Emotional Support Animals, Service Dogs and Comfort Pets: The Definitive Thread
May 30, 2017, 12:53 pm
#541
Join Date: Jan 2000
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My wife had this dog on a recent flight, this is the view of her legs.
May 30, 2017, 12:57 pm
#542
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MSP
Posts: 164
If people have to do a lot of flying with a pet I could see why they would be tempted do it. If someone flies once a year with a pet and the fee is more reasonable like $50 each way (which is still a little too high in my opinion) people would be more likely to pay it and not get the pet registered as an ESA. Delta should also not consider the pet a carryon. I have been very lucky so far being able to take my rollarbag on but if a FA or GA ever says I have to gate check my rollarbag (which is absurd because if someone is travelling with a pet they sure don't want to waste time with the pet in line checking a bag and then waiting at baggage claim) I will seriously start looking at getting my cats registered as an ESA.
I would suspect the EAS options will get considerably more restrictive in the coming years...which is sad, as I'm sure some people who really do need it will be left out.
May 30, 2017, 1:03 pm
#543
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,242
I just flew with my 7lb “ESA” maltese for the first time.
I spent $180 for a letter from one of the therapy dog websites. Price was $150 +$30 for getting it in 24 hours.
While I have always been against animals (exception service dogs) on planes I was not about to spend $125 x 6 over the next 2 months for a dog the size of a toiletry bag.
He slept in my lap on 4 of 5 segments and passengers commented that they didn’t know he was on the plane when we were de-boarding (he was in the carrier during boarding). One passenger asked if I drugged him because he literally didn’t move for 3 hours. I was afraid he might start making noise if I left him in the carrier the whole time.
Charging $125 each way for a dog to sit in a carrier under my seat or sleep on my lap seems excessive. I would be in favor of eliminating ESA completely but I sure as heck wasn’t about to shell out a bunch of cash while everyone else freerolls.
If you cant beat em join em!
If a pet can fit in a carrier under the seat I think it should count as the personal item. Or charge a more reasonable fee of say $25-$50 each way.
I spent $180 for a letter from one of the therapy dog websites. Price was $150 +$30 for getting it in 24 hours.
While I have always been against animals (exception service dogs) on planes I was not about to spend $125 x 6 over the next 2 months for a dog the size of a toiletry bag.
He slept in my lap on 4 of 5 segments and passengers commented that they didn’t know he was on the plane when we were de-boarding (he was in the carrier during boarding). One passenger asked if I drugged him because he literally didn’t move for 3 hours. I was afraid he might start making noise if I left him in the carrier the whole time.
Charging $125 each way for a dog to sit in a carrier under my seat or sleep on my lap seems excessive. I would be in favor of eliminating ESA completely but I sure as heck wasn’t about to shell out a bunch of cash while everyone else freerolls.
If you cant beat em join em!
If a pet can fit in a carrier under the seat I think it should count as the personal item. Or charge a more reasonable fee of say $25-$50 each way.
May 30, 2017, 1:09 pm
#544
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Not sure where get any of that from the user's post. OP never stated he was happy with it. Even stated he thought the fees were off and that ESA's aren't used how they're supposed to. Simply stated that not going to pay an outrageous fee simply to be right while everyone else is scamming their way around the fees.
May 30, 2017, 1:15 pm
#545
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,242
Not sure where get any of that from the user's post. OP never stated he was happy with it. Even stated he thought the fees were off and that ESA's aren't used how they're supposed to. Simply stated that not going to pay an outrageous fee simply to be right while everyone else is scamming their way around the fees.
May 30, 2017, 1:25 pm
#546
Join Date: Jan 2010
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I didnt make up my own letter, it is from a real licensed therapist with a physical location that reviewed my honest answers to the questions. It is just as authentic as any other ESA letter imo.
Like I said before I am totally fine with getting rid of ESA's and any animals in the cabin for that matter. I am not willing to make a silent protest by forking over $125 per oneway to the airlines while everyone else falls under ESA.
Either way my dog was coming with me and due to his size he qualified to ride in the cabin anyway.
Like I said before I am totally fine with getting rid of ESA's and any animals in the cabin for that matter. I am not willing to make a silent protest by forking over $125 per oneway to the airlines while everyone else falls under ESA.
Either way my dog was coming with me and due to his size he qualified to ride in the cabin anyway.
