Wish I lived in Fl
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2004
Where to voice input on emotional support animals on planes.
- Thread starter Wish I lived in Fl
- Start date
keishashadow
Proud Redhead...yes, I have some bananas!
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2004
Perhaps they are looking at amending rules.
Not an expert, probably better topic for disability board
My understanding (and it surely could be in corrected/outdated info) is that ESA & PSD animals aren't covered under ADA rules as in passenger needs & they must provide letter from mental health provider prior to flying.
Not an expert, probably better topic for disability board
My understanding (and it surely could be in corrected/outdated info) is that ESA & PSD animals aren't covered under ADA rules as in passenger needs & they must provide letter from mental health provider prior to flying.
seashoreCM
All around nice guy.
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2001
What is needed is reserved space for service and/or support animals. So you don't get to the airport and cannot bring yours aboard because someone else brought theirs on first and the quota was exceeded, Reserved space would also help give a heads up to others booking later and needing a no-dog or no-cat flight. And giving a heads up to an animal owner if a no-animal traveler had already booked that flight.
keishashadow
Proud Redhead...yes, I have some bananas!
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2004
Not familiar with the term 'no-animal traveler'. Are you saying a person can declare themselves one and service animals are prohibited on the flight? Doesn't seem 'right' to me. Everybody should have an equal chance to fly. That said, I'd be thrilled if those passengers with service animals would be seated consistently in a specific area of the plane...Allowing those to avoid it and pick/sit elsewhere.I have pets, along with allergies to them. Coping skills make it work at home, seems you tend to get desensitized to your own pets to some degree. When I'm around other's, it's another story.
When I see a service animal come aboard, and it sits nearby me, I know it's going to be a rough flight & I need to take allergy meds and hope for the best. At the risk of stressing the passenger even more, I have requested to move my seat on longer flights when it happens. people do tend to be eager to move forward on a plane
I have pets, along with allergies to them. Coping skills make it work at home, seems you tend to get desensitized to your own pets to some degree. When I'm around other's, it's another story.
I'd assume they mean people who have pet allergies. I'm not familiar with them myself, but if you have a bad dog allergy and someone brings one on a plane with you, it probably wouldn't be a pleasant experience.
HarleenQ
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2015
The problem with that is SDs are considered medical devices and you can't deny them. I wouldn't mind that for ESAs though.
LilyWDW
Going to My Happy Place
- Joined
- May 7, 2006
I am pretty sure this has to do with the news of limiting the type of animals that can be used as emotional support animals on the plane OR not allowing emotional support animals on a plane. This is due to a difference in the Air Carrier Access Act and the ADA. The ADA restricts the type of animals that can be used as service animals while the Air Carrier Access Act has not restrictions on "service animal" vs "emotional support animal" or what types of animals can be allowed. Recently there have been news stories of "emotional support" pigs, turkeys, roosters, and other animals which has created this issue.
kaytieeldr
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2005
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-travel-briefcase-animals-20160924-snap-story.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/pet-owners-game-emotional-support-animal-system-fly/story?id=30064532
From Delta's section on emotional support animals: "May or may not be trained to perform observable functions. However, the animal must be trained to behave properly in public settings as service animals do. Emotional support animals travel free of charge and the animal is exempt from cabin allotment. Like service animals, emotional support animals can be transported in the cabin
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/pet-owners-game-emotional-support-animal-system-fly/story?id=30064532
From Delta's section on emotional support animals: "May or may not be trained to perform observable functions. However, the animal must be trained to behave properly in public settings as service animals do. Emotional support animals travel free of charge and the animal is exempt from cabin allotment. Like service animals, emotional support animals can be transported in the cabin
Actually you can't deny either Service Animals, or emotional. You could have a flight full of them. If someone needed a flight without animals on it, and there are service Animals, or emotional support animals on the flight. That person would either move further away, and if that wouldn't work the person would be put on the next available flight. You can't deny boarding to service animals or emotional support.
I have heard they are looking at the emotional support animals because unfortunately some people have been taking advantage/abusing the system.
I have heard they are looking at the emotional support animals because unfortunately some people have been taking advantage/abusing the system.
stitchlovestink
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2006
Airlines have to follow ACAA laws not ADA laws. ACAA laws require them to allow ESA on flights where ESA are not afforded the same rights as services animals on land.
