Flying with an ESA

FLYING WITH AN EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL

New DOT Rules for Emotional Support Animals:

On December 2nd, 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced final rules, in effect since January 2021, that allow airlines to treat emotional support animals as ordinary pets. Passengers with trained service dogs can still board free of charge by completing the DOT’s federal forms.

What changed?

Before 2021, airlines had to accommodate emotional support animals when the passenger had documentation from a licensed mental health professional, and ESAs flew in the cabin free of charge. Owners of emotional support animals relied on this for many years. Since the DOT rule took effect, airlines are no longer required to accommodate emotional support animals. Most U.S. airlines now treat ESAs as pets, with the same fees, carrier size limits and restrictions. For some ESA owners that means paying a pet fee, and for larger animals it can mean flying in cargo or not at all.

Can I still travel with my ESA?

Yes, but usually not for free. ESAs generally fly under each airline’s pet policy (usually a carrier that fits under the seat and a pet fee). Check your airline’s pet rules before you book. If your dog helps you in specific ways, it may be able to qualify as a psychiatric service dog, which still flies free. A psychiatric service dog must be individually trained to perform tasks for your disability, and you will attest to that training on the DOT form. Our online training courses walk you through task training step by step.

What if I have a service dog?

Under the DOT’s new rules, airlines must still accommodate service dogs, including psychiatric service dogs. The new rules align the service animal definition with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A service animal must be a dog, regardless of breed, that is individually trained to work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. The disability can include physical, sensory, intellectual, or other mental disabilities. Similar to the ADA, the new rules allow airlines to limit service animals to just dogs. Under the new rules, airlines can require passengers with service dogs to fill out and submit the DOT’s new “Service Animal Air Transportation Form” (Transport Form). For flights longer than eight hours, airlines may also request that passengers submit the DOT’s “Service Animal Relief Attestation” (Relief Form). In the Transport Form, service dog handlers must make a signed attestation regarding their service dog’s good behavior and training. The Relief Form requires service dog handlers to attest that either:
  • their service dog will not need to relieve itself on the flight; or
  • the animal can relieve itself on the flight in a way that does not pose a health or sanitation issue (along with a description of that method).
Unlike the ESA documentation requirements that ended in 2021, these are self-certifying documents. Some commenters have pointed out that these forms may have the unintended consequence of leading to more fraud instead of preventing it, since there is no requirement for the involvement of a licensed mental health professional or another third party medical professional in the process.

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Is an emotional support animal a service dog?

An emotional support animal is not the same thing as a service dog. The key difference is that a service dog must be trained to perform tasks relating to the handler’s disability. Emotional support animals do not require any special training; they provide support for mental health issues through their presence and companionship. Service dogs are employed to perform a number of tasks, including things like reminding their handler to take medication, reorienting and grounding the handler to the current time and place when struggling with a post-traumatic stress episode, or providing tactile support during a panic attack. Under the DOT’s new rules, the passenger must attest that their service dog is appropriately trained to assist with their disability. Want your dog to fly free as a psychiatric service dog? It must be individually trained to perform tasks for your disability. Our online training courses can help you get there. Service Animal Final Rule Service Animal Final Rule FAQs Service Animal Brochure from DOT Click here to read about the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986. Click here for a comprehensive list of Airline companies and telephone numbers.

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