Where Your Emotional Support Animal Is Allowed to Sit on the Plane
In May, during a flight to the Delta, a person was attacked by an emotional support animal; according to a lawsuit filed by a passenger, the animal repeatedly attempted to sit on its owner’s lap prior to the attack – although ESA are required to remain on the floor under Delta regulations – while the attendants ignored airline policy.
As for the Points Guy , one reader also shared her experience with a passenger animal on an American Airlines flight, which (thankfully) was much less traumatic. Upon boarding, the traveler discovered that her neighbor’s dog had taken her place in the first class.
“The passenger sitting next to the dog – the owner of the dog – was talking to his cell phone, so it took me a while to get his attention and convey that his dog was sitting in my seat,” wrote Katie Genter, the passenger in question … TPG . “… For the first half of the flight, the dog lay on the floor between our seats, which meant that I had to be careful when I moved my legs or took objects out of my bag. For the second half of the short flight, the man kept the dog on his lap. “
It wasn’t immediately clear whether the animal was an emotionally supportive animal, Hunter said; however, according to airline regulations, the pet was not allowed to sit in its seat.
Review your airline’s policy
Questions aside about the authenticity of some emotional support animals, if you ever plan to fly the ESA, be sure to check your airline’s policies beforehand. It is helpful to know and invoke your rights if you ever find yourself in a position to defend your ESA’s presence in flight.
Most airlines have a language on their websites that details the behavioral requirements. Fortunately, most airlines offer the option to purchase additional seat to make room for the emotional support animal. Below you will find important accommodation regulations for several major US airlines:
- American Airlines : Animals must fit under your feet, under your seat, or in your lap. (According to the AA website, lap animals must be less than two years old.) If the animal is in a kennel, it should fit under the seat in front of you that the animal is in. They cannot sit in the exit row, block aisles, take seats, or eat from trays. If your animal does not fit, you can buy an animal ticket or return the animal as cargo.
- Delta : Animals must sit below the passenger seat or in your lap and must not be larger than the seat “footprint”. They cannot take up space or eat from tray tables. Delta also states on its website that it does not accept emotional support animals on flights of eight hours or more. If you have an oversized animal, you may need to purchase an extra seat.
- JetBlue : Animals must remain on the floor unless they are small enough to “fit completely in the customer’s lap without touching any part of the seat or adjacent customers.” They also cannot take seats or leave the row. If you are flying through the JetBlue Mint service, you cannot recline the seat completely to accommodate your pet. Animal carriers are permitted in the Mint during take-off and landing, so they should be stowed in the overhead hold.
- United : Animals must be placed on the floor under the passenger seat and cannot block the passage or occupy the seat. Also, placement at the exit from the row is not allowed. Like the Delta, emotionally supported animals are not allowed on flights of eight hours or more. Animals also cannot weigh more than 65 pounds or be less than four months old. They will also need to remain tethered throughout the flight.
If you still have concerns about your particular animal or are traveling overseas, take a look at your airline’s website for the exact requirements and contact them for confirmation. American, Delta, JetBlue, and United have accessibility helplines so you can call them directly if you have any problems.
And if you are flying with a pet that is not an ESA (or service animal), depending on the airline, they can usually fly in the cabin for an additional fee. However, as a rule, they must remain in the aviary throughout the flight and under the seat in front of you, which means that you cannot bring very large pets with you. Airlines such as American also require the aviary to be large enough for your pet to stand, pivot and sit comfortably.
Otherwise, larger pets can fly in the cargo hold of several major airlines (other than JetBlue ). You should be aware that you also cannot purchase a seat for your pet that is not an ESA service animal or service animal. Again, check your airline’s policies and remember to start the pet booking process as early as possible, as you will likely have to consider strict kennel requirements and important safety tips for your dog in the meantime.