Determining Eligibility of Service Animals for Air Travel

Airlines follow specific guidelines to determine if an animal qualifies as a service animal for transport. These guidelines are designed to ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers. Here’s how carriers determine if an animal must be accepted for transport as a service animal:

Inquiry Process:

Airlines may ask two questions to establish if the animal is indeed a service animal:

a) Is the animal required to accompany the passenger due to a disability?

b) What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?

Importantly, carriers are not allowed to inquire about the nature or extent of the person’s disability or demand demonstrations of the service animal’s work or task.

Behavior Observation:

Trained service animals display specific behaviors that indicate their suitability for air travel. They remain under the control of their handlers, exhibiting well-mannered conduct. A properly trained service animal will not:

• Run freely around the aircraft or airport gate area. 
• Bark or growl repeatedly at other individuals or animals. 
• Bite, jump on, or cause injury to people. 
• Urinate or defecate in the cabin or gate area.

An animal engaging in such disruptive behavior demonstrates a lack of proper training for behaving appropriately in a public setting. In such cases, carriers are not required to treat the animal as a service animal, even if it serves an assistive function for a passenger with a disability.

Physical Indicators:

Carriers may also look for physical indicators, such as a harness or vest on the animal, as a means of determining if it qualifies as a service animal.

Harnessing Requirements:

To ensure safety and compliance, airlines may require that service animals be harnessed, leashed, or otherwise tethered at all times while in areas of the airport owned, leased, or controlled by the carrier, as well as during the flight.

Forms to Fill Out:

In addition to these guidelines, passengers traveling with service animals may be asked to fill out specific forms during the check-in process. These forms serve to record essential information about the service animal and its handler, ensuring a smoother and more streamlined travel experience.

By adhering to these procedures and providing necessary information, passengers can help airlines make the necessary arrangements for accommodating service animals during air travel. It’s crucial to maintain proper control and training of the service animal throughout the journey to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip for all passengers on board.