"Emotional Support Animal" on my flight flies for free. Seriously?
I'm presently on US 796, LAX-PHL. At the gate, one passenger was carrying a small dog. Another passenger asked, "How much does it cost to take your dog?" The dog's owner said, "There is no charge because she is an emotional-support dog. US Airways is very friendly about them."
So I researched what "emotional support animals" are; they are defined as an animal "which provides therapeutic benefit to its owner through companionship and affection."
OK, wait a second. Couldn't most pets be defined that way? Heck, couldn't most "significant others" be defined that way? How about a best (human) friend? It would seem to me that if people can skirt the $100 fee for bringing a pet on board by having a dog labeled "emotional support," then one could argue that a spouse/partner/friend should travel for free because, after all, those people provide emotional support, too.
To be clear, I love animals (I've fostered/owned ten dogs). But unless the dog is a true service dog, I just don't see how US allows "emotional support" animals to fly for free.
If someone is more knowledgeable about this subject, please educate me!