Emotional Support Animals, Service Dogs and Comfort Pets: The Definitive Thread
#466
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,425
The situation could be handled like a POS. Or, the person with the animal can be asked to move to a more accommodating seat(s). Can't encroach into another customer's foot space with out permission.
#467
Join Date: Dec 2011
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All that would be needed is for another passenger to complain/ask for a CRO and say that a service animal can't encroach on the leg room of other passengers. If it does, then the owner needs to purchase an extra seat. Airlines are not required to accommodate service animals that take up more than their assigned seat. I would've booted the owner, not the innocent couple. You can't have an oversized dog and not expect to pay for an extra seat.
I see this a lot in my business - tell a person they cannot move in with a certain dog/pet due to strict policy on size, breed, etc. The next day they come in with a note from a Dr.
It is awful for all the people that REALLY need a service animal.
#468
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delta needs to stop doing that, then. The term "Service Animal" is defined in the ADA and specifically excludes ESAs.
https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm
https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm
#469
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delta needs to stop doing that, then. The term "Service Animal" is defined in the ADA and specifically excludes ESAs.
https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm
https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm
#470
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THIS is great info. Thank you for posting it. I have not personally run into this - yet, but always thought that the passenger with the ESA got to stay.
I see this a lot in my business - tell a person they cannot move in with a certain dog/pet due to strict policy on size, breed, etc. The next day they come in with a note from a Dr.
It is awful for all the people that REALLY need a service animal.
I see this a lot in my business - tell a person they cannot move in with a certain dog/pet due to strict policy on size, breed, etc. The next day they come in with a note from a Dr.
It is awful for all the people that REALLY need a service animal.
#471
Join Date: Feb 2008
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You can buy these "certifications" for $50 or less online at a myriad of websites. Any doc in the box will write the script.
SERVICE animals vs. ESA are 2 very different things. So lets make sure we are talking about ESA here. I agree it must stop without the purchase of a seat.
SERVICE animals vs. ESA are 2 very different things. So lets make sure we are talking about ESA here. I agree it must stop without the purchase of a seat.
#473
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I saw move in thus why I said ADA. Without knowing exact location can only say in general terms. In general terms the ADA is what applies and thus ESA don't qualify. There could be state/local law, but don't have enough info t get into that.
#474
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You can buy these "certifications" for $50 or less online at a myriad of websites. Any doc in the box will write the script.
SERVICE animals vs. ESA are 2 very different things. So lets make sure we are talking about ESA here. I agree it must stop without the purchase of a seat.
SERVICE animals vs. ESA are 2 very different things. So lets make sure we are talking about ESA here. I agree it must stop without the purchase of a seat.
#475
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,425
"service animal" under the Air Carrier Accessibility Act?
#476
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The ADA has no applicability on aircraft and is irrelevant in this discussion. The ACAA, as you point out, is the relevant statute when discussing animals on board aircraft.
#477
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#478
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,881
I used "service animal" because airlines are not required to accommodate any type of "animal that provides a service" in a seat that wasn't paid for. Whether it's a "service animal" or an "emotional support animal," airlines can't be compelled to accept the animal if it doesn't fit within the bounds of the seat that the owner paid for.
Having a disability doesn't mean that you get more seats for free. When it comes to the size of the animal and encroaching on other people's space, airlines treat ESANs and SVANs the same.
Having a disability doesn't mean that you get more seats for free. When it comes to the size of the animal and encroaching on other people's space, airlines treat ESANs and SVANs the same.
#479
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#480
Join Date: May 2015
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I think the sentiment is that the DOT has mandated that airlines accept ESANs when the owner provides sufficient documentation. The only difference between ESANs and SVANs is that service animal owners only need to provide credible verbal assurance. Once the animal is accepted, almost all the same rules apply to both animals: they can't be unruly or dirty, they can be accommodated in bulkheads or C+ for free if needed, and they can't be displaced only because another passenger complains about their presence without any other reason.