Dec 21, 2015, 9:01 pm
Last edit by: StartinSanDiego
THIS THREAD IS NOW ARCHIVED. PLEASE CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION HERE: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/2032204-support-animals-cabin-2021-onwards.html
Service and Support Animals (Updated)
Wednesday, December 2, 2020WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced that it is revising its Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) regulation on the transportation of service animals by air to ensure a safe and accessible air transportation system. The final rule on Traveling by Air with Service Animals can be found HERE.
The Department received more than 15,000 comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking. The final rule announced today addresses concerns raised by individuals with disabilities, airlines, flight attendants, airports, other aviation transportation stakeholders, and other members of the public, regarding service animals on aircraft.
The final rule:
Previous rule:
The main requirements of Part 382 regarding service animals are:
• Carriers shall permit dogs and other service animals used by persons with disabilities to accompany the persons on a flight. See section 382.55(a)(1–2).—Carriers shall accept as evidence that an animal is a service animal identifiers such as identification cards, other written documentation, presence of harnesses, tags or the credible verbal assurances of a qualified individual with a disability using the animal.
—Carriers shall permit a service animal to accompany a qualified individual with a disability in any seat in which the person sits, unless the animal obstructs an aisle or other area that must remain unobstructed in order to facilitate an emergency evacuation or to comply with FAA regulations.
• If a service animal cannot be accommodated at the seat location of the qualified individual with a disability whom the animal is accompanying, the carrier shall offer the passenger the opportunity to move with the animal to a seat location in the same class of service, if present on the aircraft, where the animal can be accommodated, as an alternative to requiring that the animal travel in the cargo hold (see section 382.37(c)).
• Carriers shall not impose charges for providing facilities, equipment, or services that are required by this part to be provided to qualified individuals with a disability (see section 382.57).
To determine whether an animal is a service animal and should be allowed to accompany its user in the cabin, airline personnel should:
1. Establish whether the animal is a pet or a service animal, and whether the passenger is a qualified individual with a disability; and then
2. Determine if the service animal presents either
• a ‘‘direct threat to the health or safety of others,’’ or
• a significant threat of disruption to the airline service in the cabin (i.e. a ‘‘fundamental alteration’’ to passenger service). See 382.7(c).
full text can be found: here.
United policy on Emotional Support Animals: https://hub.united.com/united-emotio...530539164.html
Delta policy on Emotional Support Animals: https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...e-animals.html
American Airlines policy on Emotional Support Animals: https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ce-animals.jsp
Service and Support Animals (Updated)
Wednesday, December 2, 2020WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced that it is revising its Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) regulation on the transportation of service animals by air to ensure a safe and accessible air transportation system. The final rule on Traveling by Air with Service Animals can be found HERE.
The Department received more than 15,000 comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking. The final rule announced today addresses concerns raised by individuals with disabilities, airlines, flight attendants, airports, other aviation transportation stakeholders, and other members of the public, regarding service animals on aircraft.
The final rule:
- Defines a service animal as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability;
- No longer considers an emotional support animal to be a service animal;
- Requires airlines to treat psychiatric service animals the same as other service animals;
- Allows airlines to require forms developed by DOT attesting to a service animal’s health, behavior and training, and if taking a long flight attesting that the service animal can either not relieve itself, or can relieve itself in a sanitary manner;
- Allows airlines to require individuals traveling with a service animal to provide the DOT service animal form(s) up to 48 hours in advance of the date of travel if the passenger’s reservation was made prior to that time;
- Prohibits airlines from requiring passengers with a disability who are traveling with a service animal to physically check-in at the airport instead of using the online check-in process;
- Allows airlines to require a person with a disability seeking to travel with a service animal to provide the DOT service animal form(s) at the passenger’s departure gate on the date of travel;
- Allows airlines to limit the number of service animals traveling with a single passenger with a disability to two service animals;
- Allows airlines to require a service animal to fit within its handler’s foot space on the aircraft;
- Allows airlines to require that service animals be harnessed, leashed, or tethered at all times in the airport and on the aircraft;
- Continues to allow airlines to refuse transportation to service animals that exhibit aggressive behavior and that pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others; and
- Continues to prohibit airlines from refusing to transport a service animal solely based on breed.
Previous rule:
—Carriers shall permit a service animal to accompany a qualified individual with a disability in any seat in which the person sits, unless the animal obstructs an aisle or other area that must remain unobstructed in order to facilitate an emergency evacuation or to comply with FAA regulations.
• Carriers shall not impose charges for providing facilities, equipment, or services that are required by this part to be provided to qualified individuals with a disability (see section 382.57).
To determine whether an animal is a service animal and should be allowed to accompany its user in the cabin, airline personnel should:
1. Establish whether the animal is a pet or a service animal, and whether the passenger is a qualified individual with a disability; and then
2. Determine if the service animal presents either
• a ‘‘direct threat to the health or safety of others,’’ or
• a significant threat of disruption to the airline service in the cabin (i.e. a ‘‘fundamental alteration’’ to passenger service). See 382.7(c).
full text can be found: here.
United policy on Emotional Support Animals: https://hub.united.com/united-emotio...530539164.html
Delta policy on Emotional Support Animals: https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...e-animals.html
American Airlines policy on Emotional Support Animals: https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ce-animals.jsp
The Definitive Discussion of Emotional Support Animals on Airlines
May 11, 2017, 7:25 pm
#256
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Depends on the size of your lap.
So you got the whole thing wrong, it seems. The dog had an emotional support homo sapiens.
Can my wife be my emotional support homo sapiens and sit on my lap for free? We have a yellow vest and a sharpie.
Snapped the below pic and it's hard to tell but the dog is very nervous.
Can my wife be my emotional support homo sapiens and sit on my lap for free? We have a yellow vest and a sharpie.
