Airlines that Allow Emotional Support Dogs 2023

Airlines that allow Emotional Support Dogs in 2022 are: China Air, Latam, Norwegian Air, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Australia, Volaris, AeroMexico, Air France, Asiana Air, KLM, Lufthansa, Viva Aerobus and FlyBondi (South America).

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Rule of Law for Airlines Flying with Emotional Support Animals (ESA)

As of March 2021, the U.S. Department of Transportation took away the protections emotional support dogs enjoyed for years.

This new rules let airlines to choose not to allow emotional support animals on their flights.  They were given discretion to say yes or no to your ESA and many chose NO.

But, there are still some airlines that allow Emotional Support Dogs on Planes.

Here are the airlines that allow still Emotional Support Dogs on Planes in 2022:

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Airlines that Fly Emotional Support Animals

Airlines that Fly Emotional Support Dogs	Requirements to Fly with ESA
Westjet	Update-no longer accepting ESAs– Only Service Dogs in 2022
China Air	Update-no longer accepting ESAs– Only Service Dogs in 2022)
Latam	Routes from or to Mexico, Colombia and on domestic flights within Colombia
Norwegian Air	All Direct flights to and from the U.S (excl. flights to the UK) Notice: 48 hours prior to departure.
Singapore Airlines	❏ Import and/or export permits (subject to country-specific regulations) ❏ Transshipment licence, if your dog is transiting through Singapore ❏ Veterinary health certificate ❏ Rabies vaccination letter ❏ Signed statement from a licensed mental health professional no older than one year prior to your flight date stating: – you have a mental or emotional disability recognised in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), and is under his or her professional care – you need the emotional support dog for air travel and/or for activities at your destination – licence information of the mental health professional (issue date, licence type, and jurisdiction and state where it was issued) ❏ A completed acknowledgement form
Virgin Australia	To request to travel with your Emotional Support on a Virgin Australia operated flight* to or from the United States, please call our Guest Contact Centre.
Volaris	The emotional support animals service is free of charge and is available on the following routes: ■ Within Mexico ■ From Mexico to Central America and vice versa ■ Within Central America ■ Within South America ■ From Central America to South America and vice versa Follow the SAGAPRA requirements
AeroMexico	Dog and Cat ESAs allowed. Emotional support animals which must have a maximum weight of 26 lbs / 12 kg and their allowed measurements will be 22 in long x 12 in tall. Follow the SAGAPRA requirements
Air France	Book for you and your pet at the same time by telephone. Or, Book your flight on Air France website, then contact our customer service team as quickly as possible afterwards by telephone to add your pet to the booking.
Asiana Air	Update-no longer accepting ESAs– Only Service Dogs in 2022)
KLM Airlines	Update-no longer accepting ESAs– Only Service Dogs in 2022)
Lufthansa	Your Dog must be trained to be obedient to your commands and must behave appropriately in a public space (in other words, no barking, growling, or jumping up at people or other animals).
Viva Aerobus	Present a medical prescription on letterhead issued by an institution or a doctor specializing in mental health (psychologist or psychiatrist) that contains:  – Full name of the passenger.  – Name, medical license, and signature of the person who issued the document.  Leash, harness, and ID tag
FlyBondi	Emotional support Dogs fly free of charge, as long as he/she has identification and a health certificate, which may be requested by Flybondi staff Notice: at least 24 hours before the flight departure through the ticket purchasing process.

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So, if you are flexible with your route and airline, you still can fly with your ESA in 2022. Once you find your airline, you need to have the right documents. Here is a list of documents you need to fly with an Emotional Support Animal:

What Documents Do I Need to Fly with an ESA Emotional Support Dog?

1. ESA Letter from a Mental Health Professional

First and foremost, find an airline and a route to get you where you want to go, then go to a trusted Mental Health Professional for flying with ESAs. You can reach out to ESADoctors to walk you through the process and get you on your way.

You must have an ESA Letter from a Licensed Mental Health Professional (Stating you have a mental or emotional need for an ESA Dog and the letter is no older than 1 year from the date of flying with your Dog.

