I'm glad you had a nice trip. Let me ask you a question off topic. Did the dog fly in the regular cabin with you? and when you were in your hotel, was it a special room? The reason I ask is because I have severe allergy induced asthma. One of my allergies is Dogs. This is a little concerning to me that I could be in the cabin of a plane near a dog or in a room that just had a dog in it. I don't just get a little sniffle or itchy eyes. I will wheeze, cough and get really sick.
Yes, by law SDs fly in the cabin on the floor at their disabled human's feet. They are also allowed in public places such as hotels, restaurants, stores, groceries, Disney World, ballparks, etc. So, anywhere in the US, Canada, and some other countries that you go there is a chance that an SD is there. SDs are trained to be invisible (ppl don't know they're there) and are usually well-groomed.
A hotel can't tell you if an SD has been in the room before you or not (privacy reasons), but you can request an additional cleaning (at Disney, at least, they can do allergy-free cleanings using products that won't irritate ppl's allergies - not sure if all hotels have this). An SD can be in any hotel room or it would be segregation (like having rooms designated for certain races or ethnicities) against disabled ppl. Not every disabled person needs a handicapped-accessible room, so regular rooms house disabled ppl.
On an airplane, many ppl with SDs sit in the bulkhead row, which is the first row of a section (i.e. first class, coach class, etc.) with a wall in front of it. These rows usually give SDs more room to lay and they won't get stuck under a seat/get their harness stuck under a seat like what may happen with larger SDs in other seats. Some planes have exit rows for bulkheads and disabled ppl and SDs can't sit in exit rows due to safety (FAA regulations), so for those planes, SDs will be put in any other regular seat.
Your best bet for a plane is to request a seat that is far from the bulkhead. This won't guarantee that you're not near a dog, since not all SD users like the bulkhead (I know several who request regular seats) or the plane may have exit row bulkheads or the plane might get changed at the last minute (seating assignments are sometimes randomly done in those cases). Also, some airlines allow ppl to bring small dogs/puppies and cats/kittens onboard in a carrier that fits under the seat in front of them. Pets must stay inside the carriers at all times in the plane and airport, but this isn't always enforced.
Seating far away from an SD in a public place is your best bet. Allergies and fears of dogs are not excuses for businesses to refuse to allow a disabled person to enter with their SD. (Lots of ppl claim allergies they don't have just 'cause they don't want a dog there for whatever selfish reason.) On a plane, you could use a neck-worn air purifier to help keep allergens on the planes from entering your nose/mouth. Keep your allergy meds with you in your carry-on/purse, as well.
Do know that there are more dog allergens on the clothes of a pet owner than on an SD. So, it is Joe Pet Owner that you need to be worried about in an enclosed place with re-circulating air (like a plane), not SDs.
If you choose to take another flight, I don't think there is anything to keep the airline from charging you a fee for the change. Hopefully, in good will
(not to mention good customer service!), they wouldn't charge you. You cannot ask them to change the flight of the person with the SD, however. That is against the law.
