Travel Recap: Pt I: The Journey Begins
On the morning of June 23rd, I took a cab to Seatac airport, checked in at the counter -- a far more complicated process than it used to be since more and more check-ins are kiosk-based and those kiosks are not accessible, so I cannot check-in by myself. I had a disagreement with someone (who may or may not have worked for the airline) when I refused to hand over my work credit card for her to enter the number for me ("I'm sorry, I don't know you. I have no reason to trust you with this) -- but eventually I was assisted by a human being, who issued me a boarding pass and called to have me assisted to the gate. I was helped by an older gentleman who has helped me before; he seemed to remember that I liked to grab coffee before my flight (I swear, as ambivalent as I am about Starbucks, a well-funded Starbucks card is a real headache reducer while traveling, since I don't have to worry about identifying and counting cash while in those hectic coffee lines).
Everything seems fine and I sit and sip my coffee and wait for the pre-boarding announcement for my flight, that announcement that says that anyone who needs extra time can board the plane. Although I do not need extra time or help to walk down the jetway, the time is helpful when getting the dog situated under the plane seat. We have adequate time to get her in place while not inconveniencing other passengers by making obstacles of ourselves.
But there is no pre-boarding announcement, they start with first class and business travellers. I stand and approach the boarding area.
"Do you need help?"
"Don't you pre-board anymore?"
"There wasn't a note that you had a service dog. Can I see your boarding pass?"
I didn't think I needed to pre-identify myself for any of this and say so as I hand over the envelope.
"We had a plane change. We don't have a seat assignment for you. Hold on. Don't worry ..." said in a mildly patronizing tone. "We'll get this figured out for you."
"I need a window seat because of the dog." It is frequently believed that service dogs can and should ride only on the floor at the bulkhead of the plane (the first rows in each cabin.) Although this used to be suggested practice, it is no longer the case (because of inconsistencies in spacing of seats there and other safety concerns) and it has never been a hard and fast rule anywhere. The current recommendation from my guide dog school at least, is the non-bulkhead window seat. The dog can curl up under the seat in front of me (thereby taking up as little allotted regular leg room as possible), and does not risk getting stepped on by passengers stepping over her in the row, or by anybody in the aisle. This will become a recurring theme of the trip.
"There's no note that you had a service dog." (I didn't make this reservation, so I don't know how that happened. I am trying to be patient though.)
"Why was none of this caught when I checked in?"
"We don't know."
I am given an aisle seat near the back of the plane. They have oversold the flight by 18 seats (I expect that with the plane change what had been a slightly overbooked flight became a totally overbooked flight.) I am not happy, but am lucky to have a seat so try not to complain. Because I am one of the last people to board, my carry-on (at the largest capacity it will be at
for the entirety of the trip) needs to be checked -- an eventuality that I'd hoped against but was prepared for). With the flight continuing on to London after Chicago, and with the way things have started, I worry a little.
I sit and try to get Pepper to tuck in her paws and tail so they don't get run over by the beverage cart, and spend most of the flight to Chicago in a semi-doze, trying to be vigilant about making sure if anybody's toes get squished, they will be mine.
This is a government contract flight, so my row-mates are also federal employees, from the FAA and GAO. As it happens, the FAA guy had the window seat. If things hadn't been so hectic, and I'd been more on the ball, I wonder if I could have gotten him to switch seats with me.
TBC...
Everything seems fine and I sit and sip my coffee and wait for the pre-boarding announcement for my flight, that announcement that says that anyone who needs extra time can board the plane. Although I do not need extra time or help to walk down the jetway, the time is helpful when getting the dog situated under the plane seat. We have adequate time to get her in place while not inconveniencing other passengers by making obstacles of ourselves.
But there is no pre-boarding announcement, they start with first class and business travellers. I stand and approach the boarding area.
"Do you need help?"
"Don't you pre-board anymore?"
"There wasn't a note that you had a service dog. Can I see your boarding pass?"
I didn't think I needed to pre-identify myself for any of this and say so as I hand over the envelope.
"We had a plane change. We don't have a seat assignment for you. Hold on. Don't worry ..." said in a mildly patronizing tone. "We'll get this figured out for you."
"I need a window seat because of the dog." It is frequently believed that service dogs can and should ride only on the floor at the bulkhead of the plane (the first rows in each cabin.) Although this used to be suggested practice, it is no longer the case (because of inconsistencies in spacing of seats there and other safety concerns) and it has never been a hard and fast rule anywhere. The current recommendation from my guide dog school at least, is the non-bulkhead window seat. The dog can curl up under the seat in front of me (thereby taking up as little allotted regular leg room as possible), and does not risk getting stepped on by passengers stepping over her in the row, or by anybody in the aisle. This will become a recurring theme of the trip.
"There's no note that you had a service dog." (I didn't make this reservation, so I don't know how that happened. I am trying to be patient though.)
"Why was none of this caught when I checked in?"
"We don't know."
I am given an aisle seat near the back of the plane. They have oversold the flight by 18 seats (I expect that with the plane change what had been a slightly overbooked flight became a totally overbooked flight.) I am not happy, but am lucky to have a seat so try not to complain. Because I am one of the last people to board, my carry-on (at the largest capacity it will be at
for the entirety of the trip) needs to be checked -- an eventuality that I'd hoped against but was prepared for). With the flight continuing on to London after Chicago, and with the way things have started, I worry a little.
I sit and try to get Pepper to tuck in her paws and tail so they don't get run over by the beverage cart, and spend most of the flight to Chicago in a semi-doze, trying to be vigilant about making sure if anybody's toes get squished, they will be mine.
This is a government contract flight, so my row-mates are also federal employees, from the FAA and GAO. As it happens, the FAA guy had the window seat. If things hadn't been so hectic, and I'd been more on the ball, I wonder if I could have gotten him to switch seats with me.
TBC...