United joins American, Delta and Alaska airlines in refusing to allow emotional support animals on flights for free and will make passengers pay $125
United Airlines is joining other major U.S. carriers in no longer allowing emotional-support animals to fly for free.
United said Friday that starting Monday, it will no longer let passengers book free travel for companion animals. For people who book before the deadline, free travel for companions will end Feb. 28.
After that, United said, only trained service dogs can fly in the cabin while not being in a carrier. Owners will have to submit a government-approved form attesting to the dog's training, vaccines and disposition. Therapy animals trained to visit nursing homes and other settings don't count as service dogs, United said.
The new policy was announced a month after the federal government reversed a rule that allowed travelers to bring chickens, peacocks, snakes, and other exotic creatures aboard flights while claiming they were there for emotional support.
Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines announced similar policies in the last several days. The moves follow a Transportation Department rule that lets airlines crack down on the growing number of emotional-support animals in recent years.
United said Friday that starting Monday, it will no longer let passengers book travel for companion animals. For people who book before the deadline, free travel for companions will end Feb. 28
The government rules announced last month require airlines to accept service dogs that are trained individually to help a person with a disability. But the rules let airlines deny free boarding for so-called companion animals that aren't actually officially trained service animals, such as a guide dog for someone with visual impairment.
Pet owners were furious on Tuesday after American Airlines became the latest US domestic carrier to require anyone seeking to fly with an emotional support animal to pay a fee - changing their policy that let such animals fly in the cabin for free - in a move that could generate as much as $60million a year.
Owners may be able to transport other animals in the cargo hold or in carriers that fit under a seat in the cabin. Either way, the owner will pay a pet fee, which starts at $125 per flight
American on Tuesday also said that it would allow animals in the cabin free of charge only if they are trained service dogs.
Angry pet owners blasted the company, accusing it of being greedy.
Breanna Morello tweeted: 'WE BAILED OUT THESE AIRLINES.'
'Now they want to charge dog owners $250 to bring their dogs onboard.
'If your dog doesn’t fit in a bag under the seat, they want to put your dog under the plane.
'These airlines are greedy. Let them ALL fail next time.'
The airline industry received $25billion in coronavirus relief money from the federal government that expired in late September. The latest relief package gave the battered industry an additional $15billion to rehire furloughed workers.
Breanna Morello blasted the airline as 'greedy.' She wrote: 'WE BAILED OUT THESE AIRLINES. Now they want to charge dog owners $250 to bring their dogs onboard'
'Ugh,' tweeted Chris Jahn. 'Why not limit it to just support dogs and cats and not allow other wild animals onboard that people have tried to get onboard. My dog is so well behaved and loves visiting family. There’s no reason he can’t sleep in my lap for 4 hours.'
Another Twitter user wrote that American Airlines was 'trash'
'Considering I’ve seen at least one dog on every flight I’ve taken for years I imagine this won’t last long,' the Twitter user predicted
One Twitter user vowed to fly on Delta Airlines, tweeting a photo of herself with her dog
The latest coronavirus relief package signed into law last week will grant US airlines $15billion in new payroll assistance that will allow them to return more than 32,000 furloughed workers to payrolls through March 31.
US airlines furloughed more than 32,000 workers in October, after a six-month $25 billion bailout measure expired on September 30.
American Airlines alone furloughed 19,000 employees, while United Airlines furloughed more than 13,000.
United's change in the emotional support animal policy takes effect on Monday, although passengers who already bought tickets can fly with a companion animal until February 1.
Owners may be able to transport other animals in the cargo hold or in carriers that fit under a seat in the cabin. Either way, the owner will pay a pet fee, which starts at $125 per flight.
'We're confident this approach will enable us to better serve our customers, particularly those with disabilities who travel with service animals, and better protect our team members at the airport and on the aircraft,' the airline said in a statement.
The move follows a similar decision by Alaska Airlines and is likely to be copied by other carriers.
Alaska Airlines, the Seattle-based air carrier, last week announced changes to its service animal policy, stating that beginning on January 11, the airline will no longer allow any emotional support animals on its flights.
American Airlines is the latest US domestic carrier that will require anyone seeking to fly with an emotional support animal to pay a fee. An American Airlines plane is seen above at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Dallas on December 2
The above image is a file photo of a therapy assistance poodle being petted by people. The airline said Tuesday that it will allow animals in the cabin free of charge only if they are trained service dogs
'Alaska will only transport service dogs, which are specially trained to perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability,' the airline said in a press release.
