Does United Airlines Allow Emotional Support Animals?

In March 2021, the Department of Transportation repealed long-standing safeguards for emotional support animals. This new judgement essentially implies that airlines may determine whether or not to allow emotional support animals on board.


Most domestic flights opted to cease allowing emotional support animals since the epidemic was in full stride and airlines were short for funds (this is our best estimate as to why).

Many airlines still accept emotional support animals, and psychiatric service dogs are mandated to be accepted by all airlines. We'll go over everything from the new guidelines to which airlines allow emotional support animals.

We'll also go over what psychiatric service dogs (PSDs) are, how they vary from ESAs, and how you can train your dog to be a PSD or ESA.

What are in-cabin pets?

Domesticated cats and dogs that can fit in a travel carrier beneath the seat in front of you are considered in-cabin pets.

On flights to, from, or through Hawaii and certain foreign cities, pets are not permitted in the cabin, however they are permitted in the cabin on select United flights.

In addition to your carry-on luggage allowance, you can bring the kennel for your in-cabin pet. There's a $125 service charge each way, plus another $125 for any layover of more than four hours within the United States or more than 24 hours outside the United States.

Carriers and kennels

A pet flying in a cabin must be contained in a hard-sided or soft-sided kennel that has been authorized. The kennel must fit entirely beneath the front passenger seat and stay there at all times.

Hard-sided kennels have maximum dimensions of 17.5 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 7.5 inches high (44 cm x 30 cm x 19 cm). Soft-sided kennels should have maximum dimensions of 18 inches length, 11 inches wide, and 11 inches high (46 cm x 28 cm x 28 cm).

Because soft-sided pet carriers are foldable and may fit below a seat without obstructing the aisle, they can slightly exceed these dimensions. In a kennel, only one pet is allowed, and the animal must be able to stand on its own.

Most Airlines Have Chosen Not To

Most domestic airlines, including United Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, Frontier, Alaska, and even our beloved Southwest, have opted to discontinue taking ESAs in the airplane cabin as a result of the new rule issued by the US Department of Transportation.

Many people have heard that airlines stopped allowing emotional support animals because people were abusing the program by bringing aboard peackocks and miniature horses.

According to our research, airlines have decided to cease allowing emotional support animals for a different reason.

Emotional support animals, in particular, provide a chance for airlines to raise earnings because you must now pay a pet fee to bring your emotional support animals inside the cabin with you. Dogs and cats, as well as other pets, are included.

Related: United Economy Plus (Is It Worth Upgrading?)

Service Animals Are Still Protected

Service animals are protected by the federal government, and any airline will accept them in the cabin. The rationale for this is that service animals are a federally protected breed of pet that has undergone extensive training.

They are usually well-behaved and have been specially taught to execute a task that will assist someone with a particular impairment.

We go through the differences between psychiatric service dogs and psychiatric service animals, as well as the types of disabilities that a PSD may assist with and what the term "well behaved" implies.

Related: United Airlines Baggage Fees?

How To Fly With An Emotional Support Animal

The airlines that still take ESAs primarily fly outside of the United States. Here's a list of common airlines where you may use your ESA status to fly with your ESA dog: There are a few airlines in North America that allow dogs and cats to be certified as ESAs and still fly.

We've connected to each of these air carriers (just as we did for US airlines) since we strongly advise you to phone them before flying with your ESAs or boarding a flight to make sure you have all you need.


United bans emotional support animals

For reservations made before January 11, 2021, and travel on or before February 28, 2021, United Airlines will continue to allow emotional support animals. United will no longer carry emotional support animals as of March 1, 2021.

Why there will be a lot of new “service dogs”

While emotional support animals will be prohibited, don't expect to see dogs weighing more than 20 pounds in passenger cabins.

Historically, some people have utilized the emotional support animal loophole for one of two reasons: to avoid paying the pet charge by bringing a dog into the cabin, or to bring a dog exceeding 20 pounds into the cabin (which is otherwise the weight limit).

Conclusion

For flights booked on or after January 11, 2021, and for travel on or after March 1, 2021, United Airlines is prohibiting emotional support animals.

Following a recent DOT rule allowing airlines to do so, United has become the fourth major airline to implement this limitation, following Alaska, American, and Delta.

While I'm sure many people will rejoice over this move, don't get too excited: psychiatric service animals, including dogs, will continue to be permitted.

While animals other than dogs will no longer be allowed in airline cabins, I don't foresee a significant drop in the number of dog owners.



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