The answer is yes. The Air Carrier Access Act requires that commercial airlines in the U.S. allow disabled passengers to be accompanied in the cabin by their Service Animal or Emotional Support Animal. Essentially, the requirements are different depending on whether your animal is a Service Animal or an Emotional Support Animal.
If a Service Animal, you state to the check-in agent that you are traveling with your service animal. No documentation is required. However, the airline staff may ask what service the animal performs for you.
With respect to Emotional Support Animals, airline personnel may require current documentation or doctor’s note specifying your need for your ESA that’s dated within 12 months of travel.
Are you an owner of an assistance animal?
The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.
Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.
Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the text or image below.