Under the revised policy, Alaska will accept no more than two service dogs per guest in the cabin.
BIZARRE PETS PASSENGERS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO BRING ON PLANES
- Emotional Support Pig
In 2014, a woman was booted off a from Connecticut to Washington state because her large pet pig was being 'disruptive'. A fellow passenger told CNN the pig weighed between 70 and 80 pounds, and began dropping things in the aisle and squealing
- Emotional Support Squirrel
In October 2018, Cindy Torok was left livid after Frontier Airlines barred her pet squirrel, Daisy, from accompanying her on a flight from Orlando to Cleveland.
Torok appeared on numerous TV programs blasting the company, claiming she had a letter from her doctor saying that the squirrel helped with her anxiety disorder
- Emotional Support Hamster
In 2018, Belen Aldecosea, 21, admitted to flushing her emotional support hamster down an airport toilet after Spirit Airlines stopped her from bringing the rodent with her on the plane
Passengers will be required to complete a form on the airline's website, confirming that their animal is a legitimate service dog, is specially trained and vaccinated and will behave appropriately during the flight.
The US Transportation Department cleared the way for the crackdown against companion animals last month.
American said passengers with a service dog will need to complete a government form vouching for the dog´s health, training and temperament.
Other animals, including dogs not trained as service dogs, will only be able to fly in the cargo hold or a kennel that fits under a seat in the cabin.
Either way, American will collect a pet fee ranging from $125 to several hundred dollars.
United Airlines also requires its passengers to pay a $125 fee each way if they plan on bringing an emotional support animal.
Southwest Airlines' fee is a bit lower - $95 each way.
On December 18, Delta Air Lines updated its policy.
Delta won't allow any emotional support pets on flights longer than eight hours.
Any animals under the age of four months also will not be permitted regardless of the length of flight.
'Safety is our core value and we applaud the Department of Transportation for acknowledging the concerns that Delta and many other stakeholders have repeatedly raised and for finalizing the new service animal rule,' the airline said in a statement.
'This rule will allow airlines to put safety first for all of our customers and employees, while protecting the rights of customers who have disabilities and need to travel with trained service animals.
'We are currently reviewing the new rule and will continue to work with Delta’s Advisory Board on Disability to implement it in a manner that improves the experience for all our customers.
'At this time, there are no changes to Delta’s current service and support animal policies.'
The airline said it will allow a grace period for passengers who purchased tickets up to February 1. After that date, however, no emotional support pets will be permitted.
Jessica Tyler, American's president of cargo, said the rules will help passengers with service animals and protect employees on planes and in airports.
The number of animals on planes took off several years ago, and a cottage industry grew around providing papers, doctor’s notes and even dog vests for support animals.
Pigs won't fly: Alaska Airlines last week announced that beginning on January 11, it will no longer allow any emotional support animals, such as this jet-setting pig
In early December, the US Department of Transportation said that it will no longer require airlines to make the same accommodations for emotional support animals as for service dogs
Frequent fliers: Airlines argued that passengers abused the situation to bring a menagerie of animals on board including cats and ducks
The DOT said it was rewriting the rules partly because passengers carrying unusual animals, such as this panda, on board 'eroded the public trust in legitimate service animals'
Among the most bizarre service animals in recent years has been Dexter the Peacock
Under the DOT's final rule, which takes effect in early January, a service animal is a dog trained to help a person with a physical or psychiatric disability. Advocates for veterans and others had pushed for inclusion of psychiatric service dogs.
Airlines for America, a trade group for the biggest US carriers, said the new rule will protect passengers and airline employees while helping people travel with trained service dogs.
SERVICE ANIMALS VS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS
The US Department of Transportation's Final Rule issued on December 2 defines a service animal as a dog of any breed or type that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.
The policy calls for airlines to treat psychiatric service dogs the same as other service dogs and no longer allows airlines to require a letter from a licensed psychiatrist attesting to the traveler's need of the animal as a condition of transport.
The Final Rule permits airlines to treat emotional support animals, including non-service dogs, cats, rabbits, turtles, birds and other creatures, as pets and no longer requires air carriers to accommodate them on board fliht.
The policy does not prohibit the transport of emotional support animals. An airline may choose to transport them as pets for an additional fee.
'The days of Noah’s Ark in the air are hopefully coming to an end,' Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants told USA Today.
Proponents of emotional support animals have been up in arms about DOT's new rule, arguing that the animals help them with anxiety, post-traumatic or other issues that would prevent them from traveling.
