While U.S. airlines no longer accept emotional support animals free of charge in a cabin as they do with psychiatric service dogs, a few international airlines are still ESA-friendly.
Here are some airlines that are still accepting emotional support animals:
- LATAM Airlines accepts emotional support animals on flights from or to Mexico, Colombia, and domestic flights within Colombia. You will need a licensed healthcare professional to complete their certificate.
- Volaris accepts emotional support animals on the following routes if you have an ESA letter from a licensed healthcare professional:
- Within Mexico
- Between Mexico and Central America
- Between Mexico and South America
- Within Central America
- Within South America
- Between Central America and South America
- AeroMexico accepts emotional support animals if you submit a certificate signed by your psychiatrist.
- Air Canada accepts emotional support animals if you have a recommendation from a licensed health professional.
- WestJet accepts emotional support animals with a recommendation from a licensed health professional.
To fly with an emotional support animal on participating airlines, you typically need an ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional. The LMHP will also need to fill out forms provided by the airline.
Most airlines require that ESA documents be submitted at least 48-96 hours before departure. Before booking any flight with your ESA, you should always call your airline or check their website to confirm their current assistance animal procedures.
Connect with a licensed health professional online to see if you qualify for an emotional support animal
Which airlines are no longer accepting ESAs?
U.S.-based airlines no longer accept emotional support animals as of March 1st, 2021. The following airlines will no longer accommodate emotional support animals:
Airlines of North America:
- Alaska Airlines
- Allegiant Air
- American Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Frontier Airlines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- JetBlue
- Southwest Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- Sun Country
- United Airlines
International Airlines:
- Air China
- Air New Zealand
- All Nippon Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- China Eastern Airlines
- China Southern Airlines
- Emirates
- Eva Air
- Korean Air
- Qatar Airways
- Turkish Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- KLM
Airlines that no longer recognize ESAs will treat your animal companion as a normal pet. Pets are subject to fees and the airline’s size, weight, and breed restrictions. Some pets are not allowed to fly in the cabin and can only travel in cargo. In addition, certain animals may be prohibited entirely from flights.
These airlines have severely hampered many ESA owners’ ability to fly, either because the ESA owners can’t afford the fees (which can cost as much as $175 each way) or because their ESA is too large to board the cabin.
What about Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSD)?
Owners of psychiatric service dogs still have the right to board flights free of charge because they are considered service animals and perform specific tasks that are needed by the owner to function. If you’re wondering, yes, you can turn an ESA into a psychiatric service dog as long as they can be trained to perform specific tasks.
The main difference between an ESA and a PSD is that a PSD must be individually trained to perform tasks related to the handler’s disability (for example, retrieving medication, providing pressure therapy during moments of crisis, helping the handler maintain daily routines, etc.).
In contrast, ESAs have no specific training requirements and alleviate symptoms of mental illness just through their presence. Also, unlike ESAs, which encompass a wide array of animals, only dogs can serve as psychiatric service animals.
All airlines flying in America are required to accept Psychiatric Service Dogs on flights.
To see if you qualify for a PSD, click the get started link below.
How to Fly with a Psychiatric Service Dog
PSDs are allowed to board flights in the cabin free of charge as long as the passenger submits the DOT’s Service Animal Transportation Form in advance. On the form, the passenger must self-certify that their dog has been trained to perform tasks relating to a disability.
PSD owners have a right to privacy and dignity: airlines are not allowed to ask what the passenger’s specific disability is, and they cannot require passengers to demonstrate the task their PSD has been trained to perform. The form also requires the name of the PSD’s trainer, which can be the owner — third-party training is not a requirement for PSDs.
If you’re interested in owning a psychiatric service dog or you’re already a PSD owner who wants additional documentation for peace of mind, we can help. With our PSD letter service, a licensed mental health professional can evaluate whether you have a disability that qualifies for a psychiatric service dog under the ADA and Air Carrier Access Act. If you qualify, the licensed professional will issue a signed PSD letter. You can get started with a PSD letter by clicking here.
Qualify for Your Psychiatric Service Dog Letter Online
These policy changes are literally stranding my husband, me, and our dog in Puerto Rico. It’s an island. The only way off is flying. We are only living here temporarily and now we don’t know how we are going to get our dog home. I know I won’t mentally be able to put him in cargo and now that’s our only option. I just hope they come to their senses and allow ESAs back on airlines even if it requires an extra fee. We always bought out entire rows so we didn’t inconvenience anyone since our dog is 80 lbs but he was always well loved and we got complimented constantly on how well he behaves. I hope people continue to fight against this ruling.