May 30, 2017, 2:39 pm
#547
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If people have to do a lot of flying with a pet I could see why they would be tempted do it. If someone flies once a year with a pet and the fee is more reasonable like $50 each way (which is still a little too high in my opinion) people would be more likely to pay it and not get the pet registered as an ESA. Delta should also not consider the pet a carryon. I have been very lucky so far being able to take my rollarbag on but if a FA or GA ever says I have to gate check my rollarbag (which is absurd because if someone is travelling with a pet they sure don't want to waste time with the pet in line checking a bag and then waiting at baggage claim) I will seriously start looking at getting my cats registered as an ESA.
May 30, 2017, 4:00 pm
#548
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
The special services counter would be if the animal were being flown in the luggage hold.
May 30, 2017, 7:29 pm
#549
Join Date: Dec 2012
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Posts: 453
Kids bother me. Drunks bother me. Loud people bother me. Overweight people that come over into my seat bother me. People that don't like pets bother me. Maybe everyone that bothers everyone else should not be able to buy a ticket. Planes would be empty. I am amazed at some of the comments.
May 30, 2017, 7:54 pm
#550
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No, just with a regular agent at the airport. Sometimes they will ask for proof of vacinations and other times they won't, YMMV situation. Not really sure what good it does anyway, someone could have the vaccinations of another pet so they have no real proof that pet flying is vaccinated anyway
May 30, 2017, 9:21 pm
#551
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Join Date: Jun 2008
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I just flew with my 7lb “ESA” maltese for the first time.
I spent $180 for a letter from one of the therapy dog websites. Price was $150 +$30 for getting it in 24 hours.
While I have always been against animals (exception service dogs) on planes I was not about to spend $125 x 6 over the next 2 months for a dog the size of a toiletry bag.
He slept in my lap on 4 of 5 segments and passengers commented that they didn’t know he was on the plane when we were de-boarding (he was in the carrier during boarding). One passenger asked if I drugged him because he literally didn’t move for 3 hours. I was afraid he might start making noise if I left him in the carrier the whole time.
Charging $125 each way for a dog to sit in a carrier under my seat or sleep on my lap seems excessive. I would be in favor of eliminating ESA completely but I sure as heck wasn’t about to shell out a bunch of cash while everyone else freerolls.
If you cant beat em join em!
If a pet can fit in a carrier under the seat I think it should count as the personal item. Or charge a more reasonable fee of say $25-$50 each way.
I spent $180 for a letter from one of the therapy dog websites. Price was $150 +$30 for getting it in 24 hours.
While I have always been against animals (exception service dogs) on planes I was not about to spend $125 x 6 over the next 2 months for a dog the size of a toiletry bag.
He slept in my lap on 4 of 5 segments and passengers commented that they didn’t know he was on the plane when we were de-boarding (he was in the carrier during boarding). One passenger asked if I drugged him because he literally didn’t move for 3 hours. I was afraid he might start making noise if I left him in the carrier the whole time.
Charging $125 each way for a dog to sit in a carrier under my seat or sleep on my lap seems excessive. I would be in favor of eliminating ESA completely but I sure as heck wasn’t about to shell out a bunch of cash while everyone else freerolls.
If you cant beat em join em!
If a pet can fit in a carrier under the seat I think it should count as the personal item. Or charge a more reasonable fee of say $25-$50 each way.
Jun 3, 2017, 9:12 am
#552
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Well, it's apparently possible:
http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2017/0...-for-pets.html
DL... please... don't get any ideas.
http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2017/0...-for-pets.html
DL... please... don't get any ideas.
Jun 3, 2017, 9:19 am
#553
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No, just with a regular agent at the airport. Sometimes they will ask for proof of vacinations and other times they won't, YMMV situation. Not really sure what good it does anyway, someone could have the vaccinations of another pet so they have no real proof that pet flying is vaccinated anyway
Jun 3, 2017, 10:02 am
#554
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At least some countries in Europe have a passport program for pets; it's tied into the microchip and IIRC vaccination records.
Jun 4, 2017, 11:09 pm
#555
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Diego
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Posts: 3,611
Delta Pax Mauled Onboard by ESA
http://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/258862347-story
Sorry to link to Fox; perhaps someone has another source.
Sorry to link to Fox; perhaps someone has another source.