Airline 'erred' On Aid Dog

[Baby Dragon]

TIGER Airways has admitted it blundered, again, after it told a disabled woman she couldn't fly on the airline because it does not carry medical-alert dogs.

The disabled woman complained to the Human Rights Commission after she was told the only assistance dogs the airline allowed were seeing-eye dogs - a stance that is at odds with the airline's own policy published on its website.

Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes warned that airlines faced government regulation if they did not establish plans covering disabled travellers' needs.

It is the latest incident in what is fast forming a pattern, after a series of recent complaints that have involved Tiger, Jetstar and Qantas baulking at carrying assistance dogs.

In this latest case, the woman booked a return flight between Melbourne and Queensland using the internet, and rang Tiger to explain that she would be flying with her medical-alert dog.

Her dog is registered as an assistance dog and is cleared to fly by aviation authorities.

But Tiger staff told her that only seeing-eye dogs were allowed, and she was denied the right to speak to a manager.

Tiger Airways Australia's commercial director Steve Burns admitted staff got the airline's policy advice wrong, describing the mistake as a misunderstanding and a ''communication error that caused confusion''.

The airline had apologised to the woman and said it would honour the booking.

Mr Innes said some airlines were slow to fix problems.

''We have seen incidents of inappropriate and undignified treatment of people with disability by airlines feature in the media during the past month, and they are only the tip of the iceberg,'' he said.

Mr Burns said Tiger would take ''immediate action to remind our staff and business partners of our policies'' and is introducing better training for its staff.

http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-new...91222-lbqr.html

[WreckitWhippet]

I wonder if it was one of those self-badged, home trained "assistance dogs" that are popping up on a regular basis

[frufru]

and I quote: "Her dog is registered as an assistance dog and is cleared to fly by aviation authoirities"

[persephone]

Her dog is registered as an assistance dog and is cleared to fly by aviation authorities.

And the staff of the airlines should be educated

[poochmad]

Her dog is registered as an assistance dog and is cleared to fly by aviation authorities.

And the staff of the airlines should be educated

Agree.