Traveling with a Psychiatric Service Dog: What You Need to Know About Airplane Policies

Traveling with a Psychiatric Service Dog: Your Questions Answered

If you have a psychiatric disability like PTSD, anxiety, or depression and rely on a service dog for assistance, air travel can seem daunting. You likely have many questions about how your furry companion will be accommodated during a flight. This article aims to address all the common concerns patients face when taking their psychiatric service dog on an airline.

Will my service dog be allowed on the plane?

Under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), all passengers with disabilities are entitled to fly with their service animals in the cabin free of charge. This includes psychiatric service dogs trained to perform tasks that mitigate your mental health condition. As long as your dog is well-behaved and has been individually trained to do disability-related tasks, the airline cannot legally bar it from the passenger cabin.

However, from my experience working with service dog teams, some airlines can be sort of clueless about “invisible disabilities” like mental illnesses. So I always bring documentation from my psychiatrist explaining why I need my dog. A letter stating the tasks he’s trained for, like interrupting self-harming behaviors or alerting during panic attacks, helps clear up confusion. Basically, showing proof that Fido isn’t just an emotional support pet earns him access to the cabin with me.

Will my dog need any special ID or training?

The Department of Transportation does not require service dogs to have official certifications or IDs. However, many organisations offer optional vests, patches, or ID cards for professionally trained dogs. While not legally mandated for air travel access, these credentials can be helpful as kind of a quick visual that your pooch is a true service dog, not a pet.

It’s also a good idea to get your behavior trained to demonstrate tasks on command during boarding if asked. Things like picking up dropped items, providing deep pressure therapy, or alerting to anxiety attacks helps show airline staff your dog is actually providing necessary disability assistance, not just emotional comfort.

1. Staying calmly by your feet
2. Not barking or becoming disruptive in the airport or plane
3. Being well-socialized to unusual environments like busy terminals and small aircraft cabins

Proper public access training instills good manners that reassure any doubters your service dog is under control. From my experience as a handler, it prevents unnecessary hassles or delays in getting where you need to go.

Where will my dog sit during the flight?

Psychiatric service dogs are allowed to remain at their handler’s feet in the aircraft cabin during take-off, landing, and the entire flight. Many patients like having their dog in their personal space for extra emotional support at 35,000 feet! But if the dog seems too large or its presence causes any legitimate safety issues reported by passengers or crew, it may need to sit in a pet carrier stowed under the seat in front of you.

At the same time, most cabin crew I’ve chatted with say medium to large service dogs traveling quietly at their handlers’ feet isn’t usually a problem. Basically, as long as Fido stays by your side like the well-trained helper he is, he should be permitted on the floor rather than under the seat. Flexibility and common sense usually prevail in these situations, in my experience.

Will my dog need any special paperwork?

It’s definitely a good idea to arm yourself with paperwork confirming your dog’s status as a service animal trained to aid your specific disability, not just a pet. A letter from your mental health provider works well. You may also want a copy of your dog’s public access training certification and proof of vaccinations.

Nevertheless, the DOT says airlines cannot require special documentation or health forms for service animals other than a letter from a licensed medical professional stating your need for the animal to accompany you. Basically, air travel should not be denied if a licensed mental health provider affirms your service dog’s assistance is necessary for your well-being. Still, having records handy avoids potential hassles from misinformed airline staff down the line.

Will there be any fees involved?

No, passengers with disabilities are not charged any pet fees or deposits for traveling with their service animals in the passenger cabin. This includes psychiatric service dogs properly trained to perform tasks for their handler’s disability. However, if the airline refuses to honor your service dog’s access rights, you may need to file an official complaint with the DOT. Basically, they must make “reasonable modifications” like waiving pet charges for legitimate service animals.

Here’s a real-life example I witnessed: A veteran I know took his PTSD dog on a flight and got hit with a $150 “pet fee.” The airline claimed his dog didn’t count as a true service animal. After complaining to the DOT, the veteran received a full refund. Moral of the story: Know your rights, and don’t pay illegal fees without fighting back!

What if my dog misbehaves or causes problems on the plane?

