What if I have Travel with a Service Animal?

U.S. airlines are required to allow passengers to travel with service animals in the cabin, and they cannot limit the number on any flight. Service animals are trained to assist persons with disabilities and are not considered pets. They do not require health certificates to travel, and are not required to be confined to cages or carriers in the cabin.

However, animals can be banned from flight if they pose a safety or health risk or cause significant disruption to others.

Pets in the Cabin
Each airline has its own rules for whether or not pets can travel in the cabin of the airplane. If the airline allows pets to travel in the cabin, the pet container is considered an item of carry-on baggage and must meet the appropriate requirements. Check with each airline about their procedures and policies. A Health Certificate from a licensed veterinarian is required for interstate and international travel. In general pets must be kept in their carriers during the entire duration of the flight. Some airports have areas available where pets can be exercised. There is usually a fee for bringing pets onto a flight. Remember that some destinations, such as the UK, Hawaii, and Australia have strict quarantine requirements upon arrival.

Emotional Support Animals

NEW RULE: As of January 2021, the DOT no longer requires airlines to accept Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) as a type of service animal. Instead, airlines will treat all non-service animals as pets, subject to fees and restrictions. The law still requires airlines to accommodate service dogs and psychiatric service dogs.

Therapy Animals
Therapy animals, which are pets that have been trained and registered by a therapy organization in order to visit nursing homes, hospitals, schools and other facilities, are not considered to be service animals. When traveling with a therapy animal, standard pet-related regulations and restrictions apply.

Service Animals
For more information on service animals, which are not considered pets, visit here.