You can make an online appointment with ESADoctors for either an ESA or Psychiatric Service Dog. ESADoctors are most trusted and well accepted to handle all your needs for an ESA Letter to fly with your Dog.

ESADoctors will ensure that your Letter includes all the Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements including:

• That the passenger has a mental or emotional health-related disability recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM); the note does not have to disclose the specifics of the disability
• That having the animal accompany them is necessary for their mental health or treatment, or to assist them with their disability during the flight or upon their arrival
• That the individual providing the assessment is a licensed mental health professional and that the passenger is under his or her professional care
• The date and type of the mental health professional’s license and the state or other jurisdiction in which it was issued
• The ESADoctor’s signature

For Example, here is the email a Pet Traveler with Dog received from Singapore Airlines on their requirements to fly with an ESA.

ESADoctors is fully compliant with the requirements of Singapore and many other airlines including Lufthansa, AeroMexico, Alaska Air and many other to fly with your ESA.

2. Animal Health Certificate from USDA/APHIS

A pet health certificate is an official document issued and often endorsed by USDA/APHIS, through your Veterinarian certifying that your Pet is fit to travel. including vaccination, Rabies & Titer tests, Microchip, age, breed and health conditions required to travel with pets.

Many Airlines require a Certificate to be issued within 10 to 14 days prior to travel.

See How to Obtain a Pet Health Certificate for domestic and international Pet travel here with links to the USDA/APHIS and Veterinarians to provide the Animal Health Certificate

3. Your Statement of Your Dog’s Good Behavior

This is the easiest. You can write your own statement and many airlines have a simple form for you to fill out stating that your Dog is well-socialized enough to be calm and behave on a flight.

Airlines often have their own statement form on their website or at the checkin counter. Once you have chosen your airline and booked your flight, be sure to add your Dog and have this simple, one-page statement typed, printed and signed by you.

See also, Airline that Allows All Large Dogs In Cabin

Next, if you travel internationally with a Pet you will need additional documents. Here’s a complete list. Depending on if your companion pet is a Dog, Cat or Ferret, you will need the following:

Most Airlines Have Chosen Not To Allow ESAs (Dogs) on Planes In Cabin

Most domestic airlines including United Airline, American Airline, Jetblue, Frontier, Alaska and Southwest Airlines have decided to take full advantage of the new rule put out by the U.S. Department of Transportation and stop accepting ESAs in the airline cabin.

Some believe the reason airlines have stopped accepting ESAs is because too many Pet Parents were abusing and taking advantage of the old regulations, passed their Pet off as an Emotional Support Animal and brought all manner of exotic animals on flights—for free including peacocks and miniature horses. 

Some believe that it is simply a matter of Pet Parents who have failed to properly socialize their Pets for flying on Planes.

I believe that airlines continue to choose to stop flying Emotional Support Animals because there’s money to be made by charging a Pet Fee for an ESA that they cannot charge for a Service Animal. ESAs are another way to increase airline profits at your expense. Not good for us or our Pets!

You only to look at the huge number of rude human passengers flying on airlines in the last year to see that poor behaved animals is not as much an issue as the Airlines say.

companionpettravel–AnneTravel

And even when flying with your Pet In Cabin counts as your carry-on or personal item which is usually included in the fare for your ticket, they still charge a Pet Fee for flying on a Plane In Cabin.

‍Airlines Still Accept Dogs In Cabin On Planes

If your Dog Does not qualify as an ESA or Service Dog, you can still fly with your Pet on a Plane In Cabin.

If your Dog or Cat meets the standard size to fit under the seat on a plane, airlines will still allow them and you are permitted to bring them on an airline for a Pet fee ranging from free to $125.

What is the Standard Size for Airline Pet Carriers In-Cabin?

The Standard Size for Pet Carriers is 22”Lx14”Wx 9” and for Pets In-Cabin the average weight for your Pet is 8kg or 17lbs. Soft-Sided Carriers are best for Airlines. The top compresses 1 or 2 inches, giving you more options than a Hard-Sided carrier. The carrier must be stowed under the seat at least for take-off and landing.

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If your Dog cannot fit under the seat in front of you, you may still be able to fly with a larger Dog on a Plane, in cabin. See, Can I Buy a Seat on a Plane for My Dog?

