Jul 28, 2020, 10:10 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This thread is for discussing the implications of UA's ESA policy changes. This thread is not a discussion of the validity of the ESA concept or rants about those faking ESA (considering the new tighten rules).
UA will be removing the Emotional Support Animal options 28 February 2021 per new guidance from DOT
U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Final Rule on Traveling by Air with Service Animals -- Dec 2020
an airline non-specific thread such as The Definitive Discussion of Emotional Support Animals on Airlines (Archive -- old DOT rules)
Service and Support Animals in the Cabin (2021 onwards)
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This thread is for discussing what it takes to properly qualify for ESA under UA's rules and what to expect as an ESA traveler. This thread is not a discussion of the validity of the ESA concept or rants about those faking ESA (considering the new tighten rules). Those issues are better raised in
UA's (July 2020)
UA will be removing the Emotional Support Animal options 28 February 2021 per new guidance from DOT
Emotional support animals
United will continue to accept emotional support animals for reservations booked before January 11, 2021, for travel on or before February 28, 2021, in accordance with rules from the U.S. Department of Transportation. No emotional support animals will be transported after February 28, 2021. United is committed to ensuring safe and accessible travel experiences for all of our customers.
To request to travel with an emotional support animal for travel before February 28, for trips booked on January 10, please send required support documents to [email protected].
United will continue to accept emotional support animals for reservations booked before January 11, 2021, for travel on or before February 28, 2021, in accordance with rules from the U.S. Department of Transportation. No emotional support animals will be transported after February 28, 2021. United is committed to ensuring safe and accessible travel experiences for all of our customers.
To request to travel with an emotional support animal for travel before February 28, for trips booked on January 10, please send required support documents to [email protected].
an airline non-specific thread such as The Definitive Discussion of Emotional Support Animals on Airlines (Archive -- old DOT rules)
Service and Support Animals in the Cabin (2021 onwards)
========================================= OLD data ================================================== ====
This thread is for discussing what it takes to properly qualify for ESA under UA's rules and what to expect as an ESA traveler. This thread is not a discussion of the validity of the ESA concept or rants about those faking ESA (considering the new tighten rules). Those issues are better raised in
UA's (July 2020)
Emotional support and psychiatric service animals
Emotional support animals and psychiatric service animals provide emotional, psychiatric or cognitive support for individuals with disabilities, but may or may not have task-specific training with respect to a disability.
Emotional support and psychiatric service animals are also accepted in cabin for qualified individuals with a disability if certain information and additional documentation that United requires are provided in advance of travel. In addition to providing a letter from a licensed medical/mental health professional, customers need to provide a veterinary health form documenting the health and vaccination records for the animal as well as confirming that the animal has been trained to behave properly in a public setting. With prior documentation and clearance, a customer may travel with no more than one emotional support animal that is usually either a cat or dog (any other animal species would need to comply with DOT regulations and will be evaluated for accommodation on a case-by-case basis) and must be of a minimum age of four months. If the animal weighs more than 65 pounds, United will evaluate on a case-by-case basis whether the animal may safely travel on the passenger’s scheduled flight(s). Multiple emotional support animals for a single customer are not permitted. Whether an emotional support or psychiatric service animal is safely capable of traveling on flights eight hours or more in duration will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Passengers may be held responsible for cleaning fees required as a result of any sanitation issues caused by their emotional support or psychiatric service animal’s travel. United will consider all relevant information, including information from the required documentation, when determining whether an emotional support animal or psychiatric service animal may safely travel in the aircraft cabin on the passenger’s itinerary.
Additional documentation beyond United’s requirements described above may also be required for an animal traveling to an international destination, Hawaii or certain other locations. Please note that not all international destinations allow the entry of animals, and restrictions vary by country. Customers should contact the appropriate consulate or embassy to make sure that all necessary procedures are followed.
An animal must sit at the customer's feet without protruding into the aisle, the foot space of adjacent passengers, or certain other areas that must remain unobstructed to comply with safety regulations. Customers may elect to use an approved in-cabin kennel for smaller animals. Unless in a carrying container, the animal will need to be leashed at all times in the airport and in flight. Exit row seating is prohibited. Refer to the U.S. Department of Transportation 14 CFR Part 382 or contact United for additional information.
