Emotional Support Animals - Will United do the same as Delta ?
Jan 20, 2018, 6:07 am
#61
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 852
I wonder if the TSA could ban it as a weapon.
Jan 20, 2018, 6:40 am
#62
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Lowly Gold here, villox, (started with UA again in December '17 after an abysmal previous year with AA) but I interpreted the pet policy to reduce the number of bags one could bring onboard. The UA baggage policy is written in terms of singular, e.g. a personal item and a carryon item. Since the pet policy refers to the singular carryon item, logic would require that the singular personal item was the pet carryon. All travel with the dog was in F as well, and probably could have boarded with extra luggage, but I counsel clients that its good practice to color within the lines and it would be hypocritical for me to disregard that advice. Karma and all...
https://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/tra...eCarry-On.aspx
“You're also allowed to bring the following items on board, in addition to your one bag and one personal item limit:
- Jacket or umbrella
- Reading material
- Food or merchandise purchased in the airport
- Assistive devices (collapsible wheelchair, cane, one set of crutches, medical devices needed to administer prescription medications, portable oxygen concentrator, etc.)
- FAA-approved child restraint system or safety seat
- Diaper bag
- Breast pump
- Pet carrier (service charges apply for in-cabin pets)”
Jan 20, 2018, 7:37 am
#63
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That is an area where UA is more generous than AA or DL, where the pet carrier counts as the carry-on item.
On American flights you can bring 1 kennel as your carry-on bag
DL:
- Your pet counts as one piece of carry-on baggage. Pet in Cabin fees still apply.
Jan 20, 2018, 9:03 am
#64
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: USA
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Jan 20, 2018, 9:32 am
#65
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: UA 1K, MM
Posts: 389
I also booked an EXTRASEAT with miles.
Jan 20, 2018, 4:21 pm
#66
Join Date: Apr 2012
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Jan 20, 2018, 5:51 pm
#67
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Any bets on whether Delta will ever actually remove someone who has already boarded? They'll be too scared of the PR hit. The animal (and owner) only need to behave for a few minutes.
Jan 20, 2018, 6:13 pm
#68
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
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The dog mauling last year was pretty bad PR in its own right and provides a good context for them to remove animals and passengers as they feel is prudent. I really do suspect the estimated settlement amount for that incident (and others we haven't heard about) are a big driver behind the rule revisions and that employees will be empowered to follow the letter of those rules.
Jan 20, 2018, 7:11 pm
#69
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
My one experience with my wife and me flying with our cats was that the pet carrier was in addition to our normal carry-on allowance (backpack and rollerboard) and no one gave us any trouble. I had a copy of United's carry-on allowances. That said, having fewer bags would have helped with maneuvering everything.
I also booked an EXTRASEAT with miles.
I also booked an EXTRASEAT with miles.
Jan 21, 2018, 12:11 am
#70
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
I do think Delta is doing a bit of a long game and this is about creating a paper and electron trail that shifts liability from airline to the passenger with an alleged ESA the next time a pit bull mauling happens on a flight. Seems like they've had more serious incidents and general weirdness with ESAs than what United has been reporting (I haven't heard about United allowing an emotional support turkey on a flight) and their new policy has the feel of them trying to reduce their legal settlement costs when ESAs attack.
Jan 21, 2018, 2:10 am
#71
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,866
There have been quite a bit of dogs on my UA flights last year. On my last flight we took a two hour mechanical and the dog owners were freaking out. Fortunately they let us off the plane twice.
Fortunately I got allergy shot treatments many years ago, so I no longer run into a crisis when nearby animals, and always carry allergy medications if I start showing symptoms, so that can be a big problem for some if the dog is sitting near them.
Jan 21, 2018, 8:59 am
#72
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: DEN/OGG
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 1,482
What do all the policies help, if the UA crew does nothing to enforce it? On my EWR-TXL flight last week, there was a young Eastern European couple in 1AB. Complete with crying baby and a 100+ lbs dog. I was in 1D. The dog was all over the place. Mostly blocking the aisle, but sometimes visiting the galley, visiting my space, sitting on seat 1B. Absolutely not a trained service animal. The flight crew did absolutely nothing. I complained twice and answer was both times that they can do nothing.
Jan 21, 2018, 9:10 am
#73
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What do all the policies help, if the UA crew does nothing to enforce it? On my EWR-TXL flight last week, there was a young Eastern European couple in 1AB. Complete with crying baby and a 100+ lbs dog. I was in 1D. The dog was all over the place. Mostly blocking the aisle, but sometimes visiting the galley, visiting my space, sitting on seat 1B. Absolutely not a trained service animal. The flight crew did absolutely nothing. I complained twice and answer was both times that they can do nothing.
The way to make certain that policies are enforced is --- when it affects you --- to complain. On the spot.
With the new DL policy, if it is prior to the flight being closed, a clear complaint to crew is a good starting point. If you see a dog in the gate area which appears to be out of control, ask the GA whether it will be seated near you because you are concerned for your safety.
Jan 21, 2018, 10:26 am
#74
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: LAS
Programs: 3 MMer
Posts: 458
It would be nice if a request to be moved could be done without a hassle. But then the seat you had for nearly a year goes to someone else
Jan 21, 2018, 1:19 pm
#75
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I must say I really like the list of animals on Delta's site that they will not accept
- Hedgehogs
- Ferrets
- Insects
- Rodents
- Snakes
- Spiders
- Sugar gliders
- Reptiles
- Amphibians
- Goats
- Non-household birds (farm poultry, waterfowl, game bird, & birds of prey)
- Animals improperly cleaned and/or with a foul odor
- Animals with tusks, horns or hooves
No mention of marsupials? How about a platypus?