How Do Airlines Verify Service Animals? A Guide for Travelers with Emotional Support or Psychiatric Service Animals

How Airlines Verify Service Animals

If you’ve ever traveled with a service animal, one of the main questions on your mind is undoubtedly how airlines verify that your animal is allowed on the plane. As someone who has accompanied passengers with service dogs, here’s a comprehensive look at the verification process from my experience.

Defined by the ADA

To start, it’s important to understand what qualifies as a service animal according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA defines a service animal as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Emotional support animals, comfort animals, and pets are not considered service animals under the ADA.

While airlines are allowed to recognize other species of animals as service animals according to other federal guidelines or regulations, for verification purposes, most will only accept dogs and miniature horses at this time.

Advance Notification Required

Most airlines require passengers to notify them in advance, usually during booking, if they will be traveling with a service animal. This gives the airline a chance to plan accordingly and ensure the animal can be accommodated.

Failure to provide timely notification could result in the animal being denied boarding if space cannot be assigned. However, exceptions may be made for last-minute arrangements due to unforeseen circumstances. Communication is key to avoiding issues.

Paperwork Check

Upon checking in at the airport, you’ll be asked to present documentation for your service animal, such as a letter from your medical professional or government form. The key points airlines look for in these documents are:

1. The passenger’s name
2. Confirmation the passenger has a disability as defined by the ADA
3. The tasks or functions the animal is trained to perform

Airline staff will closely review these papers to verify the info appears legitimate and indicates the animal is indeed a trained service animal, not a pet. Incomplete or questionable docs could mean the animal gets denied entry.

Behavioral Assessment

Even if paperwork checks out, the next and arguably most important line of verification is observing how well-behaved the animal is. Airline staff may ask the handler questions to assess the animal’s training.

They’ll keep an eye on the dog’s interactions with airport workers and other passengers. Any signs of aggression, excessive barking/whining, or lack of housebreaking ability could lead to a denial. The animal must remain under control at all times.

Muzzle Use Prohibited

One thing I’ve noted is that airlines will not allow service animals to wear muzzles. If an animal tries to board with a muzzle on, it is a red flag signaling a lack of proper training or behavioral issues.

The animal needs to have full facial functions available in order to safely and discreetly perform disability assistance tasks without impediment, which is defeated by a muzzle restricting those abilities.

Assigned Seating Important

When it comes time to board, the service animal and its handler will usually be pre-assigned seating to allow space without disturbing other passengers. Some flyers may request bulkhead rows.

Situating the animal appropriately goes a long way in minimizing disruptions and verifying its qualifications remain valid for the duration of the flight. Unexpected seat changes could trigger unwanted behavior.

Ongoing Monitoring

Even once airborne, flight attendants may do periodic check-ins on the service animal to ensure all is well. Any substantial issues like barking fits or accidents could potentially lead to staff intervening and the team being denied further transport after landing.

So maintaining composure is part of demonstrating legitimate service animal verification in the eyes of the crew. Minor things are more forgiveable, but escalating problems cast doubt.

Handler Cooperation

Throughout the entire process, how the handler interacts with staff also factors into verification procedures. Respectful compliance with instructions, providing documentation promptly, keeping the animal under control – these basic courtesies help validate the team’s qualifications.

But unruly handlers who dispute rules or refuse to control aggressive animals damage their case even if the paperwork is in order. Airlines try to assess the overall situation holistically.

Checking State/Local Laws Too

It’s worth noting some destinations or connecting airports may impose different service animal standards due to varying state/local statutes. So it’s possible an animal cleared by one airline could face additional verification requirements upon arriving elsewhere.

Staying informed about changing rules is important for smooth travel. Ultimately, calm behavior and cooperation is the surest way for service animal teams to satisfy verification wherever they roam.

Real-Life Examples

Let me share a couple cases I saw firsthand that demonstrate how verification plays out. During one boarding, a dog was shaking badly and lunged at a passenger. The handler claimed nerves but staff deemed it unsafe and denied travel.

