United Airlines has joined Alaska, American, and Delta in banning emotional support animals onboard its flights.
United Airlines Bans Emotional Support Animals
Emotional support animals will no longer be allowed for tickets booked on or after January 11, 2021. Effective March 1, emotional support animals will not be allowed regardless of when the ticket was booked.
After a Department of Transportation rulemaking last month placed discretion into the hands of airlines, several have curbed the allowance of emotional support animals. United joins other U.S. legacy carriers including Alaska, American, and Delta in banning emotional support animals for bookings on or after January 11th.
The new rules, however, allow a loophole for so-called “Psychiatric Service Animals,” These animals can be self-trained and no paperwork is necessary beyond a self-attestation form that the dog is well-behaved. Furthermore, the DOT rules now mandate that airlines cannot restrict dogs based upon breed or type. United notes:
Effective January 11, service animals will be defined as a dog, regardless of the breed or type, that is over the age of four months and individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.
Look for many customers to continue to engage in shenanigans under this loophole. At least it will only be with dogs…
> Read More: There’s A New Loophole To Allow Emotional Support Animals On Planes…
CONCLUSION
If you still wish to take your emotional support animal onboard prior to March 1st, you must book your ticket today or tomorrow (before midnight CT). United will join other legacy U.S. carriers in banning emotional support animals, though a glaring loophole remains in place.
image: Twitter
Does this mean no more pet fee?
Dogs will still be allowed in the cabin for a fee.
Perfect. A beast in a teal top. We’re fortunate to have laws that protect us from animals who never learned to share confined spaces.
Jumpin’ Jack Rabbits! Is that Elly May Margaret Clampett and one of her critters? Oh what a blast from the past! But NO!
Took a long time for you guys to have common sense……
A poor decision; one that will hurt those with special needs, at a time when they need support.
Regardless, untrained animals are a potential danger . In a confined space it makes it stressful for all involved.
Best decision. Too many losers pretending to be people with special needs while they are actually pathetic and selfish low life placing animals in stressful situations. It is sad for the real people with special needs but enough is enough. The lady pictured with her pig should be ashamed of herself ( I forgot people like her do not have self-esteem.)