In 2021 the U.S. Section 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 board the motel of flights without any boosted charges or fees. Psychiatric service dogs are likewise exempt from size and weight restrictions applicable to pets, and they can sit on the floor (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 disability. These are just some of the tasks that psychiatric service dogs tin exist trained to perform for their owners:

  • Remind their owners to perform of import routine tasks like taking medication.
  • Ground the handler when they become disoriented due to a panic or feet set on.
  • Provide comfort with paw pressure, licking, or hugging.
  • Use tactile stimulation to "break the spell" when the handler has a psychotic episode or is paralyzed with panic or anxiety.
  • Provide a buffer confronting crowds.
  • Foreclose the handler from engaging in repetitive and self-destructive actions.

If you consider getting a psychiatric service domestic dog, a licensed healthcare professional person tin evaluate whether you come across the disability criteria for a PSD under the Americans with Disabilities Human activity (ADA) and Air Carrier Admission Act. If you qualify, they can provide a signed PSD letter of the alphabet to aid you establish that you have an eligible disability.

How to Become your Psychiatric Service Canis familiaris Letter of the alphabet from ESA Doctors

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

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

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

Airline Procedures for Flying with a Psychiatric Service Dog

Before the DOT'south new rules went into result, each airline had a slightly different policy for all-around service animals and emotional support animals. While the new rules have finer ended the ability of ESAs to board flights, they take somewhat standardized the process for owners of service dogs and psychiatric service dogs.

The DOT created a new form, the DOT Service Beast Air Transportation Form, where passengers are required to self-certify they have a canis familiaris trained to perform tasks for their eligible mental or emotional wellness inability. Each airline accepts this course (whereas in years past, each airline substantially had a unlike form for emotional back up animals).

Airlines mostly crave passengers to submit the form at least 48 hours in accelerate, although they will still accept the form at the gate if you book a flight parting within 48 hours. Most airlines crave you to notify that you lot will be traveling with a service dog at the fourth dimension of booking. Some airlines will have an selection to indicate you have a service dog when you volume online, and others will accept notification by phone or through a special portal for submitting the DOT Class.

For the basics of flight with a psychiatric service domestic dog, 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 will accept your psychiatric service dog in the cabin free of charge equally long as you submit the DOT Form to them before your departing flying. You can download and submit the form at this link.

Later you submit the DOT Course and information technology is canonical past American Airlines, you will go an electronic mail with a Service Creature ID (SVAN ID). When booking flights in the future, you tin can add this ID and be approved without submitting the form again each fourth dimension you fly. The ID expires later on 1 year (or when the domestic dog'southward vaccination expires, whichever comes first), so you will demand to submit the DOT Course at least annually if yous are a frequent flier on American Airlines.

Here are some rules to go along in mind when flying with a service canis familiaris on American Airlines:

  • Your service dog must be under your control at all times and harnessed, leashed, or tethered.
  • Each passenger is limited to two service dogs.
  • Your service dog must fit in your human foot space, under your seat, or in your lap (but only if the dog is smaller than a two-year-old child).
  • Your service domestic dog must exist at least four months of age.
  • Service dogs cannot be in exit rows or take space in the aisles.
  • Service dogs are not immune to be in passenger seats.

A service dog can be removed from an American Airlines flight if information technology is confusing or posing a danger to the wellness and safety 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 y'all are on the path towards owning a psychiatric service dog, a licensed healthcare professional can evaluate whether you come across the disability criteria for owning a psychiatric service canis familiaris under the Americans with Disabilities Human action (ADA) and Air Carrier Access Human activity. If yous qualify, they can provide a signed PSD letter of the alphabet to help you establish that you lot 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 letter of the alphabet from a licensed healthcare professional person, y'all can go 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. Yous volition need to consummate the DOT's Service Animal Air Transportation Form and submit it to Delta before your flight. If you're on a flight over 8 hours, you volition also demand to submit the DOT'southward Service Animal Relief Attestation Course to Delta.

Y'all should submit these forms at least 48 hours prior to boarding. If you book a flight that happens to be within 48 hours, you tin can submit the forms when you lot arrive at the aerodrome. For more detailed data on how to submit these forms to Delta, click on this link.

Here are some other things to keep in heed if you program to wing on Delta with your service dog:

  • Delta volition accept pit bulls on board as long as they are fully trained service dogs that meet all documentation and behavioral standards.
  • A service animal in training is not yet considered a service dog that tin board flights. Exception: if the service dog in preparation is flying with a professional handler and is on its fashion to be 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 owner's foot space or on the owner's lap (if the dog is no larger than a 2-year-old kid).
  • Service dogs are never allowed in passenger seats.

Delta Airlines reserves the correct to remove a psychiatric service dog from the gate or plane if it engages in disruptive or threatening behavior. Examples of unacceptable deportment include growling at passengers, biting or attempting to bite passengers, or excessive barking.

If you are on the path towards owning a psychiatric service domestic 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 Human action (ADA) and Air Carrier Admission Human activity. If you qualify, they can provide a signed PSD alphabetic character to aid you establish that you take 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 letter from a licensed healthcare professional person, you tin go started today at the link below.

JetBlue

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

JetBlue allows psychiatric service dogs to accompany their owners on flights without any additional charge. Psychiatric service dogs are also exempt from the size/weight limitations that use to normal pets.

To wing with a PSD on JetBlue, y'all volition need to follow these steps:

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

Submit the DOT Course at least 48 hours before your flight through this link. If you lot book a flight parting inside 48 hours, you lot can submit the DOT Form at the airport gate.

