Assuming you refer to the following, I stand corrected.

When deciding to accept an animal as a service animal, airlines must determine both that the passenger is an individual with a disability and that the animal is a service animal. See 73 FR 27614, 27658. If a passenger’s status as an individual with a disability is unclear (for example, if the disability is not clearly visible), then the airline personnel may ask questions about the passenger’s need for a service animal. For example, airlines may ask “how does your animal assist you with your disability?” See 73 FR 27614, 27660. A credible response to this question would establish both that the passenger is an individual with a disability and that the animal is a service animal. While airlines are required to accept items such as vests and harnesses as evidence of a service animal’s status, it would be reasonable for airlines to also request the passenger’s credible verbal assurance to ensure the passenger is an individual with a disability who has a need for that service animal.


I also would appreciate stricter enforcement by airline personnel, but ultimately I think we're not best served by leaving it up to individual discretion. I think a better answer might be clearly defined documentation requirements and approval procedures.

In practice, how does "airlines are required to accept items such as vests and harnesses as evidence of a service animal’s status" coexist with "it would be reasonable for airlines to also request the passenger’s credible verbal assurance to ensure the passenger is an individual with a disability who has a need for that service animal"?