I have pets, along with allergies to them. Coping skills make it work at home, seems you tend to get desensitized to your own pets to some degree. When I'm around other's, it's another story.
When I see a service animal come aboard, and it sits nearby me, I know it's going to be a rough flight & I need to take allergy meds and hope for the best. At the risk of stressing the passenger even more, I have requested to move my seat on longer flights when it happens. people do tend to be eager to move forward on a plane
No can do...that would be discrimination. They can't require them to sit in a certain seat or section any more than anyone else.
Unfortunately the traveler with the allergies has less rights than the traveler with the ESA/service animal.
keishashadow
Proud Redhead...yes, I have some bananas!
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2004
No can do...that would be discrimination. They can't require them to sit in a certain seat or section any more than anyone else.
Unfortunately the traveler with the allergies has less rights than the traveler with the ESA/service animal.
Well, it looks that way, but not my call. Perhaps that is why they are trying to tighten the rules to limit # of flyers as to self-declaring vs requireddocumentation
IMO would be a reasonable accommodation, a plus really, if section would be near front of the plane. Wouldn't work well with airlines that 'sell' those seats tho I suppose.
Although, if those with ESA automatically preboard with medical/elderly, perhaps it would.
IDK
Unfortunately the traveler with the allergies has less rights than the traveler with the ESA/service animal.
Well, it looks that way, but not my call. Perhaps that is why they are trying to tighten the rules to limit # of flyers as to self-declaring vs requireddocumentation
IMO would be a reasonable accommodation, a plus really, if section would be near front of the plane. Wouldn't work well with airlines that 'sell' those seats tho I suppose.
Although, if those with ESA automatically preboard with medical/elderly, perhaps it would.
IDK
kaytieeldr
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2005
I think the purpose of the meetings is to modify the ACAA policies (not laws, afaik)
MakiraMarlena
It's a big black fish to you
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2005
Yep, it appears they are looking for amendments to ACAA, which currently requires airlines to admit any animal, of any species, into the airplane cabin as an emotional support animal, so long as the passenger has the correct documentation. ACAA is different from ADA, and emotional support animals are not the same thing as service animals, so an airline may request documentation regarding an emotional support animal. Only exceptions are animals that won't fit on the plane at all, and animals the owner is unable to control. This has resulted in the admission of cats, ferrets, pigs, turkeys, chickens, fish in bowls, persons with multiple animals (there was a story about a passenger who brought aboard a dog AND a tortoise and then demanded the seat next to her for the animals) and even snakes (on a plane).
There's no charge to bring aboard an emotional support animal and they fly in the cabin with their owner. They're also not required to be in a crate or kept under the seat. Which may be why there are stories that flights coming from or going to cities that have just hosted a big dog show, have an unusual number of emotional support dogs on board.
Service animals are different. ADA limits them to dogs and in some cases, miniature horses. Documentation can't be required for service animals, but they must be trained to perform a task that assists a person with a disability.
Passengers with allergies are given the option of sitting away from the animal, or attempting to change their flight to one that does not have any animals registered. The issue there with ESAs is that some passengers just show up with them and their doctor's note (by the way, you can purchase a doctor's note on the internet, they will diagnose you online by asking you to answer a few questions and then mail you a letter). Then the animal has to be admitted, if you have an allergy you have to arrange yourself to avoid the animal.
There's no charge to bring aboard an emotional support animal and they fly in the cabin with their owner. They're also not required to be in a crate or kept under the seat. Which may be why there are stories that flights coming from or going to cities that have just hosted a big dog show, have an unusual number of emotional support dogs on board.
Service animals are different. ADA limits them to dogs and in some cases, miniature horses. Documentation can't be required for service animals, but they must be trained to perform a task that assists a person with a disability.
Passengers with allergies are given the option of sitting away from the animal, or attempting to change their flight to one that does not have any animals registered. The issue there with ESAs is that some passengers just show up with them and their doctor's note (by the way, you can purchase a doctor's note on the internet, they will diagnose you online by asking you to answer a few questions and then mail you a letter). Then the animal has to be admitted, if you have an allergy you have to arrange yourself to avoid the animal.
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