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Comment Opportunity: Traveling by Air with Service Animals

June 11, 2018

The U.S. Department of Transportation is seeking public comment on amending its Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) regulation on transportation of service animals. In the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Traveling By Air with Service Animals the Department seeks comments on: 

  1. treating psychiatric service animals similar to other service animals;
  2. distinguishing between emotional support animals and other service animals;
  3. requiring emotional support animals to travel in pet carriers for the duration of the flight; 
  4. limiting the species of service animals and emotional support animals that airlines are required to transport;
  5. limiting the number of service animals/emotional support animals required to be transported per passenger;
  6. requiring service animal and emotional support animal users to confirm that their animal has been trained to behave in a public setting; 
  7. requiring service animals and emotional support animals have a harness, leash, or other tether with narrow exceptions;
  8. limiting the size of emotional support animals or other service animals that travel in the cabin and the potential impact of such a limitation;
  9. prohibiting airlines from requiring a veterinary health form or immunization record from service animal users without an individualized assessment that the animal would pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others or would cause a significant disruption in the aircraft cabin; and
  10. no longer holding U.S. airlines responsible if a passenger traveling under the U.S. carrier’s code is only allowed to travel with a service dog on a flight operated by its foreign code share partner.

Comments can be submitted via Regulations.gov thru July 9, 2018.

Comments

Timothy - Wed, 06/27/2018 - 00:20

I do NOT think that their should be any regulation concerning the breed or size of service dogs that can be used.I also don't think their should be bans on the breed or size of a service dog on airlines or anywhere else.

Susan Blais - Tue, 07/03/2018 - 14:34

I’m in FULL agreement with Delta Airlines ban on certain breeds. FAR too many incidents involving some of these breeds and attacks on people/animals even in cargo have prompted this. FAR too many people have abused the SD/ESA Laws that were originally created for those seriously needing one. It’s hard enough to be in Public anymore with my legit Service Dogs for all the Fakes out there. Online Registration Sites have helped further abuse the “system”. Airlines have a VERY limited area for passengers let alone for those who have a breed who’s genetics and history of aggression/mauling/killing of innocent pets/people to feel secure and safe whilst in plane flying high in the sky. It’s about time the health and safety of others flying on a plane is considered at great lengths versus those who insist on bringing a “dangerous breed” onto the aircraft. Plus other breeds with certain head type have physical traits that make breathing more difficult. This endangering them on flights too.

Tim - Tue, 08/21/2018 - 01:17

thanks for this

Robyn Yackell - Wed, 01/22/2020 - 13:37

If there is a real need for a service animal, by all means they should be allowed to travel but the animal should first meet requirements for training as a service animal. I have see so many "service animals" on planes that do not act as a trained animal. This causes prejudice against those who are actual service animals. I also believe that there has to be limits to size of animal. What about those who have been traumatized by a large dog and it causes them great anxiety to sit next to one. What do they do if the flight is full and nobody will change? Also, what about those people who are highly allergic, do they have to change flights if an animal is on the plane that may trigger an anaphylactic response? There are a lot of inequalities when allowing service animals but I think most are accommodating if they know there is a true need and not just an "oh I love my animal" need. I love my dogs too but would never pass them off as a service dog to get privileges on a plane.


Last modified on 05/10/2020


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