Of Course, this does not help the majority of Pet Parents who cannot fly with their pet that is over 20lbs.

See: The 10 Most Affordable Airlines Pet Fees: 2022

And, Flying a Large Dog In Cabin 2022

Service Animals on Airlines Are Still Protected in 2022

Service Animals are still protected by the US Federal Government and every airline must still allow properly trained Service Dogs to fly In Cabin without a Pet Fee.

Service Animals are federally protected, in part because they have been individually trained for the owner’s specific disability.

If a fully trained service Dog meets the requirements, they may fly free by sitting at its owner’s feet in the seat’s footspace.

Further, if the seat chosen is not large enough for the Dog, the airline must accommodate the owner with a larger seat in the same class of cabin.

Service Animals typically extremely well behaved as well as individually trained to perform a task that can help someone with a specific disability.

Psychiatric Service Dogs are Service Dogs and Must Be Allowed to Fly On All Airlines

Thankfully many travelers with a mental disability are turning to service animals, specifically psychiatric service Dogs as an alternative to ESAs.

The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in air travel, according to the Department of Transportation.

What Is A Psychiatric Service Dog And Service Animal?

A psychiatric service dog is very similar to an ESA in that they help alleviate symptoms of a person’s disability.

Psychiatric service dogs and service animals have emerged as the new standard for flying for a qualified individual.

How Are Psychiatric Service Dogs Different From ESAs?

Psychiatric service dogs and service animals are different from an animal that provides emotional support in that they are specially trained to do work.

When it comes to what mental and emotional disability qualifies for a psychiatric service animal it is the exact same standard as an ESA.

Psychiatric Service Dogs are protected by US Federal Law and ESAs are no longer.

Emotional support dogs (ESDs) are dogs that are required for a person’s ongoing mental health treatment by a licensed mental health professional.

These professionals include licensed therapists, psychologists and doctors (General Practitioners).

An ESD brings comfort and minimizes the negative symptoms their human companion’s emotional or psychological ‘disability’.

Unlike service dogs, emotional support dogs do not need any specific task-training because their very presence alleviates the symptoms associated with a personal psychological or emotional disability.

The only requirement is that the dog is fully under control in public and does not cause trouble in or around the domestic environment.

There is No US Government Registry for Emotional Support Animals BUT, there are Registries in other Countries

It is important to remember with all the private companies offer to register your ESA, that there is NO official registry for ESAs in the USA. There are official ESA Registries in other Countries.

In order to prove your Dog is your Emotional Support Dog for flying on Airlines, you will need a letter from an accredited medical health practitioner.

Still, Airlines often get it wrong and arbitrarily deny Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSDs) and ESAs.  Often this is due to a lack of understanding of the American with Disabilities Act and the DOT Ruling on Emotional Support Animals. 

I have heard from other Pet Parents that if the ticket reservationist or other airline staff cannot see the disability, no disability exists.

Therefore, it is wise to have a letter from a Mental or Medical Health professional with you when you arrive at the airport. 

No such letter is required by US law; however, it helps confused or poorly-trained airport staff to better accept that PSD or ESA.

What Documents are Required By Airlines to Fly with an Emotional Support Animal?

Dogs must meet the standard of training laid out by the ADA and DOT before you can fly with your Pet.

You also need a form that the DOT requires you fill out before boarding your flight.

1.  Obtain a Medical Assessment Letter / ESA Letter

Remember there is no Certification for a Dog as an ESA. There are no official certificate and no official Governmental registration database for Emotional Support Animals (ESAs).

To fly with an Emotional Support Dog, you need an ESA letter, which is a letter from a medical or mental health professional—preferably, your own therapist or physician.

SCAMS EXIST.

Many websites offer ESD/ESA “Certificates” in exchange for a fee and a quick survey on their site. Avoid any websites offering such service or to add your Pet to their “official registry. There is no such thing as an official ESD/ESA certificate or registry. 

They are simply charging you to create their own database and add your Pet to it. They have no legal force.

The Letter from a Medical or Mental Health Professional is most effective in convincing the Airline your Pet really is your ESA:

The Letter is on the professionals letterhead, with contact information, written by a qualified physician or mental health provider.