May 11, 2017, 7:59 pm
#257
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I say keep the pet fee for ESA's. Stop people getting them to avoid paying up. I actually have one, but he's 18lbs and properly certified (my ex), but with me he sits under the seat in front in a carrier. When travelling with the ex, he's under the seat, just not in a carrier. Not jumping all over the place (he actually loves to sleep on planes, loves to travel really).
That pic in the OP is cray-cray! I'd need emotional support if that thing was staring at me for 2 hours!
That pic in the OP is cray-cray! I'd need emotional support if that thing was staring at me for 2 hours!
May 11, 2017, 8:06 pm
#258
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I just flew a 737 in 7A where in 7B there was a dog who's head went under the bulkhead gap and tail went well under the seat. The owner's leg straddled the dog. I think e+ seat pitch is 35in so the dog was at least that long. The dog slept the whole time and had a slight odor sometimes. They yell at you if your bag sticks out in the feet area but its ok for a giant dog to block your egress?
I agree, make them buy another seat if they wont fit. Fat people have to do it and I thought extreme obesity counted as a disability. Though I really hope they thoroughly clean the seat before a person has to sit in the seat after a dog. Maybe mandate a plastic sheet under the dog or something.
I always wondered what if a person has a dog allergy. Does the dog have to leave or the person with the allergy? or both?
I'm not disputing the fact that a dog can help a person emotionally, there needs to be some sort of standard. I'm sure my emotional well being will be better if I don't have to pay an expensive fee. I'd feel alot better sitting in F too
I agree, make them buy another seat if they wont fit. Fat people have to do it and I thought extreme obesity counted as a disability. Though I really hope they thoroughly clean the seat before a person has to sit in the seat after a dog. Maybe mandate a plastic sheet under the dog or something.
I always wondered what if a person has a dog allergy. Does the dog have to leave or the person with the allergy? or both?
I'm not disputing the fact that a dog can help a person emotionally, there needs to be some sort of standard. I'm sure my emotional well being will be better if I don't have to pay an expensive fee. I'd feel alot better sitting in F too
Last edited by eng3; May 11, 2017 at 8:20 pm
May 11, 2017, 8:22 pm
#259
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May 11, 2017, 8:23 pm
#260
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They do charge honest people. Unfortunately, that would violate the Air Carrier Access Act for the "emotionally unstable". And until someone in Congress gets hurt by one of these animals (physically or financially), nothing will change.
May 11, 2017, 8:25 pm
#261
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Hoping the DOT closes this crazy loophole. I've now twice seen people leave their dog's mess in the terminal and get upset when people complained; certainly not something a real service animal would do.
May 11, 2017, 8:34 pm
#262
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Frankly, I think in a lot of cases it is less to do with the fee and more to do with being able to bring an oversized dog into the cabin rather than being forced to check it in. I see a lot of posts here about people going the fake service dog route because they don't want Fido to have to fly in the hold. It's the only way to get their larger dogs into the cabin.
May 11, 2017, 8:38 pm
#263
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As this is not specific to United, I'm going to move it to TravelBuzz.
l'etoile
UA moderator
l'etoile
UA moderator
May 11, 2017, 8:52 pm
#264
Join Date: May 2005
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Guaranteed I would mind using the lav after a dog pee'd on the floor!
May 11, 2017, 10:58 pm
#265
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As a dog owner, I have a lot of sympathy for dogs that drool on fellow passengers and also passengers who have allergies to dog fur and smell.
I have dogs but have never taken them into a cabin as much as I would like to because it would not be fair on fellow passengers. Unless I have bought the whole row for myself and the dog, I would not want to subject a passenger to sitting next to me and my dog because it would not be fair to them if they had to.
As much as I know my dogs are friendly, dog's are dog's and can react without even their master's realizing to something they are not used to or comfortable with outside of the home or garden.
I have dogs but have never taken them into a cabin as much as I would like to because it would not be fair on fellow passengers. Unless I have bought the whole row for myself and the dog, I would not want to subject a passenger to sitting next to me and my dog because it would not be fair to them if they had to.
As much as I know my dogs are friendly, dog's are dog's and can react without even their master's realizing to something they are not used to or comfortable with outside of the home or garden.
Last edited by wolf72; May 12, 2017 at 12:52 am
May 11, 2017, 11:15 pm
#266
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I'm a dog lover but I think its ridiculous that they let these big dogs in the cabin. Purely from a safety aspect, I wouldn't want one of them flying through the air and hitting someone. If it was a Cavalier King Charles or a Pug then its not much of an issue.
The fee system is also stupid. The honest people pay hundreds of dollars to fly their dog and the fakers pay nothing.
The fee system is also stupid. The honest people pay hundreds of dollars to fly their dog and the fakers pay nothing.
May 12, 2017, 12:53 am
#267
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I'm a dog lover but I think its ridiculous that they let these big dogs in the cabin. Purely from a safety aspect, I wouldn't want one of them flying through the air and hitting someone. If it was a Cavalier King Charles or a Pug then its not much of an issue.
The fee system is also stupid. The honest people pay hundreds of dollars to fly their dog and the fakers pay nothing.
The fee system is also stupid. The honest people pay hundreds of dollars to fly their dog and the fakers pay nothing.
May 12, 2017, 5:15 am
#268
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May 12, 2017, 6:18 am
#269
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"Can my wife be my emotional support homo sapiens and sit on my lap for free? We have a yellow vest and a sharpie."
Try, if that big dog can sit for free, I see no reasons why your wife can't ( and I assume she doesn't drool, is toilet trained and won't bite if someone annoys her.)
Try, if that big dog can sit for free, I see no reasons why your wife can't ( and I assume she doesn't drool, is toilet trained and won't bite if someone annoys her.)