Can You Bring Your Emotional Support Dog on a Plane? Traveling with an Emotional Support Animal by Air

Can I Bring My Emotional Support Dog on a Plane?

If you rely on an emotional support animal for your mental health, traveling by air can present unique challenges. As someone who has dealt with anxiety disorders for many years, I understand how comforting it is to have your furry companion by your side during stressful situations like flying. In this article, I’ll answer common questions about bringing emotional support dogs on flights.

What Is an Emotional Support Animal?

An emotional support animal (ESA) is an animal that provides therapeutic benefit to its owner through companionship. ESAs are prescribed by a mental health professional to help treat a diagnosed mental illness, like depression, anxiety, or PTSD. While ESAs don’t have special training like service animals, they can still legally accompany their owners in public spaces like planes under federal laws protecting people with disabilities.

Can I Bring My ESA on a Plane?

In general, yes – airlines are required to allow emotional support dogs and sometimes other species of ESAs like cats in the cabin with their owners. However, there are a few important steps you must take first:

1. Get documentation from your licensed mental health professional stating you have a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and your ESA provides emotional support to mitigate symptoms
2. Contact the airline you plan to fly with at least 48 hours in advance to discuss your request to travel with an ESA. Most major carriers require a form to be submitted confirming your intent
3. Ensure your ESA is well-behaved, housebroken, and can remain on the floor or in your lap at all times during the flight

As long as you’ve cleared everything with the airline ahead of time, you and your ESA should be able to fly together with no issues. But be sure to plan extra time to check in so your paperwork can be verified.

Is There a Size or Breed Restriction?

While ESAs have more leeway than pets to fly in the cabin, they still must fit under the seat in front of you without obstructing the aisle or other passenger spaces. Therefore, any dog that can fit this criteria without being disruptive is acceptable, regardless of breed. However, some airlines may have absolute restrictions on certain very large breeds like Great Danes for safety and space reasons.

In general, most medium and small dog breeds should be fine as long as they remain well-behaved. As with any accommodation, airlines also reserve the right to deny animals they deem a threat or that have shown unsafe behavior in the past.

What If My ESA Acts Up During the Flight?

Even well-trained ESAs can experience anxiety in the unfamiliar plane environment. However, it’s important that they remain under control at all times to avoid disrupting other passengers or crew. If your dog is barking excessively, jumping on people, or having accidents inside the cabin, you’ll likely be asked to deplane with your animal before takeoff for the comfort and safety of all.

If this occurs, you may still be allowed to travel alone without the ESA while it remains grounded. But you risk the airline denying future requests to fly with that animal unless significant training has taken place. That’s why keeping stress-reducing treats and toys on hand can help your furry buddy stay calm.

Is There a Fee for ESAs?

No legitimate fee can be charged simply for traveling with a properly documented ESA. However, many airlines will still have standard baggage fees for any carriers or cages needed. And if you want your ESA to ride with you in the cabin, be prepared for potential pushback from other irritable passengers, like being glared at by the businessman in the next seat who’s kind of allergic to dogs.

In most cases, simply explaining you rely on your ESA for a mental disability under the ADA is enough to ward off complaints from fellow flyers. But it never hurts to bring treats to share, help your neighbor understand your situation, and try to reduce potential discomfort as much as possible.

Any Tips for Preparing Your ESA to Fly?

To give your ESA the best chance at a calm flight, here are some suggestions from my own experience:

1. Take your dog to meet planes and reproduce airport sounds during training to desensitize them before the actual trip
2. Have your vet check your dog over and provide travel papers verifying fitness to fly
3. Give calming supplements or pheromone sprays/diffusers a few days before departure to help relax your pet
4. Bring familiar items like blankets, toys or treats to reassure your dog while airborne
5. Consider sedative medication from your vet if your dog tends to be anxious, but use sparingly
6. Verify airline requirements for health records, vaccination records, and any gear needed like leashes/carriers

With preparation like this, you and your ESA should be ready to face whatever the friendly skies may bring!

What Questions Should I Ask the Airline?

When contacting airlines as advised, here are some of the important details to clarify upfront:

1. What paperwork and verification do they require from my mental health provider?
2. Will my specific breed or size of dog be OK in their aircraft cabins?
3. Where exactly will my dog sit or be contained on the plane?
4. Do they charge any additional baggage fees for carriers/crates?
5. What is their specific policy if my dog acts up or has an accident?
6. How far in advance do I need to notify them of my ESA travel request?
7. Can I check in online or need to go directly to the ticket counter?

