IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Due to changes in air travel laws, U.S. airlines no longer recognize emotional support animals. While ESAs are no longer allowed to fly, qualified service dogs, including psychiatric service dogs, are still allowed to board flights.
For a guide to the newer procedures on flying with an assistance dog, please click here and here.
The information below is no longer accurate and is retained solely for archival purposes.
Airlines are tightening regulations for traveling with an Emotional Support Animal. Although the media makes it seem like a bad thing for ESA handlers, that is far from the truth. These rules only make it easier for passengers to travel with their ESA if they have a legitimate ESA letter.
Part #1 – What is an ESA?
An Emotional Support Animal is an animal that provides love, comfort, and of course emotional support to their handler.
Emotional support animals are not specially trained to provide a service. They are allowed on planes and homes, but not in stores or restaurants.
ESAs are not required to perform a special task but they do need to be well behaved. Before you travel with your ESA, make sure they are able to perform the following commands –
- Sit – Sit on demand and wait for release
- Down – Will lay down underneath handler’s legs or by their side
- Leave it – Will not lunge or bark at other dogs or humans, unless provoked
How is This Different Than a Certified Service Dog?
A certified Service Dog and an Emotional Support Animal are both considered assistance animals. Unfortunately, many people get these two types of assistance animals confused and often mistake emotional support animals as fake Service Dogs. Service Dogs are trained to perform tasks that aid in their handler’s disability. A certified Service Dog does not require a doctor’s note in order to travel with their handler.
What is an ESA letter?
An ESA letter is a recommendation note written by a licensed therapist. The therapist helping you should specialize in animal therapy. The reason? For an ESA letter to be enforceable, it must contain specific language. To qualify for an ESA letter online, you may complete the ESA questionnaire by clicking the image below.
Complete the questionnaire to qualify for your ESA letter online.
If you are currently seeing a therapist, we recommend requesting an ESA letter from them directly. If your therapist specializes in animal therapy, they will be well aware of all the requirements. However, if your therapist is unaware of ESA regulations or does not believe in animal therapy, you may submit your request for an ESA letter through the link above. They will pair you with a therapist who is well versed in ESA regulations.
Part #2 – Summary of the Airlines’ New ESA Policy
Delta, United, and American Airlines now requires additional documentation when flying with an emotional support animal.
Delta Airlines New Emotional Support Animal Policy
Delta requires a new form with three sections in addition to your ESA letter.
- Veterinarian must complete the first section
- Licensed mental health professional must complete the second section
- You must confirm your ESA’s training in the third section
United Airlines New Emotional Support Animal Policy
United requires a form completed by a therapist in addition to your ESA letter. They also now require a note from your veterinarian.
American Airlines New Emotional Support Animal Policy
American Airlines policy has not changed as of February 2018, although their representatives state they are looking into adjusting their policy. We will keep you updated once American announces their new policy.
Will my ESA be Rejected?
If you have the proper documentation prepared and delivered to the airlines ahead of time, you will not be rejected.
DO NOT Register your dog as an ESA. Airlines will not accept your ESA registration. You must have a legitimate ESA letter in order to fly.
Even if your pet is acting as your Emotional Support Animal, you will be turned away at the airport if you do not have the appropriate documentation. ESA registration papers or ID are not accepted by any airline and you will be turned away. You must have a legitimate ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional.
If your ESA is causing a disturbance or displays aggression to the other passengers and/or crew, the airline has a right to deny access even if you have an ESA letter. Before you show up at the airport, make sure your ESA is within your control and follows your commands. Single instances of abuse, see the Peacock incident, causes widespread negativity against all ESA handlers.
Part #3 – Understanding Reasonable Accommodations
What is the ACAA?
Emotional Support Animals are granted travel access by the Air Carrier Access Act. The ACAA prevents airlines from denying access to those with disabilities and must grant the individual with reasonable accommodations. Since an ESA is not considered a pet, they are therefore granted access to travel with their handler. This is why the airlines cannot charge a pet fee or deny access based on age, breed, or weight.
