Alaska Airlines bans “emotional support” animals starting January 11

Alaska Airlines announced Tuesday that it will not allow travelers to bring emotional support animals on board for any reservations made after January 11. The airline was the first to ban emotional support animals after new directions from the US Department of Transportation about their species. Animals must be allowed on passenger planes.

The new rules will not apply to dogs trained to perform specific tasks, such as guide dogs for people with visual impairments. But the rules will apply to monkeys, peacocks and snakes for “emotional support” – all the things people have really tried to bring on planes. Last few years.

“Effective January 11, 2022, Alaska will transport only service dogs that have been specially trained to perform tasks for the benefit of an eligible individual with a disability,” Alaska Airlines said in a statement. Online.

The Ministry of Transportation issued new rules in early December that Some people have complained That unscrupulous people were using “emotional support” as an excuse to bring their untrained, undisciplined pets on airplanes without real need. But disability rights groups warn that the new restrictions may hinder these people with disabilities from enjoying equal access to the country’s transportation infrastructure.

“Once again, in a quasi-systematic way, the Department of Transportation decided to prioritize the aviation industry and corporate interests over the rights afforded to persons with disabilities under the law,” said Curt Decker, Executive Director of the National Disability Rights Network, He said in statement Earlier this month after the Department of Transportation issued its new directives.

“ While it is no secret that we are still far from a truly accessible transportation system in this country, the DOT rule will only exacerbate the current inequalities of people with disabilities involved in air travel and will instead accommodate the airline’s interests almost exclusively. Industry, “Decker continued.

Alaska Airlines announced that passengers will now be required to complete an online form swearing that their animal is a “legitimate service dog” and have been properly trained not to cause any inconvenience on board the flight.

Guests will be required to complete a DOT form, which will be available on AlaskaAir.com starting January 11, indicating that their animal is a legitimate service dog, has been trained, vaccinated and will behave appropriately during the trip. For reservations booked more than 48 hours in advance of travel, guests must send the completed form by email. For reservations made less than 48 hours before travel, guests must present the form in person to a customer service agent upon arrival at the airport.

over there There are still a lot of questions About what animals are allowed on board the plane for travelers with psychiatric conditions, Alaska Airlines hasn’t been terribly specific yet in that regard. We have reached out to Alaska Airlines for more clarity about the new rules and will update this post if we hear back.

Other US-based airlines have not announced changes to their official rules for service animals, but they are expected to follow suit soon.

“This regulatory change is welcome news, as it will help us reduce disruptions onboard the aircraft, while still accommodating our guests traveling with eligible service animals,” Ray Prentice, Director of Customer Advocacy at Alaska Airlines, said in a statement.

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