Service dogs typically undergo two years of training, learning how to provide specific support and help for their owners. In addition, some so-called emotional support animals have bitten or attacked other passengers and airlines employees, or urinated, defecated or clambered around the cabin. Many airlines, passengers and those with legitimate service animals, accused people of abusing the law that permits in-cabin airline travel for support animals. Passengers were showing up at the airport with peacocks, snakes, igaunas and goats, to name a few, claiming the animals were ESAs and therefore eligible to fly in the cabin with the passengers, free of charge. “However, we want to make sure our guidelines are clear and easy to understand, while providing customers and employees a comfortable and safe experience.”Īirlines have been revising and revamping their service animal policies after air travel with emotional support animals took on a circus-like atmophere. “We welcome emotional support and trained service animals that provide needed assistance to our customers,” Steve Goldberg, senior vice president of operations and hospitality, said in a prepared statement. Although the federal government recognizes only dogs and miniature horses as certified service animals, Southwest will extend the definition to include cats. The policy also allows service animals to continue to fly with their owners. The airlines will limit ESAs to dogs and cats only, allowing one animal per customer, and requiring the animal to remain in a carrier or on a leash at all times. In the increasingly chaotic and bizarre world of Emotional Support Animals on airplanes, Southwest Airlines has released a new policy that appears to take a more calming, rational approach.
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