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
Aug 15, 2019, 2:27 pm
#511
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: AS 75K (OW), SK Silver (*A), UR, MR
Posts: 3,346
So this is where it’s at. The dogs are really financial support animals!
“A reader survey conducted by The Points Guy and Airfarewatchdog found that the main reason travelers fly with their pet is because they can’t — or simply won’t — leave their pet at home. But after paying multiple pet fees and in some cases, post-travel cleaning fees, it may be more cost effective to leave your furry friend at home.“
https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/how-much-it-costs-to-travel-with-a-pet
“A reader survey conducted by The Points Guy and Airfarewatchdog found that the main reason travelers fly with their pet is because they can’t — or simply won’t — leave their pet at home. But after paying multiple pet fees and in some cases, post-travel cleaning fees, it may be more cost effective to leave your furry friend at home.“
https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/how-much-it-costs-to-travel-with-a-pet
Aug 15, 2019, 3:15 pm
#512
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,371
So this is where it’s at. The dogs are really financial support animals!
“A reader survey conducted by The Points Guy and Airfarewatchdog found that the main reason travelers fly with their pet is because they can’t — or simply won’t — leave their pet at home. But after paying multiple pet fees and in some cases, post-travel cleaning fees, it may be more cost effective to leave your furry friend at home.“
https://www.travelandleisure.com/tra...vel-with-a-pet
“A reader survey conducted by The Points Guy and Airfarewatchdog found that the main reason travelers fly with their pet is because they can’t — or simply won’t — leave their pet at home. But after paying multiple pet fees and in some cases, post-travel cleaning fees, it may be more cost effective to leave your furry friend at home.“
https://www.travelandleisure.com/tra...vel-with-a-pet
Aug 15, 2019, 6:34 pm
#513
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BUR / LAX
Programs: UA MM/Gold; WN A-list; HH something depending; Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,552
WON'T is the key word, isn't it? I just don't recall people having to have their pets with them on planes, vacations, and in grocery stores until relatively recently. When I was a kid, I made some decent pocket money taking care of friends' and neighbors' pets while they went on vacation... Maybe that's it too, animals are no longer considered pets.
Aug 18, 2019, 2:24 am
#514
Join Date: May 2015
Location: South Florida
Programs: DL Skymiles KE Skypass
Posts: 2,363
Again, ESA's don't provide an ADA recognized service, so muzzling them should not be a problem. There are muzzles that allow a dog to drink that most vets use when treating an animal for the vet's protection.
Aug 19, 2019, 4:11 pm
#515
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
Having to pick up objects that have fallen that the owner cannot, an indicator of a medical condition that the animal is trained to recognize before the owner can recognize is by barking or licking the owners body, having to bark (speak) if a dangerous situation is recognized by a dog who is trained to do so.
Again, ESA's don't provide an ADA recognized service, so muzzling them should not be a problem. There are muzzles that allow a dog to drink that most vets use when treating an animal for the vet's protection.
Again, ESA's don't provide an ADA recognized service, so muzzling them should not be a problem. There are muzzles that allow a dog to drink that most vets use when treating an animal for the vet's protection.
Aug 20, 2019, 2:20 pm
#516
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,240
Here's another article about how lovable and gentle pit bulls are. Wait. Don't tell me. It's the owners, not the dogs, right?
And some people want these dogs on planes?
And some people want these dogs on planes?
Aug 20, 2019, 2:22 pm
#517
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,455
Here's another article about how lovable and gentle pit bulls are. Wait. Don't tell me. It's the owners, not the dogs, right?
And some people want these dogs on planes?
And some people want these dogs on planes?
Nov 26, 2019, 5:55 pm
#518
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
The fight continues...
The New York Times... Over 80 veterans and disability groups recently wrote to Elaine Chao, the secretary of transportation, seeking new rules that would require that emotional support animals be trained if allowed on planes.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/23/u...-veterans.html
In 2011, the National Service Animal Registry, a for-profit company that sells official-looking vests and certificates for owners, had 2,400 service and emotional support animals in its registry. Now the number is nearly 200,000.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/18/u...rt-animal.html
The New York Times... Over 80 veterans and disability groups recently wrote to Elaine Chao, the secretary of transportation, seeking new rules that would require that emotional support animals be trained if allowed on planes.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/23/u...-veterans.html
In 2011, the National Service Animal Registry, a for-profit company that sells official-looking vests and certificates for owners, had 2,400 service and emotional support animals in its registry. Now the number is nearly 200,000.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/18/u...rt-animal.html
Nov 27, 2019, 8:14 am
#520
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: AS 75K (OW), SK Silver (*A), UR, MR
Posts: 3,346
The fight continues...
