Airport drama over guide dog

[LazyLion]

A blind church minister has lodged a complaint against the Airports Company of SA (Acsa) because an official would not let his guide dog travel with him, Beeld reported on Friday.

Willem van Deventer, his wife Claire, and his dog Tonto almost missed a family wedding in Cape Town when an official at the OR Tambo International Airport would not let the dog fly with them.

When Van Deventer booked the flight in October last year the travel agent said there would be no additional rules relating to Tonto.

But an "arrogant and rude" official insisted on a health certificate and a certificate proving that the dog was registered with the SA Guide Dogs' Association.

Gail Glover, chairwoman of the association, intervened and the Van Deventers and Tonto were squeezed onto a later flight.

Acsa spokeswoman Unathi Batyashe-Fillis said the company had a policy that airlines should notify Acsa of the departure of animals two days before the flight.

The official had the right to invoke procedures but not in the way alleged, she said.

"His alleged behaviour is being investigated."


Source : Sapa /jje/jk
Date : 13 Feb 2015 08:13

 

[Albereth]

I was flying back from Cape Town on Wednesday and a rather wrinkly woman with a schnauzer headed up the priority boarding queue. I'm assuming Fido had a seat in the premium part of the plane.

 

[Budza]

*** travel agent too...

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

official didnt know the rules;

a guide dog surely has priority as a person cant see without one; wonder what they do to those people with companion animals?
get depressed if fido dosent come along; (thinking of a nice way to say "those" people......)

 

[Electron1]

Terrible. The travel agent should have advised Mr van Deventer to bring the dogs certificate with him, and should have checked a day or two before the flight that the guide dog was expected.

 

[FNfal]

Idiot official should be helpful not throw their weight around like an officious oaf .
I hope that official is proud of them-self upsetting a blind person . :wtf:

 

[Bryn]

Health and guide dog certificates seem like a perfectly reasonable requirement. The airport should have stood it's ground.

 

[WaxLyrical]

Was he flying to Kanses?

Just saying.

 

[Rocket Raccoon]

Was he flying to Kanses?

Just saying.

That's Toto. Tonto was the Lone Ranger's sidekick.