In 2021 the U.Due south. Department of Transportation announced new rules that protected the rights of service dog owners (including psychiatric service dog (PSD) owners) on flights. Airlines must allow psychiatric service dogs to lath the cabin of flights without any additional charges or fees. Psychiatric service dogs are also exempt from size and weight restrictions applicable to pets, and they can sit on the flooring (or in your lap in sure circumstances).

Psychiatric service dogs are like emotional support animals, except they are trained to provide a task or service to a person with a mental or emotional health inability. These are just some of the tasks that psychiatric service dogs can exist trained to perform for their owners:

  • Remind their owners to perform of import routine tasks like taking medication.
  • Basis the handler when they become disoriented due to a panic or feet attack.
  • Provide comfort with paw force per unit area, licking, or hugging.
  • Apply tactile stimulation to "pause the spell" when the handler has a psychotic episode or is paralyzed with panic or feet.
  • Provide a buffer confronting crowds.
  • Foreclose the handler from engaging in repetitive and self-destructive actions.

If y'all consider getting a psychiatric service canis familiaris, a licensed healthcare professional person can evaluate whether you meet the disability criteria for a PSD under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Air Carrier Access Act. If you lot qualify, they tin can provide a signed PSD letter to help you establish that you have an eligible disability.

How to Get your Psychiatric Service Canis familiaris Letter from ESA Doctors

How To Get a PSD Letter - Three Easy Steps - ESADoctors
PSD Letter

Jump to airline-specific information on flying with a psychiatric service dog:

  • American Airlines
  • Delta Airlines
  • JetBlue
  • Southwest Airlines
  • United Airlines
  • Alaska Airlines

Airline Procedures for Flight with a Psychiatric Service Dog

Earlier the DOT's new rules went into outcome, each airline had a slightly different policy for all-around service animals and emotional back up animals. While the new rules take effectively ended the power of ESAs to board flights, they have somewhat standardized the process for owners of service dogs and psychiatric service dogs.

The DOT created a new form, the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form, where passengers are required to self-certify they have a dog trained to perform tasks for their eligible mental or emotional health disability. Each airline accepts this form (whereas in years past, each airline essentially had a different class for emotional back up animals).

Airlines generally require passengers to submit the form at least 48 hours in advance, although they will nonetheless accept the form at the gate if you book a flight departing within 48 hours. Most airlines require you to notify that you will exist traveling with a service dog at the time of booking. Some airlines will have an selection to betoken you have a service dog when yous book online, and others volition accept notification by phone or through a special portal for submitting the DOT Grade.

For the basics of flying with a psychiatric service canis familiaris, click here for a helpful guide.

Airline Policies for Service Dogs

American Airlines

Airline Requirements for Traveling with a Service Dog - American Airlines - ESA Doctors

American Airlines volition accept your psychiatric service dog in the cabin free of accuse as long as yous submit the DOT Form to them before your parting flying. Yous tin download and submit the form at this link.

Later you submit the DOT Form and it is approved by American Airlines, you lot volition get an email with a Service Animal ID (SVAN ID). When booking flights in the future, you can add this ID and be approved without submitting the class again each time y'all fly. The ID expires afterward i year (or when the domestic dog's vaccination expires, whichever comes first), so yous will need to submit the DOT Form at least annually if you are a frequent flier on American Airlines.

Hither are some rules to keep in mind when flying with a service domestic dog on American Airlines:

  • Your service dog must be under your command at all times and harnessed, leashed, or tethered.
  • Each passenger is express to ii service dogs.
  • Your service domestic dog must fit in your foot infinite, under your seat, or in your lap (only just if the canis familiaris is smaller than a two-year-sometime child).
  • Your service domestic dog must be at to the lowest degree 4 months of historic period.
  • Service dogs cannot be in get out rows or take space in the aisles.
  • Service dogs are not allowed to be in rider seats.

A service dog can be removed from an American Airlines flight if it is disruptive or posing a danger to the health and safe of others. Examples of unacceptable behavior include growling at passengers, biting or attempting to bite, jumping or lunging at others, and relieving itself in inappropriate areas.

If you are on the path towards owning a psychiatric service dog, a licensed healthcare professional person can evaluate whether you meet the disability criteria for owning a psychiatric service dog under the Americans with Disabilities Deed (ADA) and Air Carrier Access Deed. If you lot qualify, they can provide a signed PSD letter to help you lot establish that you lot have an eligible inability.

Psychiatric service dogs are allowed to fly in the motel without fees and are exempt from pet restrictions. If you need a PSD letter of the alphabet from a licensed healthcare professional, you can get started today at the link below.

Delta Airlines

Airline Requirements for Traveling with a Service Dog - Delta Airlines - ESA Doctors

Delta Airlines allows for service dogs and psychiatric service dogs to board flights free of charge. You volition demand to complete the DOT's Service Animal Air Transportation Course and submit information technology to Delta before your flight. If you're on a flight over 8 hours, you volition as well need to submit the DOT's Service Animal Relief Attestation Form to Delta.

