Effective March 1, 2018, Enhanced Requirements Service/Support Animals
Jan 19, 2018, 4:09 pm
#91
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: DL, Marriott & IHG Platty; HH Diamonte
Posts: 861
Kudos to Delta for doing something about this. There was way too much abuse of the system and hopefully this dissuades people taking their pets on planes as fake ESAs....service animals area completely different story.
Jan 19, 2018, 4:13 pm
#92
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,509
Sure it will. The more red tape, scrutiny and official forms, the more ESAs will board Southwest, et.al.
Someone needed to make the first move.
Someone needed to make the first move.
The Department of Transportation, which held discussions in 2016 with mental and physical disability rights groups about which animals should be allowed in airplane cabins, said it will monitor Delta's policy to make sure it is in line with the rights of passengers with disabilities who travel with service animals.
Jan 19, 2018, 4:15 pm
#93
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,037
And people with allergies and things will veer toward Delta.
But I also think this will empower gate agents and flight attendants to be bolder if they suspect abuse.
Jan 19, 2018, 4:37 pm
#94
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Delta-pm, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-PP
Posts: 271
It is not just on planes. Animals are pretty much everywhere now. People can't bear to be apart from their fur babies.
Jan 19, 2018, 4:42 pm
#95
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Venice, Florida
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,607
I am hopeful these are not documents that can be obtained online.
FYI--a few weeks ago, i was lining up to board a plane and someone was at the gate with a dog on a leash, no vest, no carrier--nothing--as i was boarding I heard them say to her "lets get this dog registered for the flight". it was odd.
Jan 19, 2018, 4:42 pm
#96
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
It is solely the carriers' fault that they ---- including DL ---- do not require everything which they could require under DOT's rules. DL's rules will be better than the others but there is still a ways to go. Specifically, the law permits the carrier to require documentation that the passenger suffers from a DSM-recognized mental disability or disease. DL does not require that type of documentation containing a specific medical diagnosis.
This strikes me as a bit of fine-tuning and gives some leverage to front-line employees to keep the most obvious frauds and dangerous beasts off aircraft. Whether this continues to need more fine-tuning remains to be seen.
This strikes me as a bit of fine-tuning and gives some leverage to front-line employees to keep the most obvious frauds and dangerous beasts off aircraft. Whether this continues to need more fine-tuning remains to be seen.
Jan 19, 2018, 5:07 pm
#97
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: ANC
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 1,856
Does any of this apply to PAID pets in cabin?
First of all, I applaud Delta for creating a fair system to reduce the amount of fraudulent ESA and service animals taking advantage of the system.
My question is, will any of these new policies (48 hour advance documentation for vet records/forms/etc) be required for standard pets traveling in the cabin, in a carrier, paying the $125 each way fee?
My interpretation is no, as the news article directly from DL specifically mentions "service and support animals." Anyone know of anything different?
We moved a year ago from Florida to Alaska and flew up with our small bichon frise in a carrier under the seat. We have plans to fly back to Florida for a week in May (got a great deal on F tickets!) and I'm curious if we will have any issues when we bring our pet along. We always travel with a pet health certificate, which agents say technically is not required unless your pet is traveling as cargo. We definitely don't take our pet on every trip, but for as long as we are in Alaska I can see us flying with a pet on a yearly basis.
My question is, will any of these new policies (48 hour advance documentation for vet records/forms/etc) be required for standard pets traveling in the cabin, in a carrier, paying the $125 each way fee?
My interpretation is no, as the news article directly from DL specifically mentions "service and support animals." Anyone know of anything different?
We moved a year ago from Florida to Alaska and flew up with our small bichon frise in a carrier under the seat. We have plans to fly back to Florida for a week in May (got a great deal on F tickets!) and I'm curious if we will have any issues when we bring our pet along. We always travel with a pet health certificate, which agents say technically is not required unless your pet is traveling as cargo. We definitely don't take our pet on every trip, but for as long as we are in Alaska I can see us flying with a pet on a yearly basis.
Jan 19, 2018, 5:15 pm
#99
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,426
First of all, I applaud Delta for creating a fair system to reduce the amount of fraudulent ESA and service animals taking advantage of the system.
My question is, will any of these new policies (48 hour advance documentation for vet records/forms/etc) be required for standard pets traveling in the cabin, in a carrier, paying the $125 each way fee?
My interpretation is no, as the news article directly from DL specifically mentions "service and support animals." Anyone know of anything different?
We moved a year ago from Florida to Alaska and flew up with our small bichon frise in a carrier under the seat. We have plans to fly back to Florida for a week in May (got a great deal on F tickets!) and I'm curious if we will have any issues when we bring our pet along. We always travel with a pet health certificate, which agents say technically is not required unless your pet is traveling as cargo. We definitely don't take our pet on every trip, but for as long as we are in Alaska I can see us flying with a pet on a yearly basis.
My question is, will any of these new policies (48 hour advance documentation for vet records/forms/etc) be required for standard pets traveling in the cabin, in a carrier, paying the $125 each way fee?
