Several major airlines have already taken steps to combat widespread abuse of their emotional support pet policies, but they now want the option of refusing all such animals.
Airlines for America has lobbied the Trump Administration to remove rules which requires airlines to permit emotional support animals on flights.
A4A wants the current definition narrowed.
It wants the current ‘service animals’ wording amended to only ‘trained dogs that perform a task or work for an individual with a disability.’
This would effectively only require airlines to allow fully trained service dogs onboard.
A4A cites ‘disturbing growth in the number of passengers with questionable claims of disability seeking to travel with animals.’
The trade group says the number of emotional support animals has ‘reached a tipping point’ which it says is ‘fueled by the cheap and easy availability of fraudulent credentials.’
Service dogs have rightly escaped any crackdown by airlines but they have trimmed the type of animals now allowed as emotional support companions, with most exotic species like reptiles, ferrets and spiders now banned.
Delta Air Lines also recently outlawed pit bull type dogs.
