President Reagan signed the Air Carrier Access act into effect in 1986. The act guarantees that individuals with disabilities will not be discriminated against in air travel. For years, most airlines recognized individuals with Emotional Support Animals as being eligible to fly with their animal under this act. But in 2020 airlines changed the rules. Some Emotional Support Animals were not under the control of their owners. One passenger reported being bit by a pitbull. The pitbull was registered as an Emotional Support Animal. This incident was the final straw. And the airlines no longer recognized ESA’s under the Air Carrier Access act.
ESA owners and several organizations wrote to the airlines. But, as of now, airlines don’t recognize ESAs under the Air Carrier Access Act..
Now each airline has their own rules for people to fly with their animals.
Emotional Support Animals fall under the category of “pet” for most airlines now.
If a person wants to fly with their “pet”, they will need to check the rules for the airline that they will be using. Each airline is different.
Please act responsibly. The community of ESA owners hope to regain the right to fly with their animals.
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 […]
