- Joined
- Aug 21, 2011
- Posts
- 15,476
- Qantas
- Platinum
- Virgin
- Platinum
- SkyTeam
- Elite Plus
- Star Alliance
- Gold
Delta is cracking down on emotional support animals on its flights. Animal owners will soon be required to prove the animal is not dangerous and that it is actually required.
I understand that US laws require airlines to accept passengers' service animals, but it looks like the system is pretty open to abuse.
I have no issue with guide dogs etc. on planes, but I've heard some ridiculous stories about emotional support pigs and turkeys flying around on US carriers...
Your Emotional Support Duck Is Not Welcome in Seat 15C
I understand that US laws require airlines to accept passengers' service animals, but it looks like the system is pretty open to abuse.
I have no issue with guide dogs etc. on planes, but I've heard some ridiculous stories about emotional support pigs and turkeys flying around on US carriers...
The day of the service duck and emotional support chicken on airlines may be drawing to a close.
Delta Air Lines Inc. said Friday it will more thoroughly vet passengers’ efforts to fly with all manner of unusual animals, which often board U.S. airlines under the guise of psychological or medical support.
“Customers have attempted to fly with comfort turkeys, gliding possums known as sugar gliders, snakes, spiders and more,” the airline said Friday in a news release. “Ignoring the true intent of existing rules governing the transport of service and support animals can be a disservice to customers who have real and documented needs.”
As of March 1, Delta customers traveling with a service or support animal must show proof of the animal’s health or vaccinations 48 hours before a flight. Besides the current letter signed by a doctor or licensed mental health worker—which can be easily obtained on the internet—those with psychiatric service or emotional support animals must sign a form to attest that the animal can behave.
“These measures are intended to help ensure that those customers traveling with a trained service or support animal will no longer be at risk of untrained pets attacking their working animal,” Delta said.
Delta flies about 700 service animals per day—a 150 percent increase since 2015. The Atlanta-based company said reported “animal incidents” have increased 84 percent since 2016, including on-board problems with urine, feces and aggressive behavior. In June, an Alabama man was taken to an Atlanta hospital with facial wounds after a dog lunged at him on a California-bound Delta 737. A police report said the dog was issued to a U.S. Marine for support.
Your Emotional Support Duck Is Not Welcome in Seat 15C