New Air Travel Rule Allows Airlines to Ban Emotional Support Animals on Commercial Flights

Posted by Billy Francis

Planning to board a plane with your emotional support animal? You may find that pigs can’t fly anymore. On December 2, 2020, the Department of Transportation (DOT) released a revision of the Air Carrier Access Act, which includes a final ruling that advises airlines to no longer treat emotional support animals as service animals, but rather as pets. In addition, only dogs can qualify as service animals and will be allowed on passenger flights.

The final ruling will come into effect by the new year, and has been praised by 80 leading veterans and disability groups, who rely on trained service animals. The groups believe untrained animals on flights contribute to negative public opinion around animals who actually perform necessary tasks for people with disabilities.

The new rules affect travel for emotional support animals.Photo by @nimbus_the_dood

“This final rule is intended to ensure that our air transportation system is safe for the traveling public and accessible to individuals with disabilities,” said the DOT’s final statement. The ruling has also been applauded by members of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA).

“It sets clear definitions and guidance to ensure people with disabilities and our veterans have necessary service animal assistance while maintaining the safety, health and security of all passengers and crew onboard our planes,” said The AFA’s International President, Sara Nelson.

In the past, a variety of pets, from ducks and miniature horses to even kangaroos, found their way on board as emotional support animals. Now, they can either be checked into the cargo hold (incurring additional pet fees), or find another way of getting from A to B.

If you plan on traveling on a commercial flight with your service dog, you will also be required to provide the DOT service animal form(s) up to 48 hours in advance of the date of travel. However, those suffering with a disability will no longer have to physically check in at the airport instead of using the online check-in process.

The changes made by the DOT are not steadfast rules, but guidelines. This means that some airlines may continue to operate with the same rules and regulations that have been in place since before the ruling was issued. Passengers can still travel with animals under regular pet programs that require carriers.

Finally, service dogs of all breeds continue to be protected by the act, as long as they are able to fit within their owner’s foot space on the aircraft.

What do you think of the new air travel ban on emotional support animals? Leave a comment or tweet us @BringFido!

Banner photo by Flickr/Can Do Canines.