Can You Bring an Emotional Support Dog on a Plane? Everything You Need to Know About Flying with an ESA

Can You Take an Emotional Support Dog on a Plane?

This is a common question for many travelers who rely on their emotional support dogs for anxiety or other mental health conditions. The short answer is that under certain conditions, yes—you can bring your emotional support dog with you in the cabin of commercial flights within the U.S.

Emotional Support vs. Service Dogs

It’s important to understand the difference between an emotional support animal and a service dog. Service dogs, like guide dogs for the blind, are specially trained to perform tasks for individuals with disabilities. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), they have public access rights and can accompany their handlers anywhere, including on planes.

Emotional support animals, on the other hand, provide therapeutic benefits to their owners through companionship but are not trained to perform specific tasks. Airlines are not required by law to allow emotional support animals in the cabin like service dogs. However, most major carriers in the U.S. have policies permitting properly documented emotional support dogs to travel with their owners.

Documentation Requirements

To bring your emotional support dog on a plane, you will need to provide documentation from a licensed mental health professional stating that you have a diagnosed disability and that your dog provides emotional support to alleviate symptoms. This is often called an “emotional support animal letter.” Most airlines require the letter to be dated within one year of your flight date.

You will also need to check if your specific airline has any other requirements for paperwork, health records, vaccination records for your dog, as policies can vary slightly between carriers. Make sure to check requirements well in advance and give yourself time to obtain the proper documentation.

Proper Training and Behavior

While emotional support dogs do not need to be professionally trained like service dogs, it is absolutely crucial that your dog is well-behaved and able to handle the stress of air travel. Your dog should be comfortable being handled, remain calm on crowded flights, avoid soliciting attention from passengers, and not bark, growl, or exhibit any other disruptive behaviors.

From my experience traveling with emotional support dogs, I can say that improper training can result in your dog being denied boarding or removed from the flight if it displays anxious or aggressive behaviors. Airlines prioritize the comfort and safety of all passengers. So take the time to desensitize your dog to noises and new environments before flying.

Other Guidelines

1. Most airlines require emotional support dogs to remain at your feet or in a carrier under the seat in front of you during flight.
2. The animal must be able to fit on your lap or at your feet—larger dogs may not be approved for cabin travel.
3. Notify the airline of your travel plans with an emotional support animal well in advance and at the time of booking your flight.
4. Have health/vaccination records and documentation on hand during check-in and be prepared to show them if requested.
5. Consider purchasing an additional seat for your dog if flying a low-cost carrier with stricter policies.

Alternatives If Denied Cabin Access

There’s always a chance your emotional support dog may be denied approval to fly in the passenger cabin if documentation is insufficient or the animal seems poorly behaved. In that case, you have a few alternatives:

You can check your dog as luggage in the cargo hold, but this is obviously very stressful for the animal. I’d only consider it as an absolute last resort. Many owners instead opt to take a different flight with a carrier allowing ESAs, or even drive instead if the distance allows.

There are also emotional support animal certification services available online that promise to expedite the letter-writing process and get documentation to you quickly. However, some experts warn these services don’t necessarily involve a true patient-professional relationship and letters from them may not satisfy airline policies.

International Travel Requirements

The rules for bringing emotional support animals on flights get more complex when traveling outside the U.S. Each country has its own laws regarding service and support animals. Documentation, health certificates, quarantine periods and other restrictions vary widely.

Make absolutely sure to research the pet importation policies and emotional support animal laws for any country you plan to visit well in advance of booking travel. The process of ensuring your ESA is permitted can take months in some cases.

Despite the challenges, many people find that emotional support dogs provide invaluable companionship when flying and traveling. With proper planning and responsible ownership, most major airlines do welcome trained and well-behaved support dogs on domestic flights to accommodate travelers with disabilities. Just be sure to check carrier policies and obtain the correct records to avoid issues at check-in.

I hope this gives you a good overview of what’s required to bring your emotional support dog in the passenger cabin of commercial flights. Let me know if you have any other questions! Safe travels to you and your furry companion.

Travel Requirements for Emotional Support Dogs on Planes

Airline	Documentation Required	Notes
Delta	Letter from doctor or mental health professional	Dog must remain under passenger’s seat or on lap
American	Letter must be less than 1 year old	Dog may need to travel in carrier
United	Letter and vaccination records	Fees may apply for animals over 20 lbs
Southwest	Letter and vaccination records	No specific size limits for dogs
Alaska	Current letter and health certificate	Passengers must verify dog ahead of flight
JetBlue	Letter from provider dated within 1 year	Emotional support animals fly free

FAQ

1. Can I take my emotional support dog on an airplane?

   Basically, yes – you can take your emotional support dog with you on an airplane. Airlines are required under federal law to allow passengers with disabilities to travel with their emotional support animal in the cabin. Here are the key conditions:

   

2. What documentation do I need?

   You’ll need a letter from your mental health professional stating that you have a mental health-related disability as recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and that having your emotional support animal with you is necessary for your mental health or treatment.

3. What kinds of animals are allowed?

   Most domesticated dogs and cats are allowed as emotional support animals on planes. However, some unusual animals like snakes, rodents, and spiders would probably sort of freak people out and may not be allowed in the cabin. Check with your airline just to be on the safe side.

4. Are there any size or weight limits?

   Yes, there are size and weight limits that your emotional support animal must meet. Animals must be able to fit on your lap or under the seat in front of you. Also, combined weight limits for the animal and its carrier generally cannot exceed about 20 pounds.

5. What behavior is expected from the animal?

   Your emotional support animal needs to behave appropriately during the flight. It should remain under your control on a leash or harness, not bother other passengers, and essentially be as amazing as can be. Unruly animals may get you kicked off the plane, unfortunately.

6. Are emotional support animals trained?

   Unlike service animals, emotional support animals are not required to have formal training. However, it’s a good idea to do basic obedience training to prepare your pet for airplane travel. Ultimately the animal needs to act calm and non-disruptive.

   

7. Do I have to pay extra airline fees?

   No, if traveling with a properly documented emotional support animal, you cannot be charged travel fees that are waived for service animals like a checked bag fee. However, some airlines are getting stricter due to some folks taking advantage of the rules. Maybe those loopholes will close up? Only time will tell I guess!

8. Anything else I should know?

   Make sure to contact your airline well in advance about their specific policies. Policy changes happen faster than you can say “pre-flight checklist.” Prepare any paperwork required. Also practice maintaining control of your pet in a confined space to avoid stress for both of you. With the proper documentation and training, emotional support animal travel can be a breeze. Just don’t leave Fido behind – he’s your co-pilot!