What Happened to the Air Carrier Access Act?

In December 2020, the DOT said: “no more” to Emotional Support Animals traveling on planes under the Air Carrier Access Act.   In January 2021, most airlines enacted the ruling. Subsequently, ESAs are now treated as pets.  The ruling came as a result of complaints that animals were unruly. And in a few cases, animals caused injury to crew and passengers.

What does this mean?

As of January 2021, airlines no longer recognize Emotional Support Animals as eligible to fly with their owners under the ACAA.  This act, passed by Congress in 1986 and updated in 2008, prohibits airlines from discriminating against passengers with disabilities. Until January 2021, legitimately recognized ESAs were considered eligible to travel with their owners under the ACC act. Now only Service Animals are recognized.   

Doctors, ESA owners, and organizations sent impassioned requests for reconsideration of the decision, to no avail.   

So Now What?

An ESA is now a “pet” as far as the airlines are concerned.   Each airline has its own rules for pets -many allow smaller pets to sit under the seat in a container.   There are fees if the “pets” fly in cargo.

Each ESA owner will need to review the airline requirements for pets before traveling and decide the best way to go.

For those who are legitimate owners and handlers of Service Animals, there are forms to fill out and rules to follow to fly with their Service Animal. But the good news is that Service Animals can still fly.

The Air Carrier Access Act and ESAs in the Future

Let’s not wave a white flag or end the discussion regarding ESA owners’ rights to fly with their companions.

Something went wrong for legitimate ESA owners as regards the Air Carrier Act.  We should research the reasons for the ruling of the DOT and take appropriate and responsible action from there.

Above all legitimate ESA owners should practice the rights they still have responsibly.