United has followed the lead of Delta by tightening rules over the carriage of ’emotional support’ animals in the cabin.
It comes just days after the airline denied access to a peacock.
Currently United requires 48 hours’ notice that a customer wants to bring an emotional support animal along with a letter from a mental health practitioner.
From March 1, the customer must additionally ‘provide confirmation that the animal has been trained to behave properly in a public setting and acknowledge responsibility for the animal’s behaviour’.
An animal health and vaccination record signed by a veterinarian is also required.
United reminded customers that animals currently banned from the cabin include hedgehogs, ferrets, insects, rodents, snakes, spiders, reptiles, sugar gliders, non-household birds and other exotic creatures.
There is no change planned for customers traveling with trained service animals.
"We will also continue to support customers with disabilities, including those traveling with service or emotional support animals, through our 24/7 Accessibility Desk, which we’ve had in place to provide service and care for nine years, " the airline said.
United said the new procedure was not sparked by the recent peacock incident but highlighted the scale of the problem now facing airlines and their customers.
There has been a 75% increase year-over-year in the number of passengers bringing emotional support animals, according to United.