Customers traveling with an emotional support animal or a psychiatric service animal must submit the required documentation at least 48 hours before the customer’s flight via our secure portal. If we are unable to validate the documentation, if the customer does not provide completed documentation, or if advance notification is not given, the animal may be denied boarding or may be eligible to be transported as a pet, and pet fees may apply. Contact the United Accessibility Desk at 1-800-228-2744 if you have any questions about this process or are booking a flight within 48 hours of the departure time. See Rule 16 of United’s Contract of Carriage for additional information on service animals.
Forms and documents for emotional support and psychiatric service animals
If you’re traveling with an emotional support or psychiatric service animal, you’ll need to complete these forms and submit them for approval through our secure portal: Your forms will be valid one year from the date of the earliest signed authorizations, and you’ll need to submit them at least 48 hours before each trip that you take with your support animal, but the earlier the better. Please bring your original forms with you while you’re traveling and be prepared to show them if we ask to see them.
Emotional support animals and psychiatric service animals provide emotional, psychiatric or cognitive support for individuals with disabilities, but may or may not have task-specific training with respect to a disability.
Emotional support and psychiatric service animals are also accepted in cabin for qualified individuals with a disability if certain information and additional documentation that United requires are provided in advance of travel. In addition to providing a letter from a licensed medical/mental health professional, customers need to provide a veterinary health form documenting the health and vaccination records for the animal as well as confirming that the animal has been trained to behave properly in a public setting. With prior documentation and clearance, a customer may travel with no more than one emotional support animal that is usually either a cat or dog (any other animal species would need to comply with DOT regulations and will be evaluated for accommodation on a case-by-case basis) and must be of a minimum age of four months. If the animal weighs more than 65 pounds, United will evaluate on a case-by-case basis whether the animal may safely travel on the passenger’s scheduled flight(s). Multiple emotional support animals for a single customer are not permitted. Whether an emotional support or psychiatric service animal is safely capable of traveling on flights eight hours or more in duration will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Passengers may be held responsible for cleaning fees required as a result of any sanitation issues caused by their emotional support or psychiatric service animal’s travel. United will consider all relevant information, including information from the required documentation, when determining whether an emotional support animal or psychiatric service animal may safely travel in the aircraft cabin on the passenger’s itinerary.
Additional documentation beyond United’s requirements described above may also be required for an animal traveling to an international destination, Hawaii or certain other locations. Please note that not all international destinations allow the entry of animals, and restrictions vary by country. Customers should contact the appropriate consulate or embassy to make sure that all necessary procedures are followed.
An animal must sit at the customer's feet without protruding into the aisle, the foot space of adjacent passengers, or certain other areas that must remain unobstructed to comply with safety regulations. Customers may elect to use an approved in-cabin kennel for smaller animals. Unless in a carrying container, the animal will need to be leashed at all times in the airport and in flight. Exit row seating is prohibited. Refer to the U.S. Department of Transportation 14 CFR Part 382 or contact United for additional information.
Customers traveling with an emotional support animal or a psychiatric service animal must submit the required documentation at least 48 hours before the customer’s flight via our secure portal. If we are unable to validate the documentation, if the customer does not provide completed documentation, or if advance notification is not given, the animal may be denied boarding or may be eligible to be transported as a pet, and pet fees may apply. Contact the United Accessibility Desk at 1-800-228-2744 if you have any questions about this process or are booking a flight within 48 hours of the departure time. See Rule 16 of United’s Contract of Carriage for additional information on service animals.
Forms and documents for emotional support and psychiatric service animals
If you’re traveling with an emotional support or psychiatric service animal, you’ll need to complete these forms and submit them for approval through our secure portal: Your forms will be valid one year from the date of the earliest signed authorizations, and you’ll need to submit them at least 48 hours before each trip that you take with your support animal, but the earlier the better. Please bring your original forms with you while you’re traveling and be prepared to show them if we ask to see them.
