DALLAS (AP) – American Airlines bans emotional support animals in a move that will force most owners to pay extra if they want their pets to travel with them.
The airline said Tuesday it will only allow animals in the cabin if they are trained service dogs. The change will take effect Monday, although passengers who have already purchased tickets will be able to fly with a pet until February 1.
The move follows a similar decision by Alaska Airlines and likely copied by other providers. The US transportation division paved the way for the crackdown against companion animals last month.
American said passengers with service dogs must complete a government form that guarantees the dog’s health, training and temperament.
Other animals, including dogs that are not trained as service dogs, can only fly in the cargo hold or a kennel that fits under a seat in the cabin. Either way, American will collect a pet fee of $ 125 to several hundred dollars.
Jessica Tyler, the US freight director, said the rules will help passengers with service animals and protect workers on planes and airports.
The number of passengers flying with pet animals has grown rapidly in recent years, and some said the animals helped them overcome anxiety and other problems. Passengers only needed a note from a health worker, and a cottage industry sprang up to provide those notes, along with vests and other equipment for their animals.
Airlines and flight attendants in particular were more critical, saying passengers took advantage of a loophole in federal regulations to avoid pet fees. In some casesincluding some with serious injuries, pet animals bit other passengers.
Last month, the transportation department settled the matter, largely on the airlines’ side. It said carriers were free to ban any animal except dogs formally trained to help people with physical or psychological disabilities.
The department estimated that airlines will collect $ 59.6 million per year in pet fees under the new rules.
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David Koenig can be reached at www.twitter.com/airlinewriter