You should submit these forms at least 48 hours prior to boarding. If you lot book a flight that happens to be within 48 hours, yous can submit the forms when you arrive at the airdrome. For more than detailed information on how to submit these forms to Delta, click on this link.

Here are some other things to continue in mind if you plan to fly on Delta with your service dog:

  • Delta volition accept pit bulls on board equally long equally they are fully trained service dogs that meet all documentation and behavioral standards.
  • A service animal in training is not withal considered a service dog that tin board flights. Exception: if the service canis familiaris in training is flying with a professional handler and is on its fashion to exist delivered to the new owner.
  • Delta allows each passenger to have up to 2 service dogs.
  • Service dogs must sit down on the floor in the possessor's foot space or on the possessor'south lap (if the dog is no larger than a two-year-one-time child).
  • Service dogs are never immune in passenger seats.

Delta Airlines reserves the right to remove a psychiatric service dog from the gate or plane if it engages in disruptive or threatening beliefs. Examples of unacceptable actions include growling at passengers, biting or attempting to seize with teeth passengers, or excessive barking.

If you are on the path towards owning a psychiatric service dog, a licensed healthcare professional tin can evaluate whether you meet the disability criteria for owning a psychiatric service domestic dog under the Americans with Disabilities Human activity (ADA) and Air Carrier Admission Act. If yous qualify, they can provide a signed PSD letter to help you establish that you have an eligible disability.

Psychiatric service dogs are immune to fly in the cabin without fees and are exempt from pet restrictions. If you need a PSD alphabetic character from a licensed healthcare professional person, you tin get started today at the link below.

JetBlue

Airline Requirements for Traveling with a Service Dog - JetBlue - ESA Doctors

JetBlue allows psychiatric service dogs to back-trail their owners on flights without any boosted charge. Psychiatric service dogs are also exempt from the size/weight limitations that apply to normal pets.

To fly with a PSD on JetBlue, you volition need to follow these steps:

  1. Download the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form at this link.
  2. Consummate the grade – you will demand to certify that you have a trained service dog that assists with a psychiatric disability.
  3. Upload the course at this link and complete any other data.

Submit the DOT Form at least 48 hours earlier your flight through this link. If you book a flight departing within 48 hours, you tin submit the DOT Form at the drome gate.

Hither are some other things to go along in listen when flight with a PSD on JetBlue:

  • Merely fully-trained service dogs are allowed to board (no service dogs in grooming).
  • Your service domestic dog must be nether your command at all times and harnessed, leashed, or tethered.
  • JetBlue has the right to assess your service dog's behavior at the airport to ensure safety requirements before it can lath.
  • Your service dog must fit in your foot space. You lot can buy some other seat for additional pes space if your dog is likewise large (or you lot have 2 dogs) to fit in your personal foot space.
  • Service dogs are never allowed to occupy passenger seats.
  • Service dogs should remain on the floor unless the creature tin fit on the rider'due south lap without touching any role of the seat, tray table, or a nearby rider.

If you are on the path towards owning a psychiatric service dog, a licensed healthcare professional person can evaluate whether you run into the inability criteria for owning a psychiatric service canis familiaris under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Air Carrier Access Act. If you qualify, they can provide a signed PSD alphabetic character to help you institute that y'all have an eligible disability.

Psychiatric service dogs are allowed to fly in the cabin without fees and are exempt from pet restrictions. If you need a PSD letter from a licensed healthcare professional, you lot can get started today at the link below.

Southwest Airlines

Airline Requirements for Traveling with a Service Dog - Southwest Airlines - ESA Doctors

Southwest Airlines will welcome your psychiatric service dog aboard equally long equally you submit a completed DOT Service Fauna Air Transportation Grade in advance. You should notify Southwest you are traveling with a service domestic dog when you book your flying and present the completed DOT Form at the ticket counter or gate on the date of departure.

When booking a flying, you can apply the "Special Aid" link on the Passenger & Payment Info page to point that you lot will be accompanied by a service domestic dog. If you have an existing reservation you need to update, select "Manage Reservations" on Southwest'southward website and locate your reservation. Then click on the "Special Assist" nether the passenger'south proper name and indicate you will need a service dog.

You lot tin can too notify Southwest that you volition be flight with a service dog by calling them at 1-800-I-Fly-SWA (one-800-435-9792) prior to travel. Remember that you still take to evidence up on the solar day of travel with a completed DOT Form and make sure that the form is dated on or after the date y'all purchased your ticket with Southwest.

Here are another rules to be enlightened of when flight with your psychiatric service dog on Southwest:

  • Your service domestic dog must be harnessed, leashed, or otherwise tethered to you at all times.
  • Your service domestic dog should exist well-groomed, aroma-free, and trained to behave properly in public settings.
  • Your service canis familiaris can be denied boarding if it poses a threat to the wellness and safety of others or causes significant disruption.
  • Service dogs cannot sit in an emergency row exit or obstruct the aisles.
  • Service dogs are never allowed to occupy an empty passenger seat.
  • Your service dog can sit down on the floor in your foot space or exist held in your lap if it is no larger than a ii-twelvemonth-old kid.

