No Support

From USA Today:

“Airlines wouldn't have to accept emotional support animals under proposed rule”

Under a proposed federal rule, airlines would no longer be required to accept emotional support animals and would exclude animals other than dogs as service animals. The U.S. Department of Transportation is seeking public comment for the proposed policy. The public will have 60 days to submit its comments at Regulations.gov. The department, in a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, said it was not prohibiting airlines from allowing passengers to fly with emotional support animals. However, it would no longer require them to do so if the proposed rule becomes final. The department's proposal would also allow airlines to limit service animals to two per passenger and require that they check in at least an hour before boarding. The changes would be a departure from the previous DOT guidance issued in August. which said that airlines could not restrict passengers from traveling with emotional support animals, nor could they ban a specific breed or species of support animal. Complaints from flight attendants and other passengers about the behavior of such animals on board prompted the department to review the policy. Advocates for passengers with disabilities voiced concern that allowing a range of support animals on flights undermined the purpose of legitimate service animals for those who depend on them. Airlines have also questioned whether some passengers may be trying to pass off their pets as support animals – be they cats, rabbits or birds, among others – in order to avoid paying the associated fees. "Airlines want all passengers and crew to have a safe and comfortable flying experience, and we are confident the proposed rule will go a long way in ensuring a safer and healthier experience for everyone," said Nick Calio, president and CEO of Airlines for America, an industry advocacy group. The Department of Transportation regulates the transportation of service animals under the Air Carrier Access Act and solicited comments from the public in 2018 after disability advocates and airline industry groups raised concerns about regulations around the handling of service and support animals. That solicitation resulted in nearly 4,500 comments.  Airlines have been tightening their policies in the wake of an increasing number of incidents involving animals in the cand an overall increase in the number of pets brought on board. Passengers have tried to bring on a range of emotional support animals, including a peacock and a squirrel. 

^ I believe that there needs to be either a Federally-administered program or that all 50 US States, DC and US Territories should have their own programs to certify that the animal is indeed a service animal. At the same time they could also certify that an animal is indeed an emotional support animal. That way there will be less confusion and also less people abusing the system. Service animals and emotional support animals provide a much-needed service for those that actually need them. Unfortunately, people have abused the system and claimed their animals are service animals or emotional support animals just so they can travel with them for free. I have flown with dogs across the Atlantic a few times (in the hold) and know it is expensive, but that expense doesn’t mean you should abuse a system that is there to help people who are either disabled or have suffered a trauma. ^

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2020/01/22/emotional-support-animals-new-dot-rule-would-let-airlines-refuse-them/4540901002/