Accessible travel
Find out more about assistance for customers with disabilities, how to request assistance and safety requirements. If you have questions about travel plans, contact our Accessibility Desk at [email protected], or you may call 1-313-234-6992 (charges may apply) or 1-800-228-2744 within the U.S. or Canada. Elsewhere, call your local United Customer Contact Center and ask for the Accessibility Desk.
Find out more about assistance for customers with disabilities, how to request assistance and safety requirements. If you have questions about travel plans, contact our Accessibility Desk at [email protected], or you may call 1-313-234-6992 (charges may apply) or 1-800-228-2744 within the U.S. or Canada. Elsewhere, call your local United Customer Contact Center and ask for the Accessibility Desk.
UA removing Emotional Support Animals option 28 Feb 2021 per new DOT rules Jan 2020
Jan 24, 2020, 10:35 am
#106
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
It appears to be highly restrictive. Just to be clear, what the NPRM proposes is a rule that says ESAs are no longer required to be given special treatment by airlines, but airlines can continue to give ESAs special treatment if airlines so opt. Additionally, the advance notice and documentation requirement for psychiatric service animals has been eliminated to streamline the requirements for all service animals making it easier, not harder, to to pass off a faux paw service animal with nothing more than a vest bought on the internet and a credible verbal assurance-- no need for a letter even. The rule the NPRM proposes says UA should write the DOT if that approach causes problems (and they'll consider changing the rule again in 10 years, I guess).
Jan 24, 2020, 10:38 am
#107
Suspended
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As a passenger who has a trained service dog, I welcome stricter rules. There have been a couple of incidents where out-of-control ESAs have lashed out at my service dog, and every such incident jeopardizes my dog's ability to perform his tasks in the future.
Jan 24, 2020, 10:42 am
#108
Suspended
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Location: DCA
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Posts: 50,262
The NPRM also does not:
1. Require a specific medical opinion regarding the specific trip which requires that the dog be in the passenger cabin.rather than the hold.
2. Require a specific DSM IV diagnosis of a mental disease or defect which is tied directly to the dog as a treatment. Fewer professional are willing to diagnose specific mental illness without good reason and even fewer patients want such a diagnosis just to beat a carrier out of a fee.
People should send comments to DOT within the 60 day requirement, keep those comments directly on point and follow the submission requirements carefully. You may be assured that there will be thousands of comments on the other side of this.
1. Require a specific medical opinion regarding the specific trip which requires that the dog be in the passenger cabin.rather than the hold.
2. Require a specific DSM IV diagnosis of a mental disease or defect which is tied directly to the dog as a treatment. Fewer professional are willing to diagnose specific mental illness without good reason and even fewer patients want such a diagnosis just to beat a carrier out of a fee.
People should send comments to DOT within the 60 day requirement, keep those comments directly on point and follow the submission requirements carefully. You may be assured that there will be thousands of comments on the other side of this.
Jan 24, 2020, 10:48 am
#109
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
This is the key part of the NPRM:
As long as this stays in, the loophole is closed. Because this means you won't just be able to buy a vest or a phony certification and get Fido on the plane.
Consider a psychiatric service animal to be a service animal and require the same training and treatment of psychiatric service animals as other service animals;
Jan 24, 2020, 12:13 pm
#110
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 311
The NPRM also does not: . . . .2. Require a specific DSM IV diagnosis of a mental disease or defect which is tied directly to the dog as a treatment. Fewer professional are willing to diagnose specific mental illness without good reason and even fewer patients want such a diagnosis just to beat a carrier out of a fee.
But, at least an effort is being made to tackle this problem -- without making it impossible for those who truly need to bring a well-trained animal on board.
Jan 24, 2020, 12:27 pm
#111
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
I think it would be DSM V these days, rather than DSM IV. And I suspect there are a good number people who would accept a minor DSM V diagnosis (such as adjustment disorder - unspecified) in order to bring their dog (or peacock) along for free -- and a good number of mental health "professionals" who would give such a diagnosis in exchange for a few hundred dollar fee. Unfortunately.