If y'all are on the path towards owning a psychiatric service dog, a licensed healthcare professional can evaluate whether y'all meet the disability criteria for owning a psychiatric service dog nether the Americans with Disabilities Human activity (ADA) and Air Carrier Access Human activity. If yous qualify, they can provide a signed PSD alphabetic character to help you establish that y'all have an eligible disability.

Psychiatric service dogs are allowed to wing in the cabin without fees and are exempt from pet restrictions. If you lot demand a PSD alphabetic character from a licensed healthcare professional person, y'all can become started today at the link below.

United Airlines

Airline Requirements for Traveling with a Service Dog - United Airlines - ESA Doctors

United Airlines no longer accepts emotional support animals but will let your psychiatric service dog lath free of charge. Psychiatric service dogs are exempt from some of the restrictions placed on normal pets, simply in that location are notwithstanding some rules to follow.

Only service dogs that are fully trained to do their work or task for the owner's benefit can lath the cabin. Like all airlines, United Airlines accepts service dogs that help with psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disabilities. Each passenger can have a maximum of ii service dogs when flight on United.

To travel with a psychiatric service dog with United Airlines, you will need to submit the U.Southward. Section of Transportation's Service Animal Air Transportation Class. If your flight is longer than 8 hours, you will also need to submit the DOT's Service Animal Relief Attestation Form.

Y'all should submit the forms at to the lowest degree 48 hours in advance and carry the completed forms when traveling with United Airlines. If y'all volume a flight that departs within 48 hours, you tin give the completed forms to a United agent at the airport.

Here are some other rules to go along in mind when traveling with a psychiatric service dog on United:

  • Service dogs tin just sit on the floor in front of you (or inside the infinite for the tickets y'all have purchased).
  • Service dogs cannot be in the exit row or extend into the alley.
  • Only fully-trained service dogs are allowed to board.
  • United Airlines merely recognizes service dogs that have been trained and certified. Dog trainers, however, may transport a service dog in grooming.

If you lot are on the path towards owning a psychiatric service dog, a licensed healthcare professional can evaluate whether you encounter the disability criteria for owning a psychiatric service canis familiaris under the Americans with Disabilities Human action (ADA) and Air Carrier Access Act. If you qualify, they tin provide a signed PSD alphabetic character to help you found that you have an eligible disability.

Psychiatric service dogs are allowed to wing in the cabin without fees and are exempt from pet restrictions. If yous need a PSD letter from a licensed healthcare professional, yous can get started today at the link below.

Alaska Airlines

Airline Requirements for Traveling with a Service Dog - Alaska Airlines - ESA Doctors

Alaska Airlines allows service dogs, including psychiatric service dogs, to board flights free of charge. Service dogs are also not discipline to the aforementioned limitations that apply to normal pets that board the cabin.

Alaska Airlines volition accept a maximum of two trained service dogs per passenger. If you book a reservation more than than 48 hours earlier the departure engagement, yous must submit the DOT's Service Animal Air Transportation form online via Alaska Airlines' travel partner Service Animate being Travel Solutions (SATS).

If you lot book a flight taking off inside 48 hours, yous must consummate a printable version of the DOT Form and submit it in person to an Alaska agent at the gate on your twenty-four hours of travel.

Here are some other rules to go on in mind when traveling with a service dog with Alaska Airlines:

  • The size of your service canis familiaris cannot exceed the footprint or personal infinite of your seat or human foot surface area during the flight.
  • You must complete and submit the DOT Forms each time you make a reservation.
  • Your service dog must exist under your control at all times and harnessed, leashed, or tethered.
  • Your service dog must be seated in your floor space. Your service domestic dog can sit down on your lap if it is no larger than an infant.
  • Service dogs cannot occupy a seat, sit in the aisles or obstruct an exit row.

Your service dog must be well-behaved at all times and non create a disruption or threaten the prophylactic and health of others. If your service domestic dog exhibits aggressive behavior or is not under your control, it can be removed from the flight. Examples of unacceptable behavior include:

  • Bark excessively
  • Bite, growl, snap, or lunge at other passengers.
  • Wander or run around freely.
  • Bound on guests or employees.
  • Non answer to the owner/handler'southward commands.

If yous are on the path towards owning a psychiatric service canis familiaris, a licensed healthcare professional tin can evaluate whether you see the disability criteria for owning a psychiatric service domestic dog under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Air Carrier Access Act. If yous authorize, they tin provide a signed PSD letter to assistance y'all establish that you have an eligible disability.

Psychiatric service dogs are allowed to fly in the cabin without fees and are exempt from pet restrictions. If you demand a PSD alphabetic character from a licensed healthcare professional, yous can go started today at the link beneath.

Disclaimer: Our content is intended and must be used for informational purposes only. Policies can alter, and companies can modify their rules and regulations. It is important to exercise your assay and research before booking whatsoever flights. We are non affiliated with any of the airlines mentioned in this commodity.