In early 2021, the Department of Transportation (DOT) updated Service Dog travel rules for Service Dog travel by air. In a nutshell, the new DOT Service Dog rules ban Emotional Support Animals on planes and require all Service Dog handlers to fill out two forms at least 48 hours prior to traveling. One of the new DOT Service Animal forms concerns training and behavior and the other health and wellness. For dogs joining their partner on flights longer than 8 hours, an elimination habits form will also be required. The new updates also change the definition of “Service Animal,” for the purposes of flying, to include only dogs. No other species of animal, including miniature horses, will be recognized.
Ideally, the new DOT rules will ensure dogs traveling in the passenger compartment of the plane are well-behaved and trained for public access. While there’s a little more work required on the part of Service Dog handlers prior to flying, overall, the new process is more streamlined. All airlines will utilize the standardized DOT forms.
Owner-trained teams, teams which trained under an individual trainer or organization are all treated the same
Owner-trainers (people who have trained their own dog), those who have worked with a private trainer or organization-trained dogs will utilize the same form. The forms do require the name of a trainer, however if you’ve trained your dog yourself or if you no longer have contact with the trainer who originally worked with you (which is extremely common) you may use your own name or that of another trainer as long as you and your animal can meet Service Dog Standards. Some airlines, like American Airlines, allow electronic submission of the forms, whereas others require the forms to be emailed or brought to the desk. Copies of the 2021 Service Dog travel forms can be downloaded here.
The new updates also address and standardize a few other common Service Dog travel concerns. Per the DOT, the 2021 Service Animal Final Rule:
- Defines a service animal as a dog that is individually trained by an owner-trainer, individual trainer or training organization to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability;
- No longer considers an emotional support animal to be a service animal;
- Requires airlines to treat psychiatric service animals the same as other service animals;
- Allows airlines to require forms developed by DOT attesting to a service animal’s health, behavior and training, and if taking a long flight attesting that the service animal can either not relieve itself, or can relieve itself in a sanitary manner;
- Allows airlines to require individuals traveling with a service animal to provide the DOT service animal form(s) up to 48 hours in advance of the date of travel if the passenger’s reservation was made prior to that time;
- Prohibits airlines from requiring passengers with a disability who are traveling with a service animal to physically check-in at the airport instead of using the online check-in process;
- Allows airlines to require a person with a disability seeking to travel with a service animal to provide the DOT service animal form(s) at the passenger’s departure gate on the date of travel;
- Allows airlines to limit the number of service animals traveling with a single passenger with a disability to two service animals;
- Allows airlines to require a service animal to fit within its handler’s foot space on the aircraft;
- Allows airlines to require that service animals be harnessed, leashed, or tethered at all times in the airport and on the aircraft;
- Continues to allow airlines to refuse transportation to service animals that exhibit aggressive behavior and that pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others; and
- Continues to prohibit airlines from refusing to transport a service animal solely based on breed.
It will take a bit of adjustment and pre-flight planning, but overall, Service Dog handlers with well-trained dogs will hopefully find they have fewer issues.
Service Dog Air Travel Requirements: Find Your Airline
Alaska Airlines
Service Dogs: Fly for free in their passenger’s footspace or lap. Limit of 2 fully trained Service Animals.
DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form: Required
SDiTs: Fly for free with their trainer and proper documentation from a training organization
ESAs: Not Allowed
Allegiant Air
Service Dogs: Fly for free in their passenger’s footspace or lap. Limit of 2 fully trained Service Animals.
DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form: Required — email form to ACAA@Allegiantair.com 48 hours prior to travel. Also bring the form to the airport during check-in. Download form here.
SDiTs: Fly for free with their trainer, although 72 hours of notice is required. Other types of working dogs, including law enforcement and search and rescue dogs, can also fly with their handler for official purposes.
ESAs: Not Allowed
American Airlines
Service Dogs: Fly for free in their passenger’s footspace or lap. Limit of 2 fully trained Service Animals.
DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form: Required – Download here
SDiTs: Not Allowed
ESAs: Not Allowed
Delta Air Lines
Service Dogs: Fly for free in their passenger’s footspace or lap. Limit of 2 fully trained Service Animals.
DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form: Required – download here
SDiTs: Not Allowed
ESAs: Not Allowed
Frontier Airlines
Service Dogs: Fly for free in their passenger’s footspace or lap. Limit of 2 fully trained Service Animals. Service Dogs must be older than 4 months of age.
DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form: Required – download here
SDiTs: Not Allowed
ESAs: Not Allowed
Hawaiian Airlines
Service Dogs: Fly for free in their passenger’s footspace or lap. Limit of 2 fully trained Service Animals. 48 hours advance notice required.
DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form: Required – upload form to the “Make a Request” page and select the “Service Animal” topic.
SDiTs: Not Allowed
ESAs: Not Allowed
JetBlue Airways
Service Dogs: Fly for free in their passenger’s footspace or lap. Limit of 2 fully trained Service Animals. 48 hours advance notice required.
DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form: Required – download here
SDiTs: Not allowed
ESAs: Not Allowed
Southwest Airlines
Service Dogs: Fly for free in their passenger’s footspace or lap. Limit of 2 fully trained Service Animals.
DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form: Required
SDiTs: Not Allowed
ESAs: Not Allowed
Note: Law enforcement and search and rescue dogs on official business fly for free with their handlers.
Spirit Airlines
Service Dogs: Fly for free in their passenger’s footspace or lap. Limit of 2 fully trained Service Animals.
DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form: Required – download here and submit online 48 hours prior to flying
SDiTs: Not Allowed
ESAs: Not Allowed
United Airlines
Service Dogs: Fly for free in their passenger’s footspace or lap. Limit of 2 fully trained Service Animals. Service Animals must be older than 4 months of age.
DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form: Required – download here
SDiTs: Fly for free with their trainer if the flight is for training purposes
ESAs: Not Allowed
The United States Service Dog Registry has been helping Service Dog handlers for over 10 years. Learn more >
Service Dog Standards helps those who have difficulty advocating for themselves. Learn more >