American Airlines to Restrict Emotional Support Animals on Flights

🐶Emotional support animals will no longer be allowed in the cabins of American Airlines planes, starting next week.

✈️The policy change is in response to a new federal rule that no longer recognizes emotional support animals as service animals.

🚫Passengers with trained service dogs will still be permitted to bring their dogs on board.

🐕‍🦺The new rule aims to address the issue of untrained animals posing risks to passengers with service animals.

💼Alaska Airlines and American Airlines are implementing the ban due to an increasing number of people falsely claiming pets as emotional support animals.

Why is American Airlines restricting emotional support animals?

—American Airlines is implementing this restriction to comply with new federal regulations that no longer recognize emotional support animals as service animals.

Will passengers with trained service dogs still be allowed to bring their dogs on board?

—Yes, passengers with properly trained service dogs will still be permitted to bring their dogs on board.

What is the intention behind this policy change?

—The policy change aims to provide a safer and more comfortable flying experience for passengers who rely on trained service animals.

Why are Alaska Airlines and American Airlines implementing the ban?

—Alaska Airlines and American Airlines are implementing the ban due to an increasing number of people falsely claiming their pets as emotional support animals, causing inconvenience and even attacks on properly trained service animals.

Will passengers be allowed to have their emotional support animals in the cargo?

—No, emotional support animals that no longer qualify will not be allowed as carry-on pets or in the cargo. Additional fees may apply for carrying pets in cargo.

00:03American Airlines will no longer allow emotional support animals in the cabins of its planes.

00:17Passengers with trained service dogs can still bring them on board.

00:29Alaska Airlines was the first to ban emotional support animals on its flights.

01:03A service animal is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.

01:10Having untrained animals on board can create a real risk for passengers with service animals.

01:49Too many people were claiming their pets as emotional support animals, stigmatizing traditional service animal users.

02:02Emotional support animals that no longer qualify will not be allowed as carry-on pets or in the cargo.

02:15Therapy sessions using dogs can still provide emotional benefits for people.