Gypsy Jan - 11-15-2013 at 02:54 PM
Original story as reported by Gawker.com: http://gawker.com/flight-canceled-after-passengers-protest-e...
"A U.S. Airways flight irways Express flight from Philadelphia to Long Island was canceled yesterday evening after passengers staged a protest against
the crew's ejection of a blind man over a dispute concerning his guide dog.
"According to ABC Action News, Albert Rizzi was told to keep his dog under the seat in front of him for the duration of the flight, per airline
regulations.
Rizzi says that, after the plane was delayed on the tarmac for over an hour, Doxy got restless, and "curled up under his legs."
US Airways claims Rizzi "became disruptive and refused to comply" when a flight attendant asked "to secure his service dog at his feet," which
resulted in the plane returning to the gate and Rizzi being removed.
But passenger Frank Ohlhorst remembers it differently.
"When we, the passengers, realized what was going on, we were, like, 'Why is this happening? He's not a problem. What is going on?'" he told ABC 6.
"And we all kind of raised our voices and said, 'This is a real problem.' The captain came out of the c-ckpit and he basically asked us all to leave
the aircraft."
US Airways subsequently canceled the entire flight and offered to bus passengers from Philadelphia to Islip, New York — a 3.5 hour drive away.
Rizzi, who accepted the offer, said he was "humbled" by the reaction of passengers who elected to join him.
"They could have stayed on the plane, but they chose not to," he said."
OK, last year hubby flew to Merida in the Yucatan from Tijuana, changing planes in Mexico City.
His Great Dane Service dog was given his own seat alongside him FOR FREE forward enough in the plane to accommodate his sitting strapped in for
take-off and landings and room enough in the front of the seat for the dog to lie down on the floor once airborne.
Hubby was met in Mexico City by airport personnel who had a wheelchair for him and they rolled him onward to his connecting flight's gate area. The
dog, glad to stretch legs after the long time in air, trotted happily alongside and they made sure he could do his business before boarding the next
flight.
BajaBlanca - 11-15-2013 at 04:01 PM
Who would've guessed..... I am on a rampage right now because yesterday and today, I found 3 dogs here in town absolutely boiling in the full sun.
No water.
I get so upset and they look at me like I am nuts because I don't leave til the dogs are moved.
So much education lacking here ))):
and I guess in the airline industry too.
wessongroup - 11-15-2013 at 04:13 PM
Saw the story ... pretty hard to imagine ... on both stories
Hi, wessongroup
Gypsy Jan - 11-15-2013 at 04:42 PM
The first story was reported by ABC News yesterday or the day before. I haven't seen any retractions.
The hubby-to-Merida-with-dog story is his reporting to me.
elgatoloco - 11-15-2013 at 05:50 PM
"became disruptive and refused to comply"
nuf said. 
mtgoat666 - 11-15-2013 at 06:42 PM
air travel on most airlines is just an all around disappointing and often unpleasant experience