United Airlines Emotional Support Animal
Many airlines have banned Emotional Support Animals (ESA) from their cabins in response to the DOT rule change. This restricts support animals to trained service animal.
United will continue to transport emotional support dogs for reservations made before January 11, 2021 for travel on or after February 28, 2021. This is provided that all paperwork has been submitted by United no later than January 10, 20,21. ESAs cannot travel on United Airlines planes with their owners. However, United will continue to transport emotional support animals for reservations purchased before January 11, 2021. These animals can travel on or before February 28, 2021. United will also continue to transport them as long as all paperwork has been submitted by United no later than January 10, 2021.
Restrictions on Emotional Support Animals
For various reasons, the Department decided to ban emotional support animals.
Reason 1: Emotional support animals are not service animals.
This aligns the definitions of service animals under the ADA and the Air Carrier Access Act of the Department to reduce confusion among passengers, airlines, airports, and other stakeholders.
Reason 2: Emotional support animals are not trained.
Task-trained service dogs are usually given enhanced training on how to behave in public. However, emotional support animals might not have had this level of training. The Department found convincing information from airlines and other stakeholders that indicated that emotional support animals or animals being given to airlines as emotional support animals are responsible for a large percentage of incidents of animal misbehaviour aboard aircraft.
Reason 3: Prevent Misbehaviour Incidents
Department believes that the exclusion of emotional support animals from aircraft will lead to a reduction in the number uncarted animals (and thus reduce the overall number and severity of animal misbehaviour) onboard aircraft.
United Airlines In-Cabin Pet Policy
Your ESA can be carried in a pet carrier bag or a kennel as a pet passenger. United allows pets to travel in the cabin with customers. This includes domesticated dogs, cats and rabbits as well as household birds (except for cockatoos).
For each pet in the cabin, a $125 fee will be charged for a one-way flight. There will also be an additional $125 charge per stopover lasting more than 4 hours within the U.S.A. and more than 24 hours beyond the U.S.
There are some rules.
* Dogs and cats must be at least 4 months old
* A health certificate is highly recommended.
* Minors under 18 cannot travel with their pet.
* Pets will not have oxygen service. A breathable kennel is essential for pets and ensures that they are comfortable and fit into the space. Soft-sided kennels should be 18 inches in length, 11 inches wide, and 11 inches high (46cm x 28cm x 28cm).
* Pets in-cabin must fly on the same flight as their handler
* Additional pets must be purchased separately ($125 service fee, extra stopover charge as noted above).
Are your ESAs Psychiatric Service Animals?
What is the minimum requirement to be a psychiatric support animal? Is it necessary for the person to have a diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder if they do not provide emotional support?
In its final rule, the Department recognizes dogs who are trained individually to work with or perform tasks for a person with a disability. They are subject to the same regulations that other service animals because psychiatric animals are trained individually to perform work or tasks for an individual with a disability.
Airlines are allowed to ask passengers who travel with service animals to provide documentation. This includes a (1) DOT form attesting the animal’s behaviour and health and (2) a form attesting the animal can or cannot relieve itself in a sanitary way if the flight is longer than 8 hours.
Our certified online service dog training program will help you make your emotional support dog a qualified Psychiatric Services Dog. The course is easy to follow and learn with the help of individual service dog trainers. Certified Intensive Psychological Service Dog Training Course – How to Train Your Own Service Dog for Depression, Anxiety Disorders, and PTSD.
United Airlines – Flying with an Emotional Support Animal or Psychiatric Service Dog?
This guide will help you know what to do before you board your United Airlines flight with your pet or emotional support animal (ESA), PSD (psychiatric service dogs (PSD), etc.
In 2021, the news for owners of emotional support animals was disappointing. The U.S. Department of Transportation amended its regulations regarding ESAs on flights. This effectively allowed U.S. airlines end their ESA programs. United Airlines stopped accepting emotional support animals as a result.
ESA owners will no longer be able to board flights for free. Emotional support animals of this nature will be considered pets and subject to fees ($125 per way) as well as other restrictions. The cabin is restricted to small pets, so ESA owners with larger dogs will not be allowed to board.
Owners of psychiatric service dog owners don’t have to be concerned – regulations by the DOT still apply. PSD owners are allowed to board flights without charge if their service dogs meet certain requirements, which we will cover in this guide.
You can fly with United Airlines with an ESA, PSD or regular pet.