United Airlines Employees Abuse Disabled Veteran and His Service Dog

[Baz]

Paws and Stripes spokesman Jim Stanek tells his 3 day ordeal with United Airlines customer service.

Jim suffers from PTSD and TBI from his 3 combat tours in Iraq. The verbal abuse to him and the physical abuse to his service dog Sarge made it very difficult to function.

As a result Sarge is being evaluated to continue as a service dog and Jim is dealing with the emotional stress he endured.

Contact United Airlines if you want to voice your concern on how Jim and Sarge were treated.


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I watched the entire video - it's long - 18 minutes. I've flown before and never liked it......

I think United has a bad rep. too - what is that website called? Untied dot com?

Kicking a service dog - I would not have just "let it go" but also respect the man for his way of handling things under the circumstances.

[Joeaksa]

I will take the train before taking United... and this does not surprise me one bit.

[rouxroux]

I'm sort of glad that my Father passed away before he could see what happened to the once-great airline he devoted his life to. It's a crying shame what UAL became.

[masraum]

I didn't watch the video, but if you kick my dog they may have to pull me off of you before I kill you.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by masraum

I didn't watch the video, but if you kick my dog they may have to pull me off of you before I kill you.

Me too Steve....I'm sure I would have at the very least been arrested for assault and attempted murder. But not before the offender would have been disfigured for life. No one abuses my girls without MAJOR repercussions.

For that matter - no one abuses any animal when I am around without MAJOR repercussions.

They deserve advocates for all their goodness and purity. My God....the least we can do for all they do for us without expectation...

[Joe Bob]

While I commiserate with the vet and his problems....they really don't train, pay or have enough ground personnel to deal with the problems.

IMHO Continental is the worst.....at least historically.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

While I commiserate with the vet and his problems....they really don't train, pay or have enough ground personnel to deal with the problems.

IMHO Continental is the worst.....at least historically.

I'm all for "the people" to take action in situations like this. Considering how hallowed vets are in our society (not to mention animal/dog lovers) you'd think the fellow travelers would get involved in behalf of this man and his companion.

Whenever I see an injustice I get involved. Real fast - no hesitation. I wasn't there but wish I had been....especially when the guy's dog was kicked...

[djantlive]

it's a real shame. i don't fly united even though i accumulate most of miles on UA. getting stuck on tarmac, gates for extended amount of time really sucks too. US Air, Virgin, Delta don't have that. UA just don't care.

[stealthn]

OK I only watched part of it, but I gotta say I'm suspicious; what are the chances two different people on two different days would be surprised by a guide dog and kick it???

[Baz]

Originally Posted by stealthn

OK I only watched part of it, but I gotta say I'm suspicious; what are the chances two different people on two different days would be surprised by a guide dog and kick it???

It wasn't just 2 different people. It was 2 UA employees.... Huge difference there....

I wasn't there but I don't find it very hard to believe.

I don't fly much but when I have flown I can see where you are just a number to the airline - more or less. Cattle.....that need prodding at times. Or a good kick.

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by stealthn

OK I only watched part of it, but I gotta say I'm suspicious; what are the chances two different people on two different days would be surprised by a guide dog and kick it???

I'm not suspicious maybe, but when its just one guy sitting on a couch telling one side of a story, with no way to authenticate anything he says, it just doesn't carry much weight with me.

Disclaimer: I fast-forwarded quite a bit of it just to see its still just a guy sitting on a couch. I listened to a small minority of the video, and maybe missed some important info.

[Shuie]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

I will take the train before taking United... and this does not surprise me one bit.

+1

Worst airline I've ever flown with.

[stealthn]

If true I would be pissed, saying they were both United employees makes the odds of it happening even more unlikely.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by stealthn

If true I would be pissed, saying they were both United employees makes the odds of it happening even more unlikely.

Is your hypothesis that UA does such a great job of customer service training - the odds that there are 2 negative incidents are very low?

My theory is the UA culture does not reinforce positive customer service to any great extent - and therefore it's very likely this could have happened exactly the way this veteran reported.

What are others saying about UA's customer service record? That might help with our discussion.

I'll Google it...

United Airlines customer service complaints, reviews, ratings and comments

Merger pains for United Airlines cause customer woes - Chicago Tribune

Untied Airlines

Uh-oh......doesn't look too good for their customer service record.

[stealthn]

What i am saying is what are the odds in a public place like an airport, that someone would be startled and kick a dog, then what are the odds of doing the same with a guide dog. Then what are the odds at the same airport the very next day a completely separate person would do the exact same thing, then even factor in the odds that both those people work for the same company.

That's all I'm saying

If I saw anyone kick a guide dog for no reason, I would drop them in a heartbeat.

Bob James

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by ErasmoHar

I didn't watch the video

Sure is spammy in here today.

[Rot 911]

What do you expect when we have given up so much of our freedom in the name of security? We now have glorified stewardesses given the power to have us arrested when we show the least amount of displeasure on a plane.

[daepp]

Seems awfully suspicious to me. My bs detector is chirping here...

[aigel]

Going on a trip with your psycho meds in the checked luggage is a non-starter.

This guy scares me just watching the video - and it isn't just the shaved head and tats. I am sure if he goes non-linear, people will be freaked out. Any chance that played a role here? If I had those issues, I'd try not to look like I just climbed out of the cage fighting ring ...

I am sure the real story went a little different from his version. That said, I do appreciate that he is handicapped and messed up due to his military service. I am certain someone did him and his dog wrong, otherwise we would not have this conversation. If he was my brother or friend, I'd tell him to let me know the next time he travels. I'd accompany him.

G

[smokintr6]

I could go either way on this one, the guy seems pretty off center, however....
Based on his explanation, sarge is NOT a guide dog. It sounds like shes trained to position herself to keep people away from him to keep his PTSD down. If that's the case, Im not surprised that wothless people would kick her out of the way, especially if shes blocking a walk area in a crowded airport. My guess is that shes far more likely to be kicked than for example a seeing eye dog.