Support Animals

[outofofficebrb]

I'm planning on getting Mrs. Stoo a "Support Animal" vest so I only have to pay for one fare. That should work, right?

Let me know how that works out with Mrs. Stoo.

I was going to mention it got out of hand when people bring on an emotional support peacock but someone beat me to it

 

[drbill]

Yup - if we're seated side by side, since when does YOUR fear of flying outweigh MY fear of being bitten?

Catalina Express allows pet dogs on board its passenger service to our island, but they require the animal has a muzzle (sometimes I think the owners should too). The airlines should do the same.

 

[Schwob]

I'm planning on getting Mrs. Stoo a "Support Animal" vest so I only have to pay for one fare. That should work, right?

Pardon if I say so, but if I had - unaquaintatly (is that a word?) - guessed at who there might be the animal between the two of you, I might have guessed the other way...

 

[Stoo]

Pardon if I say so, but if I had - unaquaintatly (is that a word?) - guessed at who there might be the animal between the two of you, I might have guessed the other way...

I mentioned that post to Mrs. Stoo... oddly, she said pretty much the same thing.

 

[BertStevens]

I’m an airline employee. We are frustrated too. It IS way out of hand.

But our hands are tied by law. Most are familiar with the ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act. It actually prevents businesses from requiring proof of training for service animals. And rightly so. Legitimate service animals are an extension of the owner. They take years and 10’s of thousands of dollars to train. And the ADA doesn’t address emotional support animals.

The airlines are specifically exempted from the ADA by the ACAA -Air Carrier Access Act. But the ACAA does requires airlines to permit emotional support animals. All you need is a letter from a doctor stating the need. And LOTS of folks are using it to get around pet fees. That said, the fines are expensive if we deny a legitimate ESA so it’s not likely that the airlines will be able to do anything without action by Washington.

 

[Schwob]

I’m an airline employee. We are frustrated too. It IS way out of hand.

But our hands are tied by law. Most are familiar with the ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act. It actually prevents businesses from requiring proof of training for service animals. And rightly so. Legitimate service animals are an extension of the owner. They take years and 10’s of thousands of dollars to train. And the ADA doesn’t address emotional support animals.

The airlines are specifically exempted from the ADA by the ACAA -Air Carrier Access Act. But the ACAA does requires airlines to permit emotional support animals. All you need is a letter from a doctor stating the need. And LOTS of folks are using it to get around pet fees. That said, the fines are expensive if we deny a legitimate ESA so it’s not likely that the airlines will be able to do anything without action by Washington.

Pureley from a fee point of view, why would there not be a fee for a support animal, but there is for a pet (or vice versa if you wish)? I mean just like some people (or that guy in the peanuts cartoons) have an inseparable connection to a thing, e.g. a blanket, so do I have one to my carryon with all the goodies in it. It's not only but certainly in no small part also my emotional support case. Emotional breakdown is likely when the stuff contained goes byebye. The separation anxiety during the flight us unbearable. So, analogous to what Stoo was getting at earlier, if I get a doctor to write that up and provide proof that this is my emotio al support carry on case, can it fly for free on rock bottom fare flights?
Of course I know the answer, but really (well, only half kiddingly) why not? Why am I being discriminated against just because my emotional attachment would be towards things?

Would it help my cause if I got up from my window seat every 30 minutes or so , inconvenienced the person with the emotional support animal in the aisle seat, got to my carry on case, took my regulators or DC or camera or.. out, gave it a hug and appreciated the support it is giving me by being a 100% reliable friend? (Well, not my camera, that thing can't be trusted) Put it back away, sit down, rinse and repeat?
Edit:

 

[BertStevens]

Pureley from a fee point of view, why would there not be a fee for a support animal, but there is for a pet (or vice versa if you wish)? I mean just like some people (or that guy in the peanuts cartoons) have an inseparable connection to a thing, e.g. a blanket, so do I have one to my carryon with all the goodies in it. It's not only but certainly in no small part also my emotional support case. Emotional breakdown is likely when the stuff contained goes byebye. The separation anxiety during the flight us unbearable. So, analogous to what Stoo was getting at earlier, if I get a doctor to write that up and provide proof that this is my emotio al support carry on case, can it fly for free on rock bottom fare flights?
Of course I know the answer, but really (well, only half kiddingly) why not? Why am I being discriminated against just because my emotional attachment would be towards things?

Would it help my cause if I got up from my window seat every 30 minutes or so , inconvenienced the person with the emotional support animal in the aisle seat, got to my carry on case, took my regulators or DC or camera or.. out, gave it a hug and appreciated the support it is giving me by being a 100% reliable friend? (Well, not my camera, that thing can't be trusted) Put it back away, sit down, rinse and repeat?
Edit:

Charging a fee for a service animal or emotional support animals is against the law.

 

[Schwob]

Charging a fee for a service animal or emotional support animals is against the law.

Thanks. That explains it all. So if pets atd charged for (don't know that, presume so), then the law is practically suggesting to everyone wanting to fly with pet to get the pet certified as support animal. "Getting out of hand" explained.

 

[Lorenzoid]

All you need is a letter from a doctor stating the need. And LOTS of folks are using it to get around pet fees. That said, the fines are expensive if we deny a legitimate ESA ....

As I understand it, an airline is permitted to ask for a letter from a doctor but not required to. Do airlines always even ask for a letter? I am guessing airlines are too timid to even require the letter because, as you say, they would rather risk annoying other passengers than risk a fine. Requiring a letter than actually states all of the below would probably scare off a few would-be fraudsters. I know I would not want some letter floating around that asserts I have an emotional disability if I didn't really have one.


Airlines may require documentation that is not older than one year from the date of your scheduled initial flight that states:

• You have a mental or emotional disability that is recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM);
• You need your emotional support or psychiatric support animal as an accommodation for air travel and/or for activity at your destination;
• The individual providing the assessment is a licensed mental health professional and the passenger is under his/her professional care; and
• The licensed health care professional’s;
  • Date and type of professional license; and
  • Jurisdiction or state in which their license was issued.

Service Animals (Including Emotional Support Animals)