This was a terrible & discriminatory decision. If airlines want the money they could have left the ESAN policy as is, at least for dogs & cats, and added a fee. Many if us will now be stuck. I have a $950 credit on Spirit for 2 tix that had to be cancelled last year due to the pandemic. We always travel with my gentle and docile esan dog. What will happen with my credit now? We won’t go without the dog. It states that 40 pounds is permissible as a paying pet in an on-board carrier. That doesn’t even make sense. Our dog is just under 40 lbs. where would they even place a carrier in a plane cabin? She certainly can’t go under a seat. In the past she sat quietly at my feet. I sure hope those days aren’t gone and that sensible rules will be re-instated.
Is there anything that esa dog/cat owners can do to lobby airlines (maybe Southwest) to allow them to fly w/ their esas? Are there any group efforts being assembled?
What cost is there to the Airline? What inconvenience is there to the airline? Just another way to descriminate against people with mental disabilities!
Just when I was going to enjoy visiting my daughter with my esa and family pet , after 3 years an acute chronic illness andxiety depression. I am alone and couldn’t leave her with a stranger ? I am on a fixed income.
What is shame this has happened.For me having my emotional support animal is a matter of being able to travel or not. I can manage navigating through the airport and flying on a plane without my ESA but once I am at my destinations I absolutely need to have her do to my high anxiety. Cost is not even part of the equation for why I wish to have my ESA with me. I simply want to be able to travel and visit grandchildren and children and I cannot without her. So now I lose years with family because I cannot travel with her. Due to my anxiety, I can’t drive the long distances so that’s not an option. I wish someone could help us people that really need to have our very valid in even-tempered emotional support animals.
I feel your pain and your 4 legged love one too 🐾 🐾 . My Ryder has been on 14 round trips with me, all on SW the other 3 were “Frontier ” “Alaska” and”Aliant” No comparison. I’m posting this because of this new rule that SW has taken on! I have lost 6 family members in 14 years. I am the middle one left 62. About to be a first time Gramma and excited for Ryder and I to fly to Fla. Find out she can not fly with me.My daughters husband is in training to be “Navy Seal” and is leaving today Feb.25.for 3 months my daughter is due April 3rd. Not sure if me or Ryder can be apart..mostlyI We All need to be together.
This is about some people taking advantage of ESA policies. Thank you jerks. We all read the stories- people demanding their ESA ostriches and turkeys. ESA owners allowing their animals to poop and not cleaning it up. These jerks are responsible for this decision. My ESA sat on my lap and slept tge whole flight and I travel monthly.
We agree, the vast majority of ESAs presented no problems at all on flights.
This is crazy, I always fly with my dog. Amd never have any complaints because she just sleep on my lap. Now I wont fly with united airlines anymore. Just with the ones that will keep allowing my esa. Also if the problem is the mony right, people will pay no matter why. But we dont want our dog stock in a carrier. That’s a crime. I hope they change that again, so frustrating.
In Dec 2020, I canceled my return ticket on AA from San Diego to Philadelphia because I am 78 and wanted to wait until I am vaccinated. I will be safe to fly on March 6.
Today, when rebooking, I was told that no, my 75 pound ESA can not return with me, unless he goes by cargo or can fit under the seat. Cody is 12 and arthritic. It didn’t matter that he was included in the original reservation. It doesn’t matter that the alternative is to put him down, or drive 3000 miles?
It doesn’t matter that the bulkhead seats (where we have sat before for maximum space) is empty.
I have always like Southwest. I will return to them.
Southwest is not going to allow any ESA animals as of March 1st. Only dogs that can fit in an 8.5″ tall carrier.
Southwest will not let you starting march 1 either. This stinks.
This is going to hurt JETBLUE and any other airline, taking this away from good people who actually need these animals for real emotional trauma along with physical disabilities. I hope JETBLUE’S business plummets. This is so upsetting & a horrible way to treat loyal customers. This will definitely have negative repercussions..Watch! I would love to hear of a Class Action suit with the the people who actually need this right. Nothing good will come from this decision. I guarantee it will work against you in the long run..I hope a boycott is in the future..
I agree Ms. Bonnie
I agree Ms. Bonnie