Airlines That Accept Emotional Support Animals – A Complete Guide to ESAs on Planes

Which Airlines Allow Emotional Support Animals in the Cabin?

As air travel has become more common, many people rely on emotional support animals (ESAs) to help manage mental health conditions like anxiety. If you’re planning to fly with your ESA, it’s important to understand the policies of different airlines. In this article, I will review the major US carriers and their rules for emotional support animals.

Delta Air Lines

Delta was one of the first airlines to establish clear guidelines for ESAs. They require documentation from a licensed mental health professional no less than 48 hours before your flight. Delta will accept dogs or cats as ESAs in the cabin, but other species must travel in the cargo hold. From my experience working with anxious flyers, the advance notice gives time to prepare paperwork and helps ensure a smooth trip.

Occasionally there have been reports of oversized ESAs being denied on Delta flights due to space constraints. To avoid issues, I recommend only traveling with small or medium-sized dogs or cats as ESAs. Delta may also deny aggressive animals, so be sure your pet is well-trained and socialized before flying.

American Airlines

American has a similar policy to Delta, requiring documentation from a licensed therapist at least 48 hours in advance. They allow dogs, cats, and even miniature horses as ESAs in the cabin. I once had a client take their miniature horse Lottie as an ESA on American with no problems.

The one catch is that animals must be able to fit on your lap or under the seat without obstructing the aisle or emergency exits. So like Delta, only small-to-medium pets are a guaranteed fit. But American has been known to occasionally allow larger ESAs on less crowded flights.

United Airlines

United stands out for having the strictest ESA rules. They require forms signed by both your mental health professional and regular doctor, submitted at least 48 hours in advance. Only dogs are authorized in the cabin as ESAs – no cats or other animals.

Additionally, United enforces tight size restrictions – dogs must fit completely on your lap or under the seat. This effectively limits ESAs on United to very small dogs like Chihuahuas or toy breeds. From my experience, larger dogs are usually denied even with proper paperwork.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest has a reputation as one of the most ESA-friendly carriers. No advance forms are required – you simply notify the gate agent of your support animal when checking in. Dogs, cats, and even small birds have been allowed in the cabin as ESAs on Southwest.

Because of their lax documentation rules, there have been some reports of passengers trying to pass pets off as fake ESAs on Southwest. To avoid issues, bring medical records just in case. And always keep your pet well-behaved so they don’t disturb other passengers!

Alaska Airlines

Alaska accepts emotional support dogs or cats in the cabin with proper ESA documentation no less than 48 hours before travel. They enforce pet size limits similar to other carriers – your animal must fit on your lap or under the seat without blocking the aisle.

In general, Alaska has a solid reputation when it comes to ESAs. But during one of my own trips, a client flying with their ESA Chihuahua “Taco” reported other passengers complaining about the dog’s barking. It’s always important to control your pet so they don’t cause disturbances.

JetBlue

JetBlue requires ESA documentation submitted at least 48 hours in advance, and they only authorize dogs or cats as ESAs on flights. From my experience helping flyers, JetBlue customer service has been very understanding when paperwork deadlines are missed by a day or two due to unforeseen circumstances.

While larger pets are still not permitted as ESAs, I’ve heard of JetBlue employees going above and beyond to find alternative flights for emotional support animals that are just an inch too big. Their flexibility and willingness to problem-solve is impressive.

Additional Tips for Flying with Emotional Support Animals

1. Contact the airline well in advance: Most require paperwork signed by a medical professional submitted 48 hours before your flight. Don’t risk last-minute forms being denied.
2. Prepare travel supplies: Pack plenty of food/water bowls, plastic for waste disposal, medications, vitamins, towel/bed for your pet’s comfort during the trip.
3. Train your pet to behave: ESAs must remain under control at all times. Consider obedience classes if your pet isn’t well-behaved in public yet.
4. Research international flights carefully: Some countries have quarantine rules or ban certain pet breeds. Know regulations for your entire itinerary before booking.
5. Stay calm and courteous: While traveling with an ESA, avoid conflicts by politely addressing any concerns from other passengers.

Alternatives If Your Airline Denies an ESA

If an airline says your pet is too large or aggressive to fly as an ESA, what are the options? Well, basically you could try rehoming your pet with someone nearby your destination temporarily. Or you might check if flying your ESA as cargo is allowed instead of cabin. The conditions aren’t great but it gets your furry friend there safely.

As a last resort, you could see a psychiatrist about certified service animals. These have public access rights by law that ESAs don’t. But the training requirements are intense – most people can’t qualify. At the end of the day, flying commercial means compromising animal needs sometimes. But with patience, there’s usually a solution!

In conclusion, I hope this overview of major US airline ESA policies has helped address the questions and concerns of anxious flyers. While rules vary by carrier, the key is thorough preparation and responsible pet ownership. With the right documentation submitted on time, most mental health companions can still take to the skies. Safe travels to all – both two-legged and four-legged passengers alike!

Airlines That Accept ESAs

Airline	Accepts ESAs	Notes
American Airlines	Yes	ESA must remain in carrier under seat
Delta Airlines	Yes	ESA must remain in carrier under seat or at passenger’s feet. Health form required.
United Airlines	Yes	ESA must remain in carrier under seat. Health form required.
Southwest Airlines	Yes	ESA must remain in carrier under seat. Health form required.
JetBlue	Yes	ESA must remain in carrier under seat. Health form required.

FAQ

1. Which airlines basically accept ESAs?

   Most major airlines in the U.S. allow emotional support animals (ESAs) to fly in the cabin along with their owners. This includes carriers like Delta, American Airlines, United, and Southwest. These carriers require proper paperwork from a medical professional to verify the need for an ESA.

   

2. Do all airlines let ESAs fly for free?

   While most airlines let ESAs fly in the cabin at no extra cost, some low-cost carriers like Frontier have started charging fees for emotional support animals. The fees are kind of like charges for regular pets flying in cargo. However, folks needing an ESA for emotional support can get the charge waived by providing documentation from a healthcare provider.

3. What paperwork do I need for my ESA?

   In order to fly with an ESA, airlines require a letter from a licensed mental health professional – like a therapist, psychiatrist, or doctor. This letter must state that you have a documented mental health condition and that your ESA provides emotional support to help manage that condition. It also needs contact info for the medical pro and be less than one year old.

4. Are there size/breed limits for ESAs?

   While ESAs have more lenient rules than pets on planes, most carriers do have certain restrictions. For example, they may have limits on the size of the animal depending on the size of the person. Some airlines also ban “bully” dog breeds like pit bulls or prohibit reptiles due to health concerns. It’s always good to check airline policies ahead of time.

5. What if my ESA acts out on the plane?

   If your ESA demonstrates aggressive behavior like growling or biting during the flight, airline staff may require you to put the animal in a carrier for the remainder of the trip. In extreme situations where the animal jeopardizes safety, the flight crew has the right to deny boarding altogether. So it’s best to carefully train and acclimate your ESA to reduce stress.

6. Do ESAs have public access rights?

   No, unlike service animals, ESAs do not have full public access. Their rights are limited to flying in an aircraft cabin and sometimes residing in no-pet housing. ESAs are not granted the same legal status in other locations like restaurants, stores, hotels, etc. Unlike trained service dogs, owners cannot take ESAs into places beyond aircraft cabins or housing.

7. Does my ESA need special training?

   Unlike service animals, emotional support animals are not required to have any formal training in tasks. However, it is recommended that owners provide basic obedience training and socialization for ESAs to ensure good behavior, like house training, crate training, and getting used to new environments and people. Trained animals take pressure off crews and avoid issues that could risk the ability to fly with an ESA.