Airlines do not charge additional fees for emotional support animals. You are not required to purchase an additional seat or stow your animal in the cargo hold.
What is considered Reasonable Accommodations?
The airlines are only required to grant access if your request meets reasonable accommodation standards.
Below are examples of requests that fall within reasonable accommodations –
- A large emotional support dog
- Two small emotional support dogs or cats
- A chicken or bird
- Miniature horse
Below are examples that do not fall within reasonable accommodations –
- 3+ large emotional support dogs
- Animals that are not permitted by local authorities
- Peacocks
- A large horse
- Snakes
Regardless, you should always contact the airline ahead of time to confirm their policies. It is better to check and be prepared than to be rejected at the airport.
Part #4 – Can I Qualify for an ESA Letter Online?
Yes, you can qualify for a legitimate ESA letter online through ESA Doctors. ESA Doctors is a technology firm that helps connect clients with therapists in the United States and Canada. They are expanding to Europe and Mexico as well. ESA Doctors only works with licensed therapists who are pre-approved by the airlines and are in good standing with their state board.
Be wary of online companies offering instant approval or discounted referrals. A fake ESA letter could cost you hundreds of dollars and cause you to miss your flight. If your ESA is rejected at the airport and you cannot board the flight, you will not be issued a refund for your ticket.
Can ESA Doctors Help Me with the New Airline Forms?
Yes. If you qualify for an ESA letter through ESA Doctors, you may request that your therapist complete your airline’s ESA form. Complete the ESA questionnaire below and select the “additional document” option. This will allow your therapist to know that you will require an airline form in addition to your ESA letter.
Qualify for an emotional support animal today.
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Well it is very sad to see how airlines like American is laying, they said their police hadn’t change since 2018 but yes it did, it changed in April 2019 and they required so many forms that is ridiculous, I know because I have a ESA and I was going to travel with him in June this year and I couldn’t, there are so many forms to be filed by so many people that is impossible, the therapist gave me a letter, the veterinarian too, I fax then to then 48 hours in advanced and they contacted me Spain that they don’t accept those letters, and sent me 6 different types of forms to be filed by different people even training certified, I lost the trip and I will never flight with American, by the other side Delta does not allow ESA any longer on board I’m positive about I use to travel all the time, they made the announced back in January 2019, so I will not fly with those airlines any longer, even though I really feel devastated by the amount of ridiculous restrictions they made, ESA are a need to the owner not a pet to entertain 😦
The good news is that under recent guidance from the Department of Transportation, American Airlines and other airlines can no longer deny your ESA letter and require their own form be used instead. Airlines may not reject documentation provided by an ESA handler from a licensed mental health professional that meets all of the criteria under the ACAA. Airlines may however ask ESA handlers to present additional documentation related to the animal’s vaccination, training, or behavior. For additional details see our article on these recent rules here: https://esadoctors.com/new-airline-rules-emotional-support-animals/
Please stop taking peoples money. Airlines don’t have to accept your “esa travel letter”. There is no documentation outside of legitimate ADA service animals or possibly PSD animals with certification that, by law, the airlines can’t deny. The only legal protection provided for emotional support animals is for people who rent homes or apartments that do not allow pets. Then, you can get a letter from a medical professional to be able to have an esa. If traveling with an esa, do your due diligence, call the airlines and find out their rules. Same goes for stores, hotels, restaurants, and other venues.
We have written extensively about how ESAs are no longer allowed on flights, you are commenting on an article that is outdated. Please see these links for more current information:
https://esadoctors.com/new-airline-rules-emotional-support-animals/
https://esadoctors.com/how-to-fly-with-a-dog-travel-guide/
https://esadoctors.com/airlines-allowing-emotional-support-animals/
What happens if a passenger is allergic (I am highly allergic to feline and canine) finds out that a support animal is close by…
Our recommendation is to alert the flight staff and request that they rearrange seating so the ESA is as far away from you as possible. It is up to the airline to ensure the comfort of all passengers, and that this is done in a fair manner.