Summers are already here. And if you are looking to hit the road this season with your furry companion.
Then, it is important to understand airline policies to ensure a smooth vacation with any last minute cancellations.
What To Know Regarding Emotional Support Animal Flying?
Since last year, more than half of the major airlines including United Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta have changed their airline policies for emotional support animals.
And expectations are things are going to change a bit more in the coming months or so.
With so many changes going on board, it is essential to educate yourself with the necessary rules and regulations. This will help traveling with ESA a seamless and stress-free process.
Required Airline Documentations
First and most important documentation for traveling with your ESA is emotional support animal flying letter. But, make sure that you have a genuine ESA letter.
For that, you will need to talk to a mental health specialist and ask whether or not you qualify for an ESA letter recommendation.
You can go for telemedicine consultations as well. However, make sure you are not scammed by any fake websites or ESA letters.
Other than that you will need some other essential documentation as well. These include-
- Veterinary Health Forms
Most of the airline carriers ask for a proof of vaccinations for your furry companions. Ask for the document from your ESA’s veterinarian.
The service providers allow submitting a copy of vaccination records that should include the heath record with the veterinarian’s office information.
As airline providers want to make sure the safety of other passengers traveling with them. So, ensure that your animal has a complete set of vaccinations.
So, planning ahead will be beneficial to avoid any last minute changes.
- Animal Training Documentation
It might be confusing as emotional support animals do not require any training as per the guidelines stated by the federal laws.
However, airlines have to maintain the security of other passengers as well. So, it is essential that your companion behaves well in any public setting.
So, before planning a vacation make sure that your ESA is completely fit for traveling.
Other Emotional Support Animal Flying Protocols
As per the guidelines issued by most of the airline carriers, only one ESA will be allowed per passenger. Informing the airline is important at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled flight that you will be traveling with your ESA.
Also, all domesticated animals are allowed as an ESA. But, airlines allow only cats and dogs as the preferred ones.
The following is the list of ESA’s that are not accepted by many airlines-
- Non-household birds (farm poultry, waterfowl, game bird, & birds of prey)
- Animals improperly cleaned and/or with a foul odor
- Animals with tusk
- Hedgehogs
- Ferrets
- Insects
- Rodents
- Snakes
- Spiders
- Sugar gliders
- Reptiles
ESA Size Limitations
Larger breeds are normally excluded or asked to bring like any other pets. So, whenever you are looking to travel with your furry companion, make sure you have an emotional support animal flying letter along with other documents required by most of the airlines including Delta, Alaska, American, and more.
Some airlines have changed their requirements and ask that your ESA must fit into a carrier under your seat or your lap.
Recommended Reading
JetBlue Emotional Support Animal Policy
My ESA Doctor 