Hither are some other things to keep in listen when flying with a PSD on JetBlue:

  • Only fully-trained service dogs are immune to board (no service dogs in grooming).
  • Your service canis familiaris must be under your control at all times and harnessed, leashed, or tethered.
  • JetBlue has the correct to appraise your service dog'due south beliefs at the airport to ensure safe requirements earlier information technology can board.
  • Your service dog must fit in your foot infinite. Y'all tin can purchase another seat for boosted foot space if your dog is too big (or you lot have two 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 animal can fit on the passenger'south lap without touching any office 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 can evaluate whether you encounter the inability criteria for owning a psychiatric service dog under the Americans with Disabilities Deed (ADA) and Air Carrier Access Act. If you qualify, they can provide a signed PSD letter to help you 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 need a PSD letter from a licensed healthcare professional, you can become started today at the link below.

Southwest Airlines

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

Southwest Airlines volition welcome your psychiatric service dog aboard as long equally you submit a completed DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Class in advance. You should notify Southwest yous are traveling with a service dog when you book your flight and present the completed DOT Form at the ticket counter or gate on the date of departure.

When booking a flight, you can utilise the "Special Help" link on the Rider & Payment Info page to point that yous will be accompanied by a service 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 Assistance" nether the passenger's proper name and point yous will need a service domestic dog.

You can also notify Southwest that you volition exist flying with a service dog by calling them at 1-800-I-Wing-SWA (one-800-435-9792) prior to travel. Think that you still accept to bear witness upward on the solar day of travel with a completed DOT Form and make sure that the course is dated on or afterwards the date you purchased your ticket with Southwest.

Here are some other rules to be aware of when flying with your psychiatric service domestic dog on Southwest:

  • Your service dog must be harnessed, leashed, or otherwise tethered to you lot at all times.
  • Your service dog should be well-groomed, scent-gratuitous, and trained to acquit properly in public settings.
  • Your service dog tin be denied boarding if information technology poses a threat to the wellness and safety of others or causes significant disruption.
  • Service dogs cannot sit in an emergency row go out or obstruct the aisles.
  • Service dogs are never allowed to occupy an empty rider seat.
  • Your service dog can sit on the floor in your foot space or be held in your lap if information technology is no larger than a ii-year-quondam child.

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

Psychiatric service dogs are allowed to fly in the cabin without fees and are exempt from pet restrictions. If yous need a PSD letter from a licensed healthcare professional, you lot 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 only volition let your psychiatric service dog board free of charge. Psychiatric service dogs are exempt from some of the restrictions placed on normal pets, only at that place are even so some rules to follow.

Only service dogs that are fully trained to do their piece of work or task for the owner's do good can lath the motel. Similar all airlines, United Airlines accepts service dogs that aid with psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disabilities. Each passenger can accept a maximum of 2 service dogs when flight on United.

To travel with a psychiatric service domestic dog with United Airlines, you will demand to submit the U.S. Department of Transportation'due south Service Animate being Air Transportation Course. If your flight is longer than 8 hours, you will too demand to submit the DOT's Service Creature Relief Testament Course.

You should submit the forms at least 48 hours in advance and carry the completed forms when traveling with United Airlines. If you volume a flying that departs within 48 hours, you can give the completed forms to a United amanuensis at the airport.

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

  • Service dogs tin can simply sit on the floor in forepart of you (or inside the space for the tickets yous have purchased).
  • Service dogs cannot be in the get out row or extend into the aisle.
  • Only fully-trained service dogs are allowed to board.
  • United Airlines only recognizes service dogs that have been trained and certified. Dog trainers, nonetheless, may ship a service dog in grooming.

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

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

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 besides not field of study to the same limitations that apply to normal pets that lath the cabin.

Alaska Airlines will have a maximum of ii trained service dogs per rider. If you book a reservation more than 48 hours earlier the divergence date, you lot must submit the DOT's Service Animal Air Transportation form online via Alaska Airlines' travel partner Service Animal Travel Solutions (SATS).

If you book a flight taking off within 48 hours, you must consummate a printable version of the DOT Form and submit it in person to an Alaska agent at the gate on your mean solar day of travel.

Here are some other rules to go along in heed when traveling with a service domestic dog with Alaska Airlines:

  • The size of your service dog cannot exceed the footprint or personal infinite of your seat or foot expanse during the flying.
  • You lot must consummate and submit the DOT Forms each time you brand a reservation.
  • Your service canis familiaris must be nether your command at all times and harnessed, leashed, or tethered.
  • Your service domestic dog must be seated in your floor space. Your service dog tin can sit on your lap if it is no larger than an infant.
  • Service dogs cannot occupy a seat, sit in the aisles or obstruct an go out row.

Your service canis familiaris must be well-behaved at all times and non create a disruption or threaten the safety and wellness of others. If your service domestic dog exhibits aggressive beliefs or is not under your command, information technology can be removed from the flying. Examples of unacceptable behavior include:

  • Bawl excessively
  • Seize with teeth, growl, snap, or lunge at other passengers.
  • Wander or run around freely.
  • Bound on guests or employees.
  • Not respond to the owner/handler's commands.

If yous are on the path towards owning a psychiatric service dog, a licensed healthcare professional tin evaluate whether you encounter the disability criteria for owning a psychiatric service dog nether the Americans with Disabilities Human activity (ADA) and Air Carrier Admission Act. If you qualify, they can provide a signed PSD letter to assist yous 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 lot need a PSD letter from a licensed healthcare professional, you lot can go started today at the link beneath.

Disclaimer: Our content is intended and must be used for informational purposes only. Policies can change, and companies can alter their rules and regulations. It is of import to do your analysis and inquiry earlier booking any flights. We are not affiliated with any of the airlines mentioned in this commodity.