Leaving no stone unturned with the airline basically ensures no nasty surprises en route. It’s always better to be over-prepared than under when it comes to flying with support animals in tow.

When In Doubt, Ask!

Even with following all the tips here, travel hiccups may still arise. But staying polite and remembering flight staff are just doing their job can go a long way. Some airlines may bend the rules more than others, so while you should know your legal rights, attempting to work with them cooperatively also shows good faith efforts.

If confusion emerges, don’t hesitate to call the airline’s special needs line for guidance. And agencies like the DOT can potentially mediate disputes as a last resort. With open communication and reasonable flexibility on both sides, flying with an ESA is totally doable. Safe travels to all furry friends up in the wild blue yonder!

Flying with Your Emotional Support Dog: Key Things to Know

Airline	Documentation Required	Fees	Notes
Delta	Doctor’s note or note from mental health professional	No	Dog must remain on floor under seat or on your lap
United	Doctor’s note or note from mental health professional	$125 each way	Dog must remain on floor under seat or on your lap
American	Doctor’s note or note from mental health professional	$125 each way	Dog must remain on floor under seat or on your lap
Alaska	Doctor’s note or note from mental health professional	No	Dog must remain on floor under seat or on your lap
Southwest	No	No	Emotional support animals fly free but must remain on floor under seat

FAQ

1. Can I bring my emotional support dog on a plane?

   Yes, basically airlines are required to allow passengers to travel with an emotional support animal, usually a dog or cat, in the cabin provided that certain criteria are met. However, airlines do have the right to refuse any animal that displays troubling behavior or doesn’t seem properly trained.

   

2. What paperwork do I need for my emotional support dog?

   To fly with an emotional support dog, you will need to obtain a letter from a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other medical doctor. This letter should state that you have a mental health-related disability recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and that your dog provides emotional support or treatment to help alleviate specific symptoms of your disability. Strong documentation like this is essential to avoiding issues when traveling with your dog.

3. Are there size or breed restrictions for emotional support dogs?

   While airlines do not officially limit the breeds or sizes of emotional support dogs allowed in the cabin, in practice some restrictions may kind of apply. For safety and space concerns, they’re unlikely to approve very large dog breeds over about 30 pounds or aggressive-looking canines like pit bulls. Smaller or more docile breeds seem to meet with fewer problems. But at the end of the day it really comes down to the dog’s behavior, not its appearance.

4. What are the rules for emotional support dogs on planes?

   Emotional support dogs on planes must remain under their owner’s control at all times. They should be well-trained not to bark or cause a nuisance to passengers. Owners must clean up after their pets in the airport and on the aircraft. Emotional support dogs are not allowed to sit in the aisle or block emergency exits – they must fit comfortably on their owner’s lap or at their feet. Perhaps airlines should consider pet relief areas too, but for now it’s best to prepare for potential “accidents” during lengthy flights.

5. Can I be denied boarding if I have an emotional support dog?

   Technically airlines cannot refuse passengers who meet all the documentation requirements for flying with an emotional support animal. Nevertheless, if an animal seems unfit for air travel due to health or conduct issues, the carrier may ban it from boarding in the spirit of protecting passengers and crew. So pet owners need to ensure their dog’s fitness by training, socializing, and checking with a vet before attempting plane transport, to avoid disappointing denials. It all comes down to demonstrating that the pet will basically behave.

6. Is an emotional support dog the same as a service dog?

   While emotional support dogs and psychiatric service dogs serve similar purposes, there are a couple key differences. Service dogs require specialized training to perform disability-mitigating tasks, whereas emotional support dogs need only provide comfort through companionship. Service dogs also have broader public access rights, being allowed virtually anywhere their handler goes. But at least emotional support dogs get folks some leeway like flying together, which can be a huge relief for folks struggling with mental probs.

7. How much does an emotional support dog letter cost?

   Surprisingly, there are no standard rates for an ESA letter – costs seem to vary quite a bit depending where you look. Some doctors charge several hundred dollars for the letter, but you can find reputable mental health pros offering them for $100-$150 too, if you search around online. It appears that demand has prompted some bad apples to sell pre-written ESA letters without actually examining patients, at fairly low prices. But that kind of letter is worthless and could land folks in hot water, so remember – you get what you pay for! It’s best to go through proper medical channels for a legit document.