US proposes tighter rules for emotional support animals on flights
I’ve long said that it should be the animal, and not the person that determines if an animal should fly. This looks to be a step in the right direction
I’ve long said that it should be the animal, and not the person that determines if an animal should fly. This looks to be a step in the right direction
U.S. Moves to Let Airlines Ban Emotional Support Animals
Proposed rule change would allow only service dogs trained to help travelers with physical or psychiatric disorders to fly for free
Airline passengers might soon have to leave their emotional support animals at home.
A new rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation would permit airlines to stop accepting emotional support animals on planes, allowing only service dogs that are professionally trained to perform tasks or assist passengers with disabilities, including psychiatric disorders.
Airlines have argued for years that the current rules typically requiring airlines to treat support animals as service animals—both of which fly free of charge—are too loose, leading many passengers to claim ordinary pets as support animals to avoid fees of $125 or more for international flights.
Carriers say that has forced them to accommodate a surge of untrained animals that have bitten passengers, scuffled with other pets or left messes for crew members to clean up. Airlines reported receiving over 3,000 complaints about service animals in 2018, up from 719 five years earlier, according to the DOT.
A service dog participates in a training exercise inside a plane at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J., in April 2017. PHOTO: JULIO CORTEZ/ASSOCIATED PRESS
The agency’s proposed rule, which would be open for public comment for 60 days, would also allow airlines to impose additional restrictions on service animals. Such limits could include requiring passengers traveling with a service animal to arrive at the airport an hour earlier than others to verify their animal’s credentials, capping the number of service animals a single passenger can travel with and requiring a service animal be leashed and harnessed.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Do you support the Department of Transportation’s proposal to restrict support animals on flights? Why or why not? Join the conversation below.
Airlines, passengers and disability rights groups have argued for years over the distinction between service animals and emotional support animals.
The DOT said it wanted to make sure people with disabilities can continue using their service animals while also reducing the likelihood that passengers who want to travel with their pets could falsely claim them as support animals. Under the proposed rule, animals that provide emotional support, comfort and companionship would be treated as pets rather than service animals.
The rule would also crack down on what airlines have described as passengers’ increasing attempts to fly with unusual animals like ducks, pigs, iguanas and even peacocks for emotional support. Carriers have been imposing their own limits on the types of animals passengers can bring for support, in some cases banning specific dog breeds, such as pit-bulls. While the DOT proposed limiting service animals to dogs, it said carriers can’t disallow certain dog breeds as service animals.
Some passengers have said they need their animals to deal with mental health issues like anxiety when they travel, and have argued that airlines shouldn’t be allowed to impose burdensome restrictions on them.
Some disability rights groups and mental health professionals have agreed with airlines that emotional support animals should be treated differently than service animals, suggesting that untrained support animals could endanger service animals.
The service animals that would be allowed on planes under the proposed rule would include those that help people with psychiatric disorders, but those animals would also need to undergo the same level of training as animals that assist with physical disorders.
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents flight attendants at United Airlines Holdings Inc. and other carriers, said Wednesday that the proposed rule was a welcome change.
“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,” union President Sara Nelson said in a statement.
Proposed rule change would allow only service dogs trained to help travelers with physical or psychiatric disorders to fly for free
Airline passengers might soon have to leave their emotional support animals at home.
A new rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation would permit airlines to stop accepting emotional support animals on planes, allowing only service dogs that are professionally trained to perform tasks or assist passengers with disabilities, including psychiatric disorders.
Airlines have argued for years that the current rules typically requiring airlines to treat support animals as service animals—both of which fly free of charge—are too loose, leading many passengers to claim ordinary pets as support animals to avoid fees of $125 or more for international flights.
Carriers say that has forced them to accommodate a surge of untrained animals that have bitten passengers, scuffled with other pets or left messes for crew members to clean up. Airlines reported receiving over 3,000 complaints about service animals in 2018, up from 719 five years earlier, according to the DOT.
A service dog participates in a training exercise inside a plane at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J., in April 2017. PHOTO: JULIO CORTEZ/ASSOCIATED PRESS
The agency’s proposed rule, which would be open for public comment for 60 days, would also allow airlines to impose additional restrictions on service animals. Such limits could include requiring passengers traveling with a service animal to arrive at the airport an hour earlier than others to verify their animal’s credentials, capping the number of service animals a single passenger can travel with and requiring a service animal be leashed and harnessed.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Do you support the Department of Transportation’s proposal to restrict support animals on flights? Why or why not? Join the conversation below.
Airlines, passengers and disability rights groups have argued for years over the distinction between service animals and emotional support animals.
The DOT said it wanted to make sure people with disabilities can continue using their service animals while also reducing the likelihood that passengers who want to travel with their pets could falsely claim them as support animals. Under the proposed rule, animals that provide emotional support, comfort and companionship would be treated as pets rather than service animals.
The rule would also crack down on what airlines have described as passengers’ increasing attempts to fly with unusual animals like ducks, pigs, iguanas and even peacocks for emotional support. Carriers have been imposing their own limits on the types of animals passengers can bring for support, in some cases banning specific dog breeds, such as pit-bulls. While the DOT proposed limiting service animals to dogs, it said carriers can’t disallow certain dog breeds as service animals.
Some passengers have said they need their animals to deal with mental health issues like anxiety when they travel, and have argued that airlines shouldn’t be allowed to impose burdensome restrictions on them.
Some disability rights groups and mental health professionals have agreed with airlines that emotional support animals should be treated differently than service animals, suggesting that untrained support animals could endanger service animals.
The service animals that would be allowed on planes under the proposed rule would include those that help people with psychiatric disorders, but those animals would also need to undergo the same level of training as animals that assist with physical disorders.
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents flight attendants at United Airlines Holdings Inc. and other carriers, said Wednesday that the proposed rule was a welcome change.
“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,” union President Sara Nelson said in a statement.