Includes the professional’s license number, as well as their signature and date the letter is signed.

The letter should clearly state your need for an Emotional Support Animal.

What qualifies Your Dog as an Emotional Support Dog?

Many people who suffer from a variety of illnesses, including mild to severe depression, phobias, PTSD, anxiety, and panic attacks have found that companionship of an emotional support dogs alleviates symptoms, sometimes even when prescription medications failed or had adverse side effects.

To qualify for an ESD, a licensed medical health care professional will determine whether you have a disability and whether an ESD would help alleviate your symptoms.

A “disability” for purposes of qualifying for an Emotional Support Dog means a mental health condition like depression or severe anxiety.

It includes any mental health condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as the ability to study, work, travel or sleep.

Please note that under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), emotional support animals are not considered service animals and are therefore not given the same rights and privileges.

However, ESDs in many instances, such as traveling, have more rights to accompany their owners than standard Pets.

2. Obtain your Emotional Support Dog’s  Health Certificate for Pet Passport

In order to fly with emotional support dogs, they must have a Pet Passport or Pet Health Certificate. See Pet Health Certificates and Pet Passport US to Everywhere

3. Book Flights and Inform Your Airline Directly of Flying with ESA

It’s important to check that your airline allows emotional support dogs on board with you, as many do not.  

Different airlines have different restrictions on the dog breeds they allow on their planes.

If your airline does not allow flying with an emotional support dog, your dog will need to adhere to the airlines standard pet policies.

When booking your flight, it’s important to note that you may be restricted to sit in specific seats on the plane.

Most airlines require that passengers flying with an ESA dog sit in certain seats on the plane.

Therefore, it is important to check these specific requirements, when booking your flight or reserving your seats.

Generally, you will need to inform the airline that you will be bringing an ESD, at least 48 hours before the flight.

As well as providing your ESA letter, some airlines may also require you to complete a form.

The letter will state the address and jurisdiction of the health professional who approved your use of an ESD.

Additionally, it will state that you have a mental health related disability and are under the care of a health professional.

The amount of notice the airline will need, may differ between airlines.

So, again, please check the policies before booking your flight. If you fail to give some airports sufficient notice, then your ESD may need to be checked into the cargo compartment of the plane.

4. Complete the Airline’s Sanitation Form

A sanitation form is required by some airlines,if your flight is over 8 hours long.

This form states that during the flight, your emotional support dog will not defecate or urinate on a flight.

These forms require you to inform the airline how you’d go about dealing with a scenario in which they will need to defecate or urinate.

Check the airline policy of who you are flying with, to see if a sanitation form is required.

Your Dog Must be Well Behaved

This does not mean your ESA needs to be trained to do work that helps your disability. For an airline that accepts traveling with an ESA (Dogs) they are not allowed to ask what tasks the Dog can perform and they do not need to know how to work or perform tasks.

However, the better trained your Dog, the less airline staff will be inclined to ask you questions and make your life more challenging as you board your flight. It’s best if your pet is well behaved.

See also, Can an Airline Deny My Service Dog to Fly?

What Airlines Do Not Allow Emotional Support Animals (Dogs)

Most domestic airlines including United Airline, American Airline, Jetblue, Frontier, Alaska, even our beloved Southwest Airlines have decided to take advantage of the new rule put out by the U.S. Department of Transportation and stop accepting ESAs in the airline cabin.

What Disabilities Qualify as a Psychiatric Service Dog or Service Animal?

Any mental or emotional disability that qualifies for an ESA can qualify for a psychiatric service animal. This includes:

A psychiatric service dog or service animal provides the same mental health support as an emotional support animal.

Next see, Can my ESA Be a Psychiatric Trained Service Dog for Flying?

And, Flying a Large Dog In Cabin 2022

• Airlines that Allow Snub-Nose Dogs and Cats In Cabin in 2023
• AEROMEXICO-Flying with Pets to Mexico in 2023
• 2023 Flying with Pet Updates
• More and More Pet Parents are Flying with Dogs by Private Jet
• Airlines that Allow Snub-Nose Dogs and Cats In Cabin in 2023

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