News U.S. Airlines will no longer allow emotional support animals

[Rum]

American Airlines says it will no longer allow emotional support animals starting next week.

The change matches a new Department of Transportation regulation that says airlines "are not required to recognize emotional support animals as service animals and may treat them as pets."

The DOT defines a service animal as a dog "trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability."

American says on January 11, when the new DOT rule comes into effect, it "will no longer authorize new travel for animals that do not meet that definition, such as emotional support animals."

Emotional support animals are prescribed by mental health professionals to provide comfort and support, but unlike service animals, they are not required to have training in specific tasks.

Animals that previously traveled as emotional support animals may travel as carry-on or cargo pets, the airline said.

Southwest joins other airlines in banning emotional support animals

Southwest Airlines has joined other major US carriers in banning emotional support animals. Effective March 1, the airline will no longer transport emotional support animals.

edition.cnn.com

 

[PGen98]

Seen this change in the works for a while now, more and more people are having issues with "emotional support animals" because they're not licensed in the same way service animals are. It's a shame, because I know some people really genuinely need their emotional support animals, but there are also those who take advantage of the definition and use it as an excuse to take their pets with them, rather than genuine support animals.