Air 

Travel 

Service

Animals 

with 

Here are some important things

to know before you go...

Contact Us

DOT’s Disability Hotline

1-800-778-4838

Monday – Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm 

Eastern Time except federal holidays

Visit Us

www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/disability

14 CFR Part 382 applies to flights operating to,

from, or within the United States of America.

An airline is not required to upgrade 

you to a different class of service to 

accommodate your animal. 

Airlines cannot refuse to allow your 

animal onboard because it makes other 

passengers or flight crew uncomfortable. 

Your animal must behave properly. 

An animal that engages in disruptive 

behavior (e.g. barking or snarling, 

running around, and/or jumping onto 

other passengers, etc. without being 

provoked) will not be accepted as a 

service animal. 

For a flight that is scheduled for eight 

hours or longer, airlines may require 

documentation stating that your animal 

will not need to relieve itself, or can do 

so in a sanitary way. 

Traveling outside 

of the United States?

Here are a few things to keep in mind if you’re 

planning to fly outside of the United States 

with your service animal.

Foreign carriers operating to and from

the United States are only required to 

accept dogs.

US carriers traveling to foreign countries 

are subject to the requirements of that 

foreign country regarding acceptance of 

service animals; not all countries permit 

service animals from other foreign countries.

Check to ensure whether your 

destination country permits your 

animal and any other requirements 

in order to enter and exit legally.
A wide variety of service animals are permitted 

onboard aircraft flying to and within the United 

States; however, most service animals tend 

to be dogs and cats. Unusual animals are 

evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Airlines 

may exclude animals that:

Are too large or heavy to be 

accommodated in the cabin;

Pose a direct threat to the 

health or safety of others;

What are the 

acceptance criteria?

For service animals

Airlines can determine whether an animal is 

a service animal or pet by:

The credible verbal assurances of a qualified 

individual with a disability using the animal;

Looking for physical indicators such as the 

presence of a harness or tags;

Requiring documentation for psychiatric 

support animals and emotional support 

animal; and 

Observing the behavior of animals. 

For emotional support and psychiatric 

service animals

Airlines can request specific documentation 

and/or 48-hours advance notice for emotional 

support animals and psychiatric service animals. 

Documentation should not be older than one year 

from the date of your scheduled initial flight and 

must state: 

You have a mental or emotional disability 

that is recognized in the Diagnostic and 

Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM);

What qualifies 

as a service 

animal?

Cause a significant disruption of cabin 

service; or

Are prohibited from entering a foreign 

country.

Airlines are never required to accept snakes, 

Under the Air Carrier Access Act reptiles, ferrets, rodents, and spiders.

(ACAA) a service animal is any 

animal that is individually trained 

or able to provide assistance to a 

qualified person with a disability; 

or any animal that assists qualified 

persons with disabilities by 

providing emotional support. 

Documentation may be required 

of passengers needing to travel 

with an emotional support or 

psychiatric service animal.

You need your emotional support 

or psychiatric support animal as an 

accommodation for air travel and/or 

for activity at your destination;

The individual providing the assessment 

is a licensed mental health professional 

and passenger is under his/her 

professional care; and

The licensed health care professional’s; 

 Date and type of professional 

 license; and 

 Jurisdiction or state in which 

 their license was issued.

Which animals 

may board as 

service animals?

x

x

x

x

Ready to 

travel?

Here are a few things to keep in mind while 

at the airport and onboard the aircraft:

At the airport

If your animal needs to relieve itself, please 

ask an airport or airline professional for the 

location of the nearest animal relief areas.

Onboard the aircraft

Your animal must be permitted to 

accompany you in the space under 

the seat in front of you.

Certain small animals may be permitted 

to sit on your lap, if it can be done so safely.

Your animal cannot block a space that 

must remain unobstructed for safety 

reasons (e.g. an aisle or access to an 

emergency exit).