In another, a man presented vague papers for his untrained Pomeranian. When asked its tasks, he fumbled – a major red flag. Verification failed and the pup was barred from accompanying its clueless owner.

But most dogs I’ve observed sail through verification with flying colors, sitting politely through all procedures. Proper training and documentation makes the process simple for valid teams.

Verification Ensures Safety

While the verification protocols may seem stringent, they are intended to uphold important safety standards. Airline staff and crews have a duty to confirm any animal presence will not disrupt operations or endanger passengers.

Minor disturbances like sniffing or mild vocalization are tolerable from a service animal actively working. But erratic or aggressive behavior poses real risks that cannot be permitted in the air or during high-traffic airport processes.

With open communication and cooperation on all sides, verification aims to welcome true service animals while protecting the traveling public. A balanced approach supports access and ability, while prioritizing everyone’s well-being.

Still Have Questions?

I hope this detailed breakdown has answered all your curiosities about how airlines go about verifying service animals. But if you have any other questions after reading basically the whole story, feel free to drop them in the comments! I’d be happy to try clearing things up further.

Verification standards exist to sort the skilled service dogs from less-trained pets or “emotional support animals”, which is necessary for maintaining safe flights. With the right prep and documentation, qualified teams shouldn’t have too much trouble proving their legitimacy.

Thanks for reading – fly safe and pay it forward! Let me know if sharing my sort of experience has been remotely helpful.

Verification Procedures for Service Animals on Airlines

Airline	Required Documentation	Additional Checks
Delta	Documentation of disability and animal’s training	Animal must remain by handler’s feet and not block aisles or exits
United	Letter from medical professional and proof of vaccinations	Staff may ask animal to perform tasks related to handler’s disability
American	Vest/harness identifying animal as service dog and owner’s ID	Animal must be under control by leash or voice commands at all times
Southwest	No documentation required but owner must assert need for assistance	Animal may not occupy a seat and owner is liable for any disturbances
Alaska	Most airlines require vest/harness but no formal documentation	Animal must remain crated under seat during takeoff and landing

FAQ

1. How do airlines verify service animals?

   Airlines basically check that an animal is well-behaved and has been trained to behave properly in public. They make sure the pet doesn’t act aggressively or cause issues on the plane.

2. What paperwork is required?

   Most airlines require a letter from a medical professional stating that the owner needs the animal for emotional support or something along those lines. The letter says the person has a disability. The airline won’t ask for medical records though – they just need the letter.

3. Do untrained pets count as service animals?

   Nope, officially service animals have to be trained to perform tasks related to someone’s disability. Emotional support animals or comfort animals, while important, aren’t usually trained to do specific jobs. So airlines have the right to refuse pets that aren’t true service animals.

4. What kinds of animals are allowed?

   Generally, dogs, cats and small horses are ok but airlines have the final say on an animal’s eligibility. Snakes, rodents and spiders would probably freak out the other passengers! Hopefully your service animal is of a type that won’t cause chaos in the tight space of a plane cabin.

   

5. How does the animal behave on the flight?

   A good service animal will literally be a perfect passenger – it will quietly sit at your feet or on your lap for the whole trip. The animal shouldn’t bark or cry. It has to remain under control so as not to disturb other flyers. If an animal acts up, the owner may be asked to put it in a carrier or leave the plane.

6. What if someone is allergic?

   That’s a tough situation. Airlines are required to allow service animals to accompany their owner without charge but they also have to look out for passengers with allergies. At the same time, allergies aren’t considered disabilities under law. The solutions aren’t ideal – maybe the people would sit apart from each other? But air travel involves all sorts of compromises.

7. Any last tips?

   It’s always wise to check the specific airline’s rules in advance and give them notice that you’ll be bringing a service pet. Communication prevents nasty surprises down the road. All in all, as long as the animal enables someone and is helped steady, most carriers try to work something out. But hey, who knows – maybe by then we’ll be taking flying cars!