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Well, they're still required to allow SERVICE animals - and those will always supersede anyone with allergies. They will also still allow fee-paid PETS in the cabin, with whatever current restrictions exist (usually one or two allowed per flight). These new rules would only apply to ESAs, which have become a way for folks to avoid paying fees or get around other restrictions.
From the article: The changes don’t affect pets that customers pay to take into the cabin in enclosed carriers. and Delta Air Lines Inc. is barring emotional-support and service animals that are less than four months old, while banning all support animals from flights longer than eight hours. So yeah, this doesn't mean their flights will be 100% animal-free; it's just a way to reduce the number of BS-ers, since a 4 month-old puppy/kitten isn't trained for these surroundings yet.
I also think they are requiring emotional support animals to also be in a crate and not in your lap or on a seat. The 8 hour rule is pretty silly since I don't know many flights within the US that are 8 hours except for flying to Hawaii which restricts animals coming in anyway. Requiring them to be in a crate unless they are an actual service dog is a good rule. It is very rare that a trained service animal will attack someone or poop in the isle. It is all these fake ESA's that are causing the problem.
This whole “emotional support animal” thing looks so fake and full of fuss.
May be it does work for people but sometimes I feel that doctors who recommend emotional support animals need to see a psychiatrist themselves.
All this rule is, is Delta putting an end to the loophole for flying with a puppy. I flew with my dog at 12 weeks...I paid $125 each way to do so. He was still in the cabin, under my seat or in my lap.
Had I claimed ESA, I wouldn't have had to pay that.
I know people get all hot and bothered about it, but I can't say that I totally blame people for trying to save a few hundred dollars either.
I can't see Delta getting into hot water over this. Its hard to make a legitimate claim that your four month old puppy is doing any service other than chewing your shoelaces.
But legitimate ESA animals are not puppies or kittens. They are cute and comforting, but they are not trained, and yes, even ESA pets need to be trained.
Agreed! Really it all comes down to behavior, as even a trained guide dog is expected to behave themselves... that's the measure we use at my work (which is a government building), so if your dog isn't acting properly, we WILL ask you to leave.
The problem is who (as in what agency) handles overseeing the registering/licensing of service animals and how do we pay for such a program?
Nobody right now, and you're correct - that IS the problem! I think the whole system needs an overhaul, now that people have found the loopholes. And I'm sure the folks with legitimate service/ESA animals won't object, as long as it doesn't cost them much $$.
Nobody right now, and you're correct - that IS the problem! I think the whole system needs an overhaul, now that people have found the loopholes. And I'm sure the folks with legitimate service/ESA animals won't object, as long as it doesn't cost them much $$.
I'm hoping that if we ever do go to a formal licensing system (which I'm in favor of!) that the owner doesn't bear the cost of having the SA licensed. It's already expensive enough to obtain/train/maintain a service animal, even with insurance. I wouldn't want anyone to have to forgo such a valuable tool simply because the costs become too high.
I am tired of jibes about my emotional support hamster, Wallace. Despite the new rules, I will take him to Tokyo.
Now that you've mentioned Japan, last year (summer) we passed through Haneda Airport and saw an official notice from ANA stating their policy of not transporting short muzzled dog breeds during the summer months, such as Bulldog, Pug, French Bulldog, Boxer, Pug, Chow Chow, Shih Tzu, King Charles, Pekingese.
My brother and his wife took their (legitimate) ESA, a 4-lb adult dog, on a Delta flight recently. They didn't try to take him on for free; they bought him his own seat, told the airline it was for a dog, and brought a pad to protect the seat. Even so, the flight attendant would not let the dog sit on the covered seat, but insisted he be caged or on their lap. The airline refunded the seat when my brother complained.
I am tired of jibes about my emotional support hamster, Wallace. Despite the new rules, I will take him to Tokyo.
I just laughed across 3 rooms.
BWAHAHAHAHA
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