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
#616
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA PLT / 2MM
Posts: 2,113
Airlines could presumably do whatever they want, right? Keep the status quo of allowing emotional support pigs... limit allowed ESAs to dogs... limit allowed ESAs to dogs under a certain weight... etc. I can't find any news regarding how the airlines will actually react. I guess we'll find out soon enough.
How easy is this PSA loophole going to be? If you could meet with an online psychologist for 10 minutes and pay $150 and get a PSA letter, it's the same difference as the ESA thing.
How easy is this PSA loophole going to be? If you could meet with an online psychologist for 10 minutes and pay $150 and get a PSA letter, it's the same difference as the ESA thing.
#617
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
Airlines could presumably do whatever they want, right? Keep the status quo of allowing emotional support pigs... limit allowed ESAs to dogs... limit allowed ESAs to dogs under a certain weight... etc. I can't find any news regarding how the airlines will actually react. I guess we'll find out soon enough.
How easy is this PSA loophole going to be? If you could meet with an online psychologist for 10 minutes and pay $150 and get a PSA letter, it's the same difference as the ESA thing.
How easy is this PSA loophole going to be? If you could meet with an online psychologist for 10 minutes and pay $150 and get a PSA letter, it's the same difference as the ESA thing.
Psychiatric service animal users will no longer be required to provide a letter from a licensed mental health professional detailing the passenger’s need for the animal, nor will they be required to check in one hour before the check-in time for other passengers.
I think the good news is they are moving closer to eliminating the loopholes.
I fully expect people will abuse this to the same extent as the ESA. DOT did say they will review the PSA rule if it gets excessive. So this will take another round to eliminate the B.S. but I believe we will get there.
#618
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 765
There are some people who would love to sit next to a pet on a flight. Why not ask if a person would mind a pet next to them, and when someone books a flight with a pet, only allow them to select a seat next to people who like pets.
I know someone who would switch into a middle seat just to sit next to someone with a pet because they love animals that much.
I know someone who would switch into a middle seat just to sit next to someone with a pet because they love animals that much.
#619
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,125
There are some people who would love to sit next to a pet on a flight. Why not ask if a person would mind a pet next to them, and when someone books a flight with a pet, only allow them to select a seat next to people who like pets.
I know someone who would switch into a middle seat just to sit next to someone with a pet because they love animals that much.
I know someone who would switch into a middle seat just to sit next to someone with a pet because they love animals that much.
#620
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA PLT / 2MM
Posts: 2,113
So, it's been a week and no announcements from any of the major carriers about any changes...
#621
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: PDX, OGG or between the two
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 2,868
One of my favorite Podcasts is the Adam Carolla Show and he regularly talks about the abuse of service animals (He actually wrote a book titled, "I'll Be Your Emotional Support Animal." - great read). Anyway, he has a great take that the next time there is an airplane crash, along with giving the number of human vicitms, they'll also give the number of dog fatalities.... and everyone will feel worse for the dogs. Probably not too far from the truth!
#622
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
Well, so much for bringing my ESMongoose with me.
#623
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
Alaska to Ban All ESA's: My new favorite airline!
While I am sure people will use - and abuse - the psychiatric service animal exception this is a great start.
(As always, legit service animals will be accepted.)
From OMAAT: Alaska Airlines will continue to accept emotional support animals under its current policy for reservations booked prior to January 11, 2021, and for flights through February 28, 2021. As of March 1, 2021, emotional support animals will no longer be accepted on flights under any circumstances.
Under the revised policy:
(As always, legit service animals will be accepted.)
From OMAAT: Alaska Airlines will continue to accept emotional support animals under its current policy for reservations booked prior to January 11, 2021, and for flights through February 28, 2021. As of March 1, 2021, emotional support animals will no longer be accepted on flights under any circumstances.
Under the revised policy:
- Alaska Airlines will accept a maximum of two service dogs per passenger in the cabin
- Passengers will be required to complete a DOT form, which will be available on alaskaair.com starting January 11, attesting that their animal is a legitimate service dog, is trained and vaccinated, and will behave appropriately during the journey
#625
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
Is it ideal? No. But, it is a start.
#626
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA PLT / 2MM
Posts: 2,113
All of this is the DOT's doing. YMMV, but I would disagree that it's a start - it's one dumb policy, and then another dumb policy that's even easier to abuse...
#627
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
I am counting on the abuse... which is why I think it is a start to the end. I agree this is even easier to abuse... and of course, people will abuse it.
#628
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 139
I'll be curious if airlines start requiring a license / license number from a specific kind of health professional. Seems like another way to crack down on abuse.