The New York Times... Over 80 veterans and disability groups recently wrote to Elaine Chao, the secretary of transportation, seeking new rules that would require that emotional support animals be trained if allowed on planes.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/23/u...-veterans.html
The New York Times... Over 80 veterans and disability groups recently wrote to Elaine Chao, the secretary of transportation, seeking new rules that would require that emotional support animals be trained if allowed on planes.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/23/u...-veterans.html
The DOT's Final Statement of Enforcement Priorities Regarding Service Animals on Flights was effective August 21, 2019.
https://www.federalregister.gov/docu...-in-air-travel
"If a passenger’s disability is unclear, for instance, airlines are allowed to ask questions to determine the passenger’s need for the animal. And airlines are not required to transport emotional or psychiatric support animals unless the passenger provides medical documentation of the need for the animal.
Additionally, while airlines can’t require that passengers traveling with service animals inform them in advance that they will have a service animal with them, those traveling with emotional and psychiatric support animals do need to let the airline know ahead of time.”
https://www.afar.com/magazine/cleare...upport-animals
Is flyertalk’s Joe Cortez a year off by the way? "From a report written earlier in Nov. 2019,” but the URL shows November 15, 2018.
https://www.flyertalk.com/articles/w...e-animals.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/articles/d...e-animals.html
Nov 27, 2019, 10:05 am
#521
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
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- "allowed" =/= "required"
- in the interest of privacy, the questions are very tightly circumscribed, e.g., "What type of service is the animal trained to perform?" rather than "What sort of disability do you have?" (and this is completely understandable)
... And airlines are not required to transport emotional or psychiatric support animals unless the passenger provides medical documentation of the need for the animal.
Additionally, while airlines can’t require that passengers traveling with service animals inform them in advance that they will have a service animal with them, those traveling with emotional and psychiatric support animals do need to let the airline know ahead of time.” ...
Additionally, while airlines can’t require that passengers traveling with service animals inform them in advance that they will have a service animal with them, those traveling with emotional and psychiatric support animals do need to let the airline know ahead of time.” ...
- to my knowledge, the passenger can provide this documentation at the airport
- to my knowledge, even if the passenger were to provide the documentation in advance, airlines cannot question or investigate it
Dec 11, 2019, 1:50 pm
#522
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
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Posts: 21,371
boarding queue for AS6, LAX-DCA, 11 Dec
the woman with the little white dog in her shoulder bag was in 1D ... I know pet carriers have to be under the seat, so they aren't allowed at the bulkhead ...
update: I didn't hear, see, or smell any evidence of the dog on the entire flight ... the four-year-old behind me in 2A and her sister in a car seat in 2F, however ...
the patch on the other dog’s harness says “Official Service Animal Registry” or something like that ... I was initially going to opine that I was skeptical, but the GA asked the passenger to wait by the podium until another agent could take some information that was apparently missing from her record ... I didn’t actually see if she boarded later
the woman with the little white dog in her shoulder bag was in 1D ... I know pet carriers have to be under the seat, so they aren't allowed at the bulkhead ...
update: I didn't hear, see, or smell any evidence of the dog on the entire flight ... the four-year-old behind me in 2A and her sister in a car seat in 2F, however ...
the patch on the other dog’s harness says “Official Service Animal Registry” or something like that ... I was initially going to opine that I was skeptical, but the GA asked the passenger to wait by the podium until another agent could take some information that was apparently missing from her record ... I didn’t actually see if she boarded later
Last edited by jrl767; Dec 11, 2019 at 7:56 pm Reason: postflight report
Dec 12, 2019, 3:29 pm
#524
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: ARN
Programs: AC, SK, Marriott
Posts: 1,150
https://nypost.com/2019/12/09/arizon...pport-animals/
Prescott Valley, Ariz., resident David Keller thinks the application process to register an emotional support animal is too easy — so he tried registering a swarm of bees as his service pet.
It worked.
It worked.
Dec 12, 2019, 3:42 pm
#525
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BTW the bees for emotional support story has been picked up by TV news.