Dec 21, 2015, 9:01 pm
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
Dec 30, 2020, 9:08 am
#631
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA PLT / 2MM
Posts: 2,113
Yes, I've mentioned you can buy an ESA letter online. They're still signed by a licensed mental health "professional." ( You think they're signed by a plumber or an HVAC guy? ;-) ) The point is that there's no way for "airlines to start requiring a license / license number from a specific kind of health professional" -- because they already do.
Dec 30, 2020, 10:09 am
#632
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DAL
Posts: 1,448
Yes, I've mentioned you can buy an ESA letter online. They're still signed by a licensed mental health "professional." ( You think they're signed by a plumber or an HVAC guy? ;-) ) The point is that there's no way for "airlines to start requiring a license / license number from a specific kind of health professional" -- because they already do.
Dec 30, 2020, 10:13 am
#633
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
The recent DL incident of the two passengers (one who supposedly had PTSD as the result of serving time in prison) and an ESA or psychiatric service dog doing down the slide while the aircraft was moving toward the runway would seem to suggest that these dogs aren't necessarily effective.
Dec 31, 2020, 9:39 am
#636
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA PLT / 2MM
Posts: 2,113
Not sure what your point is, other than preaching to the choir that ESA letters you buy online are BS. But the point is that they're signed by a licensed mental health professional. Therefore, the poster who said he'd "be curious if airlines start requiring a license / license number from a specific kind of health professional" as a way to crack down on abuse isn't offering a solution -- because they already require that.
Dec 31, 2020, 1:23 pm
#637
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 16
This entire issue is beginning to become moot. Airlines, beginning with Alaska Airlines are banning ESA. This will commence in January, however, reservations for flights through February 11 will be allowed to have ESA's. Afterwards, none are allowed. it's about time. This has long been known to be a dodge to allow travelers to avoid paying for transporting their pets.
Dec 31, 2020, 1:46 pm
#638
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA PLT / 2MM
Posts: 2,113
This entire issue is beginning to become moot. Airlines, beginning with Alaska Airlines are banning ESA. This will commence in January, however, reservations for flights through February 11 will be allowed to have ESA's. Afterwards, none are allowed. it's about time. This has long been known to be a dodge to allow travelers to avoid paying for transporting their pets.
Jan 1, 2021, 5:45 am
#639
Join Date: May 2015
Location: South Florida
Programs: DL Skymiles KE Skypass
Posts: 2,363
I will bring this up again as I think I asked this question earlier. If the airline allows a passenger to bring a pet on board in the cabin that the pet's transportation fee is paid for, the pet is contained in an approved carrier without being let out during flight, and does not create an uncomfortable smell/noise situation, do you have a problem with that?
I wouldn't have a problem with it, but it is my belief that if you go on vacation and you want to bring your pet, you should go somewhere you can drive to, versus fly to. Less stress on the pet and less stress for you having to maintain the pet inside a carrier.
I wouldn't have a problem with it, but it is my belief that if you go on vacation and you want to bring your pet, you should go somewhere you can drive to, versus fly to. Less stress on the pet and less stress for you having to maintain the pet inside a carrier.
Jan 1, 2021, 7:26 am
#641
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 16
I did. these are included in Alaska's new policy. It's about time this abuse was ended. Understand that if the airlines charged the same fee for these animals as they did to transport them not in the main cabin, you'd have FAR ,FAR fewer of these animals flying.
Jan 1, 2021, 7:31 am
#642
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA PLT / 2MM
Posts: 2,113
I will bring this up again as I think I asked this question earlier. If the airline allows a passenger to bring a pet on board in the cabin that the pet's transportation fee is paid for, the pet is contained in an approved carrier without being let out during flight, and does not create an uncomfortable smell/noise situation, do you have a problem with that?
I wouldn't have a problem with it, but it is my belief that if you go on vacation and you want to bring your pet, you should go somewhere you can drive to, versus fly to. Less stress on the pet and less stress for you having to maintain the pet inside a carrier.
I wouldn't have a problem with it, but it is my belief that if you go on vacation and you want to bring your pet, you should go somewhere you can drive to, versus fly to. Less stress on the pet and less stress for you having to maintain the pet inside a carrier.
Separately, I don't know if it's appropriate to negatively judge everybody who is bringing their pets on board as being unfair to the animal. I agree that people should consider the stress levels that flying will put on their pets and not be selfish. But some pet flying is going to be inevitable, like if someone is flying across the country because they're moving or on a long-term assignment. Also, if someone's going to visit relatives who are too far to drive and would otherwise have to board the dog, perhaps it's better for the dog to deal with the stress of flying than be stuck in cage for days. These are just a couple examples that come to mind. I don't think we can look at everyone flying with a dog and deem them cruel to their pets and selfish.
Jan 1, 2021, 7:33 am
#643
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
I will bring this up again as I think I asked this question earlier. If the airline allows a passenger to bring a pet on board in the cabin that the pet's transportation fee is paid for, the pet is contained in an approved carrier without being let out during flight, and does not create an uncomfortable smell/noise situation, do you have a problem with that?
I wouldn't have a problem with it, but it is my belief that if you go on vacation and you want to bring your pet, you should go somewhere you can drive to, versus fly to. Less stress on the pet and less stress for you having to maintain the pet inside a carrier.
I wouldn't have a problem with it, but it is my belief that if you go on vacation and you want to bring your pet, you should go somewhere you can drive to, versus fly to. Less stress on the pet and less stress for you having to maintain the pet inside a carrier.
As I stated earlier, I do believe this is a good first step. I have no doubt people will abuse this as they did before, maybe even more, as no 'official' letter is required. The airlines and other passengers will (rightfully) complain and DOT will tighten the restrictions. I also accept this will be a long process. Perhaps years, with the regs getting tighter over time.
Jan 1, 2021, 7:33 am
#644
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA PLT / 2MM
Posts: 2,113
You obviously didn't read the posts about PSAs.
Jan 1, 2021, 7:38 am
#645
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA PLT / 2MM
Posts: 2,113
As I stated earlier, I do believe this is a good first step. I have no doubt people will abuse this as they did before, maybe even more, as no 'official' letter is required. The airlines and other passengers will (rightfully) complain and DOT will tighten the restrictions. I also accept this will be a long process. Perhaps years, with the regs getting tighter over time.