But, at least an effort is being made to tackle this problem -- without making it impossible for those who truly need to bring a well-trained animal on board.
But, at least an effort is being made to tackle this problem -- without making it impossible for those who truly need to bring a well-trained animal on board.
But the training requirements negate everything. It's not going to be worth it to put your dog through months of extensive service animal training just to circumvent the pet fees and restrictions.
Jan 24, 2020, 4:08 pm
#112
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
It's entirely self-certification though. It's tough to put your dog through a legit training course. It's easy to say that you did that and your dog now detects hypoglycemia even if it isn't true. The DOT proposal relies entirely on people being unwilling to fib on a government form (many of whom have already been perfectly willing to fib about medical or psychiatric diagnoses).
Jan 24, 2020, 4:40 pm
#113
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,513
It's entirely self-certification though. It's tough to put your dog through a legit training course. It's easy to say that you did that and your dog now detects hypoglycemia even if it isn't true. The DOT proposal relies entirely on people being unwilling to fib on a government form (many of whom have already been perfectly willing to fib about medical or psychiatric diagnoses).
Jan 24, 2020, 4:44 pm
#114
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
It's entirely self-certification though. It's tough to put your dog through a legit training course. It's easy to say that you did that and your dog now detects hypoglycemia even if it isn't true. The DOT proposal relies entirely on people being unwilling to fib on a government form (many of whom have already been perfectly willing to fib about medical or psychiatric diagnoses).
It is a LOT different from just saying "I need my dog for emotional support". This is something where if you represent to an airline that your dog is trained and he isn't, and your dog bites someone, you are looking at prison time for fraud.
Jan 24, 2020, 4:50 pm
#115
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Actually no. Presenting fraudulent certifications is going to get travelers in a lot of trouble.
It is a LOT different from just saying "I need my dog for emotional support". This is something where if you represent to an airline that your dog is trained and he isn't, and your dog bites someone, you are looking at prison time for fraud.
It is a LOT different from just saying "I need my dog for emotional support". This is something where if you represent to an airline that your dog is trained and he isn't, and your dog bites someone, you are looking at prison time for fraud.
Jan 24, 2020, 5:26 pm
#116
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
Why do we wait for the dog to bite someone in order to prove that it hasn't been trained? The burden should be on the owner to prove that the dog has been successfully trained and this should be verified and certified by some third party, not just by the owner claiming that there has been training.
This is far more difficult to circumvent than you might think.
Jan 24, 2020, 10:22 pm
#117
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
In the NPRM, the DOT even acknowledges that under these rules it would still be easy for anyone to falsely pass a pet off as a service animal. The DOT just believes that passengers will be less likely to lie on a government form, but they’ve promised to follow up to see if abuses are worse than they anticipate and take additional steps if necessary.
Jan 25, 2020, 12:39 am
#119
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
No certification is required. Assuming it doesn’t change before they issue the final rule, the only documentation that the airline is allowed to request are the forms that are in the DOT’s NPRM. They require the passenger to sign saying that it is a legit service animal, and a vet to sign saying that the animal has had the required vaccines. No documentation of any kind regarding the training is required.
In the NPRM, the DOT even acknowledges that under these rules it would still be easy for anyone to falsely pass a pet off as a service animal. The DOT just believes that passengers will be less likely to lie on a government form, but they’ve promised to follow up to see if abuses are worse than they anticipate and take additional steps if necessary.
In the NPRM, the DOT even acknowledges that under these rules it would still be easy for anyone to falsely pass a pet off as a service animal. The DOT just believes that passengers will be less likely to lie on a government form, but they’ve promised to follow up to see if abuses are worse than they anticipate and take additional steps if necessary.
Jan 25, 2020, 9:24 am
#120
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
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Posts: 2,117
The Department proposes that these forms be the only forms of documentation that an airline can require of a passenger traveling with a service animal. In other words, under this proposed rule, an airline would not be required to ask a passenger traveling with a service animal for any documentation but, if they choose to do so, the airline must use the forms established by the Department.
Last edited by Sykes; Jan 25, 2020 at 12:21 pm