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
#166
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I can't blame anyone from trying to get around the emotional support issue vs sending Fido down below, but if the dog is licensed and wearing a uniform, and the owner has gone through the proper procedure to get their need documented, there is absolutely nothing anyone can or should be saying about this.
Oh, and "This thread is bound for Omni, this thread..."
#167
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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Yes it's the culture of victimization and entitlement. Also known as the decline and fall of western civilization
#168
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
I think this issue needs to be revisited. There was a story the other day of an emotional support duck on a flight from Charlotte to Asheville, N.C.
Last week I was in Costco and witnessed a pig on a leash entering the store with a customer. The greeter told me the pig was an emotional support animal when I inquired. Who said pigs can't fly.
Last week I was in Costco and witnessed a pig on a leash entering the store with a customer. The greeter told me the pig was an emotional support animal when I inquired. Who said pigs can't fly.
#169
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It's totally being abused. I think the airlines need to approach the DOT, sooner rather than later, and work out some rigid and high hurdles.
#170
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Join Date: Apr 2013
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I think this issue needs to be revisited. There was a story the other day of an emotional support duck on a flight from Charlotte to Asheville, N.C.
Last week I was in Costco and witnessed a pig on a leash entering the store with a customer. The greeter told me the pig was an emotional support animal when I inquired. Who said pigs can't fly.
Last week I was in Costco and witnessed a pig on a leash entering the store with a customer. The greeter told me the pig was an emotional support animal when I inquired. Who said pigs can't fly.
#172
Join Date: Mar 2012
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http://www.insideedition.com/headlin...eter-than-most
#173
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#174
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,063
Darlox - Thank you for posting your recent experience. Unfortunately the airlines are caught in a difficult position here, so these "emotional support" animal arguments continue. The Federal Government needs to provide some common sense guidelines here, but this is unlikely to happen, I believe, in the current disability rights environment.
#175
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
Yes indeed. Pigs can fly, and have flown under this rule-making vacuum. See:
http://www.insideedition.com/headlin...eter-than-most
http://www.insideedition.com/headlin...eter-than-most
#176
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1k, SPG Plat 100
Posts: 619
If the dog was behaving in the way you describe, it doesn't seem to fit the definition of a service animal per: http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/rules...20382-2008.pdf. See p.75.
Service animals are trained to behave properly in public
settings. For example, a properly trained guide dog will remain at its owner’s feet. It does
not run freely around an aircraft or an airport gate area, bark or growl repeatedly at other
persons on the aircraft, bite or jump on people, or urinate or defecate in the cabin or gate area.
An animal that engages in such disruptive behavior shows that it has not been successfully
trained to function as a service animal in public settings. Therefore, airlines are not required
to treat it as a service animal, even if the animal performs an assistive function for a passenger
with a disability or is necessary for a passenger’s emotional well-being.
settings. For example, a properly trained guide dog will remain at its owner’s feet. It does
not run freely around an aircraft or an airport gate area, bark or growl repeatedly at other
persons on the aircraft, bite or jump on people, or urinate or defecate in the cabin or gate area.
An animal that engages in such disruptive behavior shows that it has not been successfully
trained to function as a service animal in public settings. Therefore, airlines are not required
to treat it as a service animal, even if the animal performs an assistive function for a passenger
with a disability or is necessary for a passenger’s emotional well-being.
#177
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"...It does..bark or growl repeatedly at other persons on the aircraft, bite or jump on people..."
Only DYKWIAs can do this.
Only DYKWIAs can do this.
#179
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