It’s possible no animal is 100% perfect all the time. From handling multiple service dog clients, I’ve seen that on rare occasions even the best-trained psychiatric assistance dogs can have an “off day.” Although cabin crew are instructed to be flexible, if your dog gets overly disruptive or aggressive, it could potentially be denied boarding for safety reasons.

However, if your task-trained psychiatric service dog only commits minor infractions like barking once or getting overly excited during turbulence, chances are good the airline will give you a warning rather than removing the dog from the flight. As long as the issue doesn’t continue, most staff just want all passengers to reach their destinations smoothly. And minor one-time accidents can happen to anyone!

The bottom line is that so long as your dog acts professionally the vast majority of the time and any misbehavior is an anomaly, you likely have nothing major to worry about. Continue practicing good manners and having your pooch’s disability assistance tasks polished can diffuse most concerns. In my experience, communication and compromise usually prevail.

In conclusion, taking your psychiatric assistive dog on a commercial flight is perfectly within your rights as an airline passenger with disabilities under the ACAA. Educating airline employees, coming prepared with relevant paperwork, ensuring your service dog behaves well in public, and knowing the regulations inside out will help everything go smoothly. With a little planning, people who rely on psychiatric service animals for invisible disabilities should feel confident traveling just like any other passenger. Safe travels to you and your loyal canine companion!

Airline Policies for Emotional Support and Psychiatric Service Dogs

Airline	Policy	Requirements
Delta	Allows 1 psychiatric service dog or emotional support animal per passenger in the cabin	Service dogs must have valid ID and health records. Emotional support animals require note from doctor or mental health professional
United	Allows 1 properly harnessed service dog or emotional support animal per passenger in the cabin	Service dogs must have valid ID. Emotional support animals require note from doctor or mental health professional
American	Allows 1 service dog or emotional support animal per passenger in the cabin	Service dogs must have valid ID. Emotional support animals require note from doctor or mental health professional
Alaska	Allows 1 properly harnessed service dog or emotional support animal per passenger in the cabin	Service dogs must have valid ID. Emotional support animals require note from doctor or mental health professional
Southwest	Allows 1 properly harnessed service dog per passenger in the cabin	Service dogs must have valid ID and be housebroken

FAQ

1. Can I bring my psychiatric service dog on an airplane?

   Most major airlines in the US allow psychiatric service dogs to fly in the cabin with their owner for free. However, the dog has to be professionally trained and the handler needs proper documentation.

2. What paperwork is needed for a psychiatric service dog on a flight?

   Airlines require a letter from a mental health professional stating that you have a condition and how the dog is specially trained to help mitigate it. The letter also confirms the dog’s good behavior and training. You may need to show ID for yourself and vaccination records for the dog.

3. Are there any species restrictions for psychiatric service dogs on planes?

   In general, dogs and miniature horses are accepted by airlines as psychiatric service animals. Cats, rodents and other exotic animals are usually a no-go, despite their cute smiles. Stick to dogs and equines if flying with an emotional support critter.

4. Does my service dog need a ticket?

   Psychiatric service dogs can ride in the cabin without an extra ticket, as long as they sit at your feet and don’t take up another seat. However, some small dogs might need to be in a carrier under the seat in front depending on space. It’s best to check with the airline first.

   

5. What if my dog acts up on the plane?

   Normally properly trained service dogs are well-behaved. But even the goodest dog can get scared during take-off or turbulence. If that occurs, try calming and reassuring your pup. Airlines may ask you to leave if your dog causes major disruptions or becomes aggressive. So be prepared for a back-up plan just in case.

6. Are there any travel restrictions for psychiatric service dogs?

   International travel rules can be more strict than domestic flights. Psychiatric service dogs may need extra paperwork or a quarantine stay when entering foreign countries. Going between US states should not pose problems, but check destination regulations ahead of time regardless of if it’s local or abroad.

On the one claw, psychiatric service dogs can provide tremendous help to folks with invisible challenges like anxiety or PTSD. Being separated from one’s trusted canine companion might seriously impact someone’s mental wellness. At the same time, airlines need to keep all passengers safe. Perhaps with open communication and a little compassion on each side, handlers and air crew can work together to make flying smoother for service dog teams. Despite the potential difficulties, many folks find it worth it to have their fuzzy friend by their side even aboard lengthy flights.