Beginning January 11, Alaska Airlines will be the first major airline in the United States to ban emotional support animals.
The move comes after the Department of Transport revised its Air Carrier Access Act on December 2, which no longer classifies support animals as service animals.
“This regulatory change is good news as it will help us reduce disturbances on board as we continue to accommodate our guests traveling with qualified service animals,” said Ray Prentice, Alaska Airline’s director of customer defense in a press release.
Under the new policy, the airline said passengers would have to fill out a DOT form that shows that “the animal is a legitimate service dog, is trained and vaccinated and will behave properly during the journey”.
Alaska said it will continue to accept emotional support animals under its current policy for flights booked before January 11 and flights on or before February 28.
The airline said it would not accept emotional support animals on its flights after February 28, the company said.