American Airlines will no longer allow emotionally supportive animals to travel on its planes, except as hand or cargo pets. The carrier is adopting a Department of Transportation rule that takes effect next week. He defines a service animal as a dog trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, a more restricted definition than in the past.
“When the rule goes into effect on January 11, American will no longer authorize new trips for animals that do not fit that definition, such as emotional support animals,” the airline announced on Tuesday in a press release.
The airline said that existing reservations involving emotional support animals will be honored until February 1, when the company’s new policies will go into effect.
Animals that had previously traveled as emotional support animals and no longer qualify as service animals can travel as pets by hand or in cargo, provided they meet the airline’s requirements, American added. The airline will charge a pet fee ranging from $ 125 to several hundred dollars to transport pets, according to the Associated Press.
“We are confident that this approach will allow us to better serve our customers, especially those with disabilities who travel with service animals, and better protect our team members at the airport and on the aircraft,” Jessica Tyler, president of cargo and vice president airport excellence for American, said in a statement.
Alaska Airlines a week ago also said it would no longer accept emotional support animals. Other airlines are also expected to adopt the new policy.
The Department of Transportation earlier last month said it was reversing its long standing position which required airlines to allow passengers to travel with emotional support animals, provided they obtained a doctor’s certificate.
The agency’s move follows an increase in complaints of disabled passenger service animals, misbehavior of emotionally supportive animals, a lack of clarity around the definition of “service animal” and disruptions caused by “requests for transport of species of animals on board aircraft, “according to the DOT.
For years, airlines have struggled to deal with travelers who brought a collection of animals on board, including cats, turtles, pigs and other creatures.
High-profile incidents involving animals on flights include the police being called to remove a woman with an emotionally supportive squirrel from a 2018 Frontier Airlines flight and United Airlines jumping a passenger she wanted bring a peacock on board.