services my home airport, and the next closest airport is further away than I can drive by myself (and I live and fly alone, so no backup driver), so that one airline it is. Thankfully, they've been fairly good so far the last 6 years of me flying with my wheelchair, and I know both their and TSA's policies and rules for service animals (and I'll carry printouts of both of them, and possibly the ADA and ACAA sections, if needed - relevant lines highlighted - with me when flying after I get my dog), so I'm as prepared as I can get right now on that particular front.
Spirit and frontier are absolutely awful for able bodied people, much less those of us with disabilities. You are so much calmer than I think I could’ve been. I’m 6’4” so I’m already crushed without the dog much less the disrespect. I’m already self conscious about asking for help with my disability so when I do and it’s met with disrespectful resentment it wrecks me. Thanks so much for advocating!
You are EXCEPTIONALLY diplomatic in your criticism! You were sooooo much more pleasant than I would have been…..
I flew southwest and jet blue last year with my service dog for the first time. Southwest was amazing! Jet blue was fine once I got past the ticket counter. At the time, my service dog still used a kennel for certain things like eating her food and my dad also had an older dog at the house and I wanted to be able to give him a break from my young German shepherd who could play all day long. I was told that "service dogs don't need kennels" and I would have to pay to fly it and I said "well she is a service dog and she has one so obviously some service dogs do need kennels and it will be considered medical equipment. If you go ahead and call your supervisor they will tell you the same thing." After I mentioned calling her supervisor she just changed her mind and checked it in like it was nothing. (Btw it was a travel kennel that folded up and fit into a travel bag, while it was the same size as a folded up large/x- large kennel it weighed almost nothing)
The "call your supervisor" line is a good fix haha. It sucks that they gave you so much trouble over the kennel... as if they know more about SDs than you and the law. Glad it worked out in the end though!
@@baileytheservicepupper me too! Haha
Can I ask where you got the large travel kennel?
@@perdybirdie I get mine from amazon
Thank you for this video. I'm picking up my new SD early 2022 so I've been doing research on the best airlines for SD travel. It's helpful to hear your experience since I'll be flying across the country and already have a horrible fear of flying. I probably would have burst into tears if an attendant spoke to me that way. I'm glad you and Bailey did well.
I'm glad I could help! I also just posted a new video on some changes to the DOT rules when flying with a SD if you are interested. I hope your flying experience goes smoothly and without incident!
How did it go?
@@SnowySpiritRuby things were going great then my prospect developed Evans syndrome. If she recovers, she'll be able to work. It's still too early to tell.
You are the sweetest most patient human being. I’m flustered when flying and would have both snapped back at the flight attendant and probably cried. I’m looking at getting a service dog and your poise and bravery to face some tough situations gives me the belief I can handle it too. Thank you for your videos! What type of dog is Bailey?
So I have a Great Dane service dog. How do you train your dog to fly?
Thank you so much for your info. I am flying with my service Dog Barkley and it’s great to know Southwest is the best offer. I have 2 more little dogs flying also as we are relocating to Florida. I read that Southwest allow 2 digs in a carrier if they fit in. So I will have my friend to fly with us or even have a 3rd person to help só each person would have one dog and I would be with Barkley. I am a little nervous about this trip. Is there any suggestions on how I can make it smoother ? Thank you.
Thank you for the video. I love your sparkling smiles you are amazing ...you make our lives easier...never traveled on airplane with my service girl. She's a big girl 4yrs old now got her year ago trained professionally as sd. She's 79lbs Am Pit terrier super super intelligent probably smarter than most humans kinda scary she doesn't act like a d o g more human than most humans except loyal and knows how to deal with my disability . Anyways if I had to fly with her would need legroom and hope my husband would go with if we had to. Probably would either fly from Orlando Fl or tampa fl to LA or Denver or chicago. I think southwest would be my pick also ..spirit with large seat would be next ...but she's never flown on plane and don't know how she would react. Should we get her relax pills ? first time could be interesting ...I know I take air sick pill but fall asleep with them or use rx patch works better ...I am worried ..maybe more economical way to fly is spirit with big seat do they have more legroom? again you are amazing and appreciate your kindness smiles.
