American Airlines is grounding emotional support animals
In a March 13, 2019 file photo, an American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 sits at a boarding gate at LaGuardia Airport in New York. American Airlines said Sunday, April 7, 2019 it is extending by over a month its cancellations of about 90 daily flights as the troubled 737 Max plane remains grounded by regulators.[AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File]
On Tuesday, American Airlines announced forthcoming changes to its policies and procedures for travel with emotional support animals and service animals, aligning with regulations recently issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). According to the airline, the new policies and procedures are intended to support customers with disabilities and the service animals that travel with them, as well as the team members who work to keep customers safe.
"Our team is motivated by a purpose to care for people on life’s journey, and we believe these policy changes will improve our ability to do just that," Jessica Tyler, president of cargo and vice president of airport excellence for American Airlines, said. "We’re confident this approach will enable us to better serve our customers, particularly those with disabilities who travel with service animals, and better protect our team members at the airport and on the aircraft."
The DOT’s new rule defines a service animal as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability — a narrower definition than in the past. When the rule goes into effect on Jan. 11, American Airlines will no longer authorize new travel for animals that do not meet that definition, such as emotional support animals. Existing bookings involving emotional support animals will be honored through Feb. 1, when the airline’s new policies go into effect.
Starting then, to ensure accessible travel for individuals with disabilities while protecting the safety and well-being of customers and team members, American Airlines will ask customers traveling with service animals to complete a DOT form attesting to the dog’s behavior, training and health. The form will be required to be submitted electronically 48 hours in advance of a flight, unless the reservation is booked within 48 hours of travel. A service animal’s authorization will be valid for one year or until the expiration of its vaccinations.
The airline says animals that previously traveled as emotional support animals and no longer qualify as service animals may travel as carry-on pets or cargo pets, as long as they meet the requirements.
Additional details will be available through the airline’s website in the coming days.