Passengers only needed a note from a health professional, and a cottage industry sprang up to provide those notes along with vests and other accouterments for their animals.
Airlines and particularly flight attendants took a more critical view, saying passengers were exploiting a loophole in federal regulations to avoid pet fees.
In a few cases, including some involving serious injuries, companion animals bit other passengers.
In December 2017, an Alaska Airlines passenger was at a terminal in Portland International Airport in Oregon while she and her children waited to board a flight Texas just before Christmas.
As Mirna Gonzalez was buying coffee, she heard her daughter scream after a pit bull that was flying with its owner as an emotional support dog bit her.
The mauling led Gonzalez to file a $1.1million lawsuit against the airline as well as the Port of Portland, which operates the airport.
In June 2017, a Delta passenger, Marlin Jackson, was mauled by an emotional support dog before takeoff on a flight from Atlanta to San Diego.
The attack left Jackson with a series of punctures and cuts to his face requiring 28 stitches, as well as permanent nerve damage and pain, according to a lawsuit filed by Jackson against both the airline and the pet's owner.
Jackson, who lives in Alabama, 'bled so profusely that the entire row of seats had to be removed from the airplane,' according to the complaint.
Last month, the Transportation Department settled the matter, siding mostly with the airlines.
It said carriers were free to ban any animal other than dogs formally trained to help people with physical or psychological disabilities.
The department estimated that under the new rules airlines will scoop up $59.6million a year in pet fees.
On Twitter, would-be travelers reacted angrily to the new policy while others defended the airline and accused those with emotional support pets of taking advantage of the situation at the expense of those who are more reliant on service dogs, like those who are visually impaired.
'Ugh,' tweeted Chris Jahn.
'Why not limit it to just support dogs and cats and not allow other wild animals onboard that people have tried to get onboard.
In December 2017, Gabriella Gonzalez , an Alaska Airlines passenger, was mauled by a pit bull that was flying as an emotional support animal at Portland International Airport in Oregon. In June 2017, a Delta passenger, Marlin Jackson , was mauled by an emotional support dog before takeoff on a Delta flight from Atlanta to San Diego. Both Gonzalez's mother and Jackson filed lawsuits against the respective airlines
'My dog is so well behaved and loves visiting family. There’s no reason he can’t sleep in my lap for 4 hours.'
'So they're punishing the people who have legitimate needs because a bunch of a******s abused the system? That's wrong and sad,' tweeted another Twitter user.
Another Twitter user predicted that the airlines that continue to allow emotional support animals will benefit.
'Considering I’ve seen at least one dog on every flight I’ve taken for years I imagine this won’t last long,' the Twitter user predicted.
'It’ll add up. The airline that remains pet friendly will prosper.'
Another Twitter user commented: 'AA is trash and been trash.'
One Twitter user vowed to fly on Delta Airlines, tweeting a photo of herself with her dog.
Others, however, were not as sympathetic toward those who bring emotional support pets on board.
'Whatever did we do before emotional support animals were allowed?' one Twitter user said sarcastically.
Others, however, were not as sympathetic toward those who bring emotional support pets on board
Another Twitter user wrote: 'Yep, Americans love to abuse systems and push the boundaries and try and get away with anything and everything. Thus, ruining it for all. It's the American way'
Another Twitter commenter wrote: 'Don’t blame American Airlines, blame inconsiderate people who register their pets as emotional support animals, just to have them in cabin on planes'
One Twitter user commented: 'Whatever did we do before emotional support animals were allowed?'
One Twitter user wrote: 'My support elephant flies wherever I fly!'
Another Twitter user joked: 'Horrible airline! If I can’t bring Timber, my emotional support rattlesnake, then I’m boycotting!'
Wrote another Twitter user: 'They are not saying “no pets”, they are saying if you bring your pet you can’t call it an ES animal & not pay the fee.
'Pay the fee, follow the rules & you can still bring your pet.'
Another Twitter commenter wrote: 'Don’t blame American Airlines, blame inconsiderate people who register their pets as emotional support animals, just to have them in cabin on planes.
'Now it’s ruined for people in actual need of that service. Reforms with the registration process instead!'
Another Twitter user wrote: 'Yep, Americans love to abuse systems and push the boundaries and try and get away with anything and everything. Thus, ruining it for all. It's the American way.'
One Twitter user wrote: 'My support elephant flies wherever I fly!'
Another Twitter user joked: 'Horrible airline! If I can’t bring Timber, my emotional support rattlesnake, then I’m boycotting!'