"Bargain" airlines are NEVER a bargain.
Not that high prices guarantee quality service, but low prices ALWAYS equal LOW service.
I would've reported that flight attended!
I've actually heard about a lot of people having these same kinds of issues that are traveling with service dogs from specifically Spirit Airlines it's not the fact that she was having a badd day it's the fact that they specifically harass service dog handlers.
That's such a bummer to learn. I definitely will be avoiding them whenever possible now!
Yeah I wouldn’t recommend spirit if your travelling with a service animal their very unhelpful and uneducated on them and don’t like to accommodate disabled people
Yea that's definitely the perception they gave me! Super unhelpful
Loved the video I'm new to flying and have not taken my first trip yet very nervous about it my sd has not been on a plane before but dont mind elevators hope that's a plus.
So I’m going to Puerto Rico and getting a chihuahua what are some tips Im going to get the dog a collar for calming him down so he doesn’t bark a lot bc chihuahuas tend to bark a lot
I just booked with American airlines and she asked for a service dog number. So I told her I have my doctors letter I have public access and his shots. Im so scared to travel with my boy cause he's a mobility dog so he's big
Please can you keep me updated? We are traveling with our big boy too at the end of the year. I’m so nervous about being stopped or rude people 🥺
@gizzelle
@@michaeletherington1499 the flight ended up canceled due to a hurricane and I decided to drive.
After the DOT form is submitted and approved online do you still have to go to the front desk and check them in?
Thank you for this video, Sara! I was going to pay for the bulk head seat right behind first class, but based on your video, would I be able to get this upgrade free of cost due to the need for space for the SD?
What medical equipment bag do you use? Can you make a video on what you include in it, how you pack it, where you take it etc?
Thank you for this video! I am flying American next month and was getting a little anxious. :-)
I hope we were able to help! Good luck on your flight next month!
How did it go?
Hello, we are going to be picking up our new puppies from NYC and they are German Shepherd pups they are 4or5 months old how would we get them home we do have airline crates for them they will be service dogs when they are grown and fully trained but how would we get them home?
I hope you filed a complaint against that flight attendant
my mom works for american and that is not the airlines fult it is the people who work there because they should know how to do this.
Do you have any tips on crate training?
I crate trained Bailey using Kongs with frozen soaked kibble in it. Those really draw her attention for a long time. First we tried it with the door open and put them back in there when she tried to take them out. Then we closed the door and I was there. Then we closed the door and i was gone for short periods of time. Then I would be gone for longer periods of time or we would do it with no kong. We also made crate a command and made it a comfy place that is HERS so she'll even go there on her own if she needs some her time.
They thought the pre-board people were still on the plane from the last flight... This is why everyone says always use Southwest, most of the other airlines are, well, stupid (btw, it wasn't the time of day, they are always that stupid). The (few) good people from these other airlines wind up at Southwest eventually. You don't even want to get me started on Spirit (which is most likely the worst airline operating within the US). The worst of the worst wind up working there (it wasn't a bad day, they are that horrid everyday).
I totally agree that southwest is the best. I'll be avoiding all the others after this!!
wow I hope you can report her wtf even if she has a bad day is not a reason to act like that. thank you for the video I'm planning to fly with my service dog for the first time so I need to know how is everything
At least you didn’t fly United airlines
What's United like? Reason I ask is that because of where I live, United is my only option if I'm going to fly.
What do you use your service dog for?
We are going to be flying with Delta airlines.
Your experience is enough to make me cry and panic… that’s why I need my psd. This is my husbands account/wife typing. If someone is this rude I will flip.
I was going to say that if that was my sister she would’ve gone into a whole panic attack and the situation and experience would have been much worse! I would’ve complained like mad to the manager of Spirit for HORRIBLE customer service! There is no reason to treat anyone like that. You have and need to be professional.
Spirit sounds awful. I would have recorded her. She needs to check her attitude.