Emotional Support Animal Policy
Oct 15, 2013, 8:50 pm
#91
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: DL,AS, AA, UA
Posts: 19
What a crock! My only comment is "People and their dogs".
Whenever I am in a store, restaurant, Farmer's Market, etc. I resent being accosted by their dogs. Why can't you leave them at home? The ability to have them designated as "service animals" is greatly abused!
Whenever I am in a store, restaurant, Farmer's Market, etc. I resent being accosted by their dogs. Why can't you leave them at home? The ability to have them designated as "service animals" is greatly abused!
Oct 15, 2013, 10:38 pm
#92
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: CT, USA
Posts: 180
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Service Monkeys.
Personally, I'm looking to find a coffee monkey. One that could get the coffee going 20 minutes before I get up and refill my cup when it's empty. I can be grumpy without my coffee. Therefore, my coffee monkey would need to travel with me, so I don't get grumpy.
Personally, I'm looking to find a coffee monkey. One that could get the coffee going 20 minutes before I get up and refill my cup when it's empty. I can be grumpy without my coffee. Therefore, my coffee monkey would need to travel with me, so I don't get grumpy.
Oct 16, 2013, 5:44 am
#94
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,193
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Service Monkeys.
Personally, I'm looking to find a coffee monkey. One that could get the coffee going 20 minutes before I get up and refill my cup when it's empty. I can be grumpy without my coffee. Therefore, my coffee monkey would need to travel with me, so I don't get grumpy.
Personally, I'm looking to find a coffee monkey. One that could get the coffee going 20 minutes before I get up and refill my cup when it's empty. I can be grumpy without my coffee. Therefore, my coffee monkey would need to travel with me, so I don't get grumpy.
On AFV I saw a beer dog once. On a signal, he'd run to the fridge, pull on a towel attached to the door, and take a beer to his human. Human had to open it, though. I bet a smart monkey could do that.
Oct 16, 2013, 11:24 am
#95
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: MileagePlus
Posts: 142
Yes, and this will only get worse. You probably just read the post by someone that just realized they can take their dog with them for FREE if it is a comfort animal. This person doesn't really NEED a dog, it is just a way to skirt around the rules. I'm tired of dog owners.
Oct 16, 2013, 6:35 pm
#98
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Kelowna Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, HHonors Diamond, BonVoy Gold, AAdvantage, IHG Priority Club, BA EC, AS MVP
Posts: 110
Unfortunately the scam is being promoted elsewhere
It is not surprising that the problem with the EMS dogs is more prevalent than before. Unfortunately another travel blogger has recently acquired a young dog as a pet and travels extensively with it. He has shared the delight he has in not paying for the dog onboard as it is his "emotional support". He seems to think everyone loves a dog and wants to share with him his wonderful pet. This is incredible abuse. Unfortunately it is also not fair to the dog as it has travelled transcontinental for as short a trip as one or two days. I am sure the dog did not enjoy the hassle and would have preferred to curl up in front of a fire.
Pet dogs do not belong in the cabin - if needed for sight handicapped individuals they should be licensed and muzzled as needed.
Pet dogs do not belong in the cabin - if needed for sight handicapped individuals they should be licensed and muzzled as needed.
Oct 24, 2013, 12:02 pm
#99
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
Nov 9, 2013, 11:38 am
#100
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 19
So it's ok to lie for your convenience???
You should get flamed!
It's not the only reason. At the risk of being flamed, we seriously considered going down this road. Our dog is too big to fit under the seat. We'd check her, but as a "brachycephalic" (i.e., snub-nosed) dog, airlines won't allow her to travel as cargo during the summer. She's very calm, docile, well-mannered and totally fine curling up in a ball for 6-7 hours. When the need for unavoidable, last-minute travel came up this past summer, we came close to "procuring" an ESA permission letter...none of our trusted dog-sitters were available and she really hates being left in a kennel. Plus, there were some genuine emotional needs involved, though clearly not of the DSM-IV variety. So what to do? In the end, a long-shot came through, and we were able to leave her...but I was pretty much ready to go the ESA route. For the record, I would have paid pretty much any price to bring her along, so the money wasn't the issue.
Nov 12, 2013, 2:50 am
#101
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Let me check my Logbook
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards; AAdvantage; Alaska Mileage Plan; Wyndham Rewards; Choice Hotels
Posts: 2,350
+1
Nov 14, 2013, 9:12 pm
#102
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
May 25, 2015, 9:36 am
#103
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,638
Though I realize that there are many customers who are flying with their legitimate emotional support animals, there are many customers who are just trying to beat the system.
I just found about about an acquaintance, who is a snowbird, spending time in warmer climes, during the winter, and then returning to a permanent residence where the weather is great, except during the wintery months.
This person will return to the city of permanent residence about every 6-8 weeks, for business. On those flights, this person travels alone, while the spouse stays in the seasonal residence, until they deem the weather "safe," to return home.
On none of those "business" trips does this person fly with their dog, who stays at the seasonal home, till everyone returns to the permanent home, after spring arrives. The couple never has a problem traveling without the dog, when flying on a vacation.
Now, everyone is ready to fly home, and their 100 pound dog has become an emotional support animal. Obviously, this dog is way too large to fit in a dog carrier that will slide under a seat; so, this way, they can just keep the dog on the floor, if front of them. Since this person always books BS, the assumption is that bulkhead will be available, so they can park the dog there.
With a few M.D.s in this person's family, I'm guessing that documentation is not a problem.
Why can't airlines check a customer's flight history to help verify the legitimacy of emotional support animals? Someone needed the animal last fall, one time, then took about 6-8 trips without, then needed it again? Are HIPPA and ADA the reasons?
And, no, I don't believe that flying with the spouse creates a time of great emotional duress and the need for an emotional support animal.
I just found about about an acquaintance, who is a snowbird, spending time in warmer climes, during the winter, and then returning to a permanent residence where the weather is great, except during the wintery months.
This person will return to the city of permanent residence about every 6-8 weeks, for business. On those flights, this person travels alone, while the spouse stays in the seasonal residence, until they deem the weather "safe," to return home.
On none of those "business" trips does this person fly with their dog, who stays at the seasonal home, till everyone returns to the permanent home, after spring arrives. The couple never has a problem traveling without the dog, when flying on a vacation.
Now, everyone is ready to fly home, and their 100 pound dog has become an emotional support animal. Obviously, this dog is way too large to fit in a dog carrier that will slide under a seat; so, this way, they can just keep the dog on the floor, if front of them. Since this person always books BS, the assumption is that bulkhead will be available, so they can park the dog there.
With a few M.D.s in this person's family, I'm guessing that documentation is not a problem.
Why can't airlines check a customer's flight history to help verify the legitimacy of emotional support animals? Someone needed the animal last fall, one time, then took about 6-8 trips without, then needed it again? Are HIPPA and ADA the reasons?
And, no, I don't believe that flying with the spouse creates a time of great emotional duress and the need for an emotional support animal.
May 25, 2015, 10:47 am
#104
Join Date: May 2011
Location: 2C
Programs: MR PP & LT Plat, HH Diamond, WN A+ and CP, Avis First, National E+
Posts: 201
May 25, 2015, 11:06 am
#105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
Federal law (the Air Carrier Access Act) requires that airlines permit passengers to bring their emotional support animals. Airlines have no legal footing to play "Columbo" and try to catch the overly clever non-emotionally disabled. If passengers have the documentation, their emotional support animal gets to accompany them.
Don't like scammers and cheaters? Call your Congressional representatives and complain. I'm sure they'll get right on it.