United Airlines Announces Changes to Emotional Support Animal Policies

Man walking his dog at Houston Intercontinental Airport (photo courtesy iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus martince2)

United Airlines recently announced changes to its emotional support animal policies that will go into effect January 7.

According to CNBC.com, United will no longer allow emotional support kittens and puppies under four months of age on any of its planes and all emotional support animals will be banned on flights longer than eight hours.

While the airline said it would honor reservations made by January 3 with the old rules, the new regulations will only permit dogs, cats and miniature horses as service animals. The decision comes as United continues to minimize biting incidents and soiled cabins.

“We have seen increases in onboard incidents on longer flights involving these animals, many of which are unaccustomed to spending an extended amount of time in the cabin of an aircraft,” United said in a statement.

The Chicago-based airline is following the lead of Delta Air Lines, which banned younger emotional support animals in December and no longer allows any animals on flights scheduled to last longer than eight hours.

The changes were also influenced by the animal vaccination policy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the principles outlined in the United States Department of Transportation’s Air Carrier Access Act.

Matty K Travel Group 516.366.9008

Delta Bans Emotional Support Animals from Longer Flights

Delta Bans Emotional Support Animals from Longer Flights

Delta Air Lines announced Monday it would be updating its policies to ban emotional support animals from flights scheduled to last longer than eight hours.

In addition, Delta also revealed it will no longer allow service and support animals that are less than four-months-old on any flight. 

The new rules and regulations apply to travelers purchasing tickets on or after December 18, with customers purchasing tickets before that date being permitted to still travel with their animal.

Starting February 1, the ban on emotional support animals on longer flights and animals less than four-months-old will be in effect for all customers, regardless of booking date. As a service to valued customers, Delta’s Reservations and Customer Care team will contact impacted travelers to adjust reservations.

“We will continue to review and enhance our policies and procedures as health and safety are core values at Delta,” senior vice president John Laughter said in a statement. “These updates support Delta's commitment to safety and also protect the rights of customers with documented needs – such as veterans with disabilities – to travel with trained service and support animals.”

Delta’s decision to update its policy again comes after an 84 percent increase in reported incidents involving service and support animals since 2016. The issues include urination, defecation, biting and even a widely reported attack by a 70-pound dog.

The changes were influenced by the animal vaccination policy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the principles outlined in the United States Department of Transportation’s Air Carrier Access Act.