My interpretation is no, as the news article directly from DL specifically mentions "service and support animals." Anyone know of anything different?
We moved a year ago from Florida to Alaska and flew up with our small bichon frise in a carrier under the seat. We have plans to fly back to Florida for a week in May (got a great deal on F tickets!) and I'm curious if we will have any issues when we bring our pet along. We always travel with a pet health certificate, which agents say technically is not required unless your pet is traveling as cargo. We definitely don't take our pet on every trip, but for as long as we are in Alaska I can see us flying with a pet on a yearly basis.
Jan 19, 2018, 5:31 pm
#100
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Venice, Florida
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,607
I know this was a joke, but there is also now a list of animals that are not permitted, which appears to be new and also addresses some of the other more novel situations that have occurred. Under "animals not permitted" here:
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...e-animals.html
People trying to bring a pet dog or cat onboard as an emotional service animal could still make a fraudulent claim if they wanted, but some of the more creative animal choices are fully banned.
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...e-animals.html
People trying to bring a pet dog or cat onboard as an emotional service animal could still make a fraudulent claim if they wanted, but some of the more creative animal choices are fully banned.
Jan 19, 2018, 5:33 pm
#101
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Venice, Florida
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,607
First of all, I applaud Delta for creating a fair system to reduce the amount of fraudulent ESA and service animals taking advantage of the system.
My question is, will any of these new policies (48 hour advance documentation for vet records/forms/etc) be required for standard pets traveling in the cabin, in a carrier, paying the $125 each way fee?
My interpretation is no, as the news article directly from DL specifically mentions "service and support animals." Anyone know of anything different?
We moved a year ago from Florida to Alaska and flew up with our small bichon frise in a carrier under the seat. We have plans to fly back to Florida for a week in May (got a great deal on F tickets!) and I'm curious if we will have any issues when we bring our pet along. We always travel with a pet health certificate, which agents say technically is not required unless your pet is traveling as cargo. We definitely don't take our pet on every trip, but for as long as we are in Alaska I can see us flying with a pet on a yearly basis.
My question is, will any of these new policies (48 hour advance documentation for vet records/forms/etc) be required for standard pets traveling in the cabin, in a carrier, paying the $125 each way fee?
My interpretation is no, as the news article directly from DL specifically mentions "service and support animals." Anyone know of anything different?
We moved a year ago from Florida to Alaska and flew up with our small bichon frise in a carrier under the seat. We have plans to fly back to Florida for a week in May (got a great deal on F tickets!) and I'm curious if we will have any issues when we bring our pet along. We always travel with a pet health certificate, which agents say technically is not required unless your pet is traveling as cargo. We definitely don't take our pet on every trip, but for as long as we are in Alaska I can see us flying with a pet on a yearly basis.
Jan 19, 2018, 5:35 pm
#102
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 4,677
So pleased by this. There is a lot of this type of fraud that originates at LAX and JFK/LGA. I'd say 15% or higher of my domestic flights have a "service animal." Some may be legit, I have no way to know. Some are definitely fraudulent. I don't know that many people, but I do know 2 individuals in LA who have no physical or psychological issues, but want to take their dog with them for free so they bought the little vest, and I guess got a letter. I didn't realize they even obtained a letter. I'm not sure airlines enforce the letter requirement. Reminds me of another person I know who was the primary care giver for her father who qualified for a handicap hang tag. He died 5 years ago. She still has the tag and uses it every day. These pathetic self-centered people are only emboldened by the current political environment where doing the right thing no longer matters and altruism is dead. I hope Delta starts denying these ESA fraudsters boarding. /rant
Jan 19, 2018, 5:38 pm
#103
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,037
This thread is running pretty heavily in favor of the crackdown.
I was expecting to see more people defending the status quo.
Where are all the sugar glider owners who aren't mentally stable to travel on their own?
I was expecting to see more people defending the status quo.
Where are all the sugar glider owners who aren't mentally stable to travel on their own?
Jan 19, 2018, 5:44 pm
#104
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,338
You're talking about two separate issues (passengers who don't have legit ESA credentials and animals that you don't think are appropriate to be an ESA).
Some of these policies seem perfectly fine under ACA.
I don't think these policies are going to make any significant difference, FWIW.
ESAs at target are completely unrelated, since the ACA doesn't apply at Target and the ADA doesn't address ESAs.
That's a different matter. If you want to change laws fine, but violating the law seems like a bad way to go about it.
Some of these policies seem perfectly fine under ACA.
I don't think these policies are going to make any significant difference, FWIW.
ESAs at target are completely unrelated, since the ACA doesn't apply at Target and the ADA doesn't address ESAs.
That's a different matter. If you want to change laws fine, but violating the law seems like a bad way to go about it.
Jan 19, 2018, 6:01 pm
#105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,038
+1 more leadership from Delta. Hope the rest of the industry will follow suit. This ridiculous nonsense has to stop and Delta is taking the first steps.