The southern holiday was supposed to be autumn’s warm and bright experience for blind Hege Nordset Blichfeldt and guide dog Loki.
But the guide dog did not get a place on the Norwegian flight back to Norway after the week-long stay in Albir. Now they have to go on a very long detour to get home to Asker.
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Hege Nordset Blichfeldt and her husband Richard traveled last week on what was supposed to be a week-long trip to Albir, about six miles north of Alicante in Spain. The return journey was supposed to be on Monday evening, November 13. It won’t be like this. More on that a little later.
Important travel companion
Along for the journey is, as always, the guide dog Loki, who in practice is like Hege’s eyes. She was born blind after wrongful treatment immediately after birth.
– Having a guide dog is absolutely necessary for me. And Loki has taken part in countless journeys both in Norway and abroad. There has never been a problem – until now, Blichfeldt tells DinSide.
Norwegian’s rules
This is what Norwegian writes on its website:
Service dogs and service dogs in training can travel for free in the cabin on most of our flights. It is easy to book a seat for the service dog online or at customer service, or to add it to an existing booking. We recommend that you book at least 48 hours before departure to be sure that we have space. Different conditions will apply depending on the type of service the animal provides and where you are travelling.
(Source: Norwegian)
Sea view
She confirms that they had problems when booking the ticket because the check mark that she must bring a so-called “service dog” disappeared when they had to click back and forth on the website.
This was sorted out at Norwegian’s service desk. They had to arrange the return themselves. And this is where it went wrong. The option to check off had been removed.
– We have tried for several days to add an order for a “service dog” or guide dog that I like to call Loki, but without success.
Full on board
I therefore chose to call the airline.
– On the phone with Norwegian’s call centre, we learned that two dogs had already been booked in the cabin on the return journey for which we had bought tickets.
And we were told that they cannot bring a third dog.
OUT ON TOUR: Richard and Hege Nordset Blichfeldt and guide dog Loki on holiday in Albir in Spain. Photo: Private Show more
They do not distinguish between a so-called purse dog and a guide dog. I find this very unfortunate.
– Loki is a dog that costs over NOK 400,000, and cannot be sent in the hold. Since he is a guide dog, he must be next to me at all times, and either lie at my feet or in a seat next to me. Having a large poodle on your lap for four hours is not an option on the flight, says Blichfeldt.
This is a service dog
A service dog is someone who has been specially trained to help a person with a disability. Service dogs can include guide dogs, hearing dogs and other service dogs that are trained to help people who use wheelchairs, have autism, need balance assistance or help with various other conditions such as seizures, low blood sugar or impaired mental health.
(Source: Norwegian’s rules about service dogs) Sea view
Guide dog fixed before the journey home
– Now we are firmly established as guide dogs in Spain. I have never heard of this before. Being blind is not something you choose to be. Therefore, I think this is poor treatment from Norwegian, she says.
Norwegian responds to the reaction from the passenger:
– There are international rules which mean that we cannot bring a third dog in the cabin. Unfortunately, the rules do not distinguish between which dog it is, says senior communications advisor, Eline Hyggen Skari, in Norwegian.
– We cannot make an exception to the international rules, and it is therefore very important that you tick the box for service dog when ordering the tickets, says Skari.
Long journey home
Richard and Hege had to choose another solution for the journey home with Loki.
They drop the direct route from Alicante to Oslo, but fly via Helsinki in Finland on Wednesday. There will be an overnight stay in a hotel for the trio before they travel on to Oslo the next day.
Hello, my name is Odd Roar Lange and I am a travel expert and journalist for DinSide and Dagbladet. Do you have a tip about traveling with a dog and want to tell your story on Norway’s largest consumer website DinSide.no? Or do you have an experience, a question or a smart suggestion that others should get to know?
2023-11-14 09:32:07
#Guide #dog #fast #South
