Emotional Support Animals
Jan 28, 2008 at 3:00 PM 
Today I booked a flight on JetBlue to go to Chicago for a week in mid-February. When I called them to add Beverly to the reservation, I learned that they increased their pet fee from $50 each way to $75 each way. Although I don't like it, I can live with paying $100 to bring my little muffin along, but $150? For that price she should have her own seat and not be forced to sit in a bag under mine.
Anyway, after browsing around the net, I learned that airline pet fees are waived if your animal is a certified service animal or an "emotional support" animal. According to American Airlines, an emotional support animal is a "service animal that provides emotional support to an individual with a mental health-related disability." For you pet to be qualify as an ESA, you must provide proper documentation, i.e., a letter on letterhead from a mental health care professional (physician or psychologist) that states...
- the passenger has a mental health-related disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, and learning
- the passenger is under professional care for said mental health-related disability
- having the animal travel with the passenger is necessary to the passenger's treatment
Reader Comments (20)
I bet Britney gets to travel with London.
I think it is crazy that airlines charge so much to bring our pets on a flight. My dog exceeds the weight limit to fly in the cabin (I believe no more than 20 pounds???) and yet he can't fly in cargo either because as a Pug he is in that smashed nose category. Okay, there is a proper name for that but I couldn't think of it. Bronch something maybe. Anyhow that is so unfair that they charge so much to bring your pet. Bev should totally have her own seat in First Class for that price!
I'll write you that letter....
I think for the price they are charging you Beverly should get her own meal, drink and set of headphones tuned to some doggie movie.
Oooooh, that's so good to know. I think with a good printer, some nice paper, and a little creativity you could write that letter for yourself. (Then, if you get busted, plead multiple personality disorder.)
Yeah the charges are outrageous. Poor Bev. How does she take to flying?
I think I'm over qualified.
I too am amazed at the amount of money it cost to fly my little dog from Chicago to Omaha. It costs more to fly my dog than it does myself and he doesn't even get his own seat. That is CRAP!!! My little baby should get his own seat and food service for the amount of money I pay to fly him for 1 hour!
I LOVE my dog!!!
I have always paid to fly with my little dog and it's CRAZY!! But no! no! Look up 'service dog' on the internet and the details of a service dog. Your dog can STILL be a service dog- but the psychological aspect of it. Airlines and other establishments CANNOT ask you what ailment you are suffering from to avoid discrimination. It's a legal issue. Look it up! Also, go to www.sitstay.com where you can buy him a vest and cards outlining his purpose. If anyone asks you any questions, all you do is give them that card- it answers everything. My girlfriend flies with her dog and just told me about it after I paid 180 bucks!
Umm....yeah.
Maybe my dog could get a letter and I could fly for free!!
i'm trying to train my cat to alert me when my blood sugar is low so i can bring her to work with me and when i travel and stuff.
it's not working.
I wonder if I could get them to let me bring on 3 dogs? I'm REALLY depressed!
lady luck - great idea! I went to that site and looked. They have things that say "Don't pet me I'm working." Problem with that is that my dogs would knock people down to get them to pet them. They'd probably get wise pretty quickly that they weren't really "working."
As a legitimate service dog, I'm asking you to PLEASE don't try and pass off your pet dog as a service dog or emotional support dog. It's unethical and hurts the reputation of dogs like me who REALLY need to be there to help our partners. One day, we might lose that right because of people "faking it".
Tell you what, you take my mom's multiple sclerosis and we'll give you my service dog status! Wanna trade?
Logan the Service Dog
My family and I were on a recent jet blue flight to florida. While I agree that a dog could be used for "therphy" a lady on the flight claimed ALL 3 OF HER DOGS WERE FOR THERPHY!!!
Try flying Delta or United. Their fees are now $150 ONE WAY. That's $300 round trip!
I just got a letter from my therapist stating that I need to have my little one with me (I'll spare details). Honestly, I'm scared to DEATH to show up at the airport on Saturday. I'm afraid they won't believe me. I'm young (25) and my dog is small. I think they're going to say, "Sorry, Elle Woods. You aren't limping or blind so we're denying you boarding." :(
As if having my problems isn't bad enough, I now have to worry about this!
I need to update my comment.
United is now charging an astronomical $175 one-way fee for a carry-on pet.
Northwest and Delta now charge $300 round trip for an in cabin pet. I was able to get a letter from my psychiatrist stating that my dog is an emotional support animal, and for my next trip she will travel with no fee, and I was refunded the $300 I was charged (and paid) for a trip in February. I was hoping to find a vest she could wear that states she is an ESA, but so far, haven't been able to find one. But I found a tag online. Good luck.
Look at this editorial dealing with Emotional Support dogs.
http://www.cuestonian.cuesta.edu/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&ustory_id=13a1cf4c-10d0-4e33-a21d-336b257e4bfb
I agree with Logan. I have a history of severe panic attacks, claustrophobia, and depression. I tried so many different medications and well over 1,000's of dollars in therapy bills, but nothing seemed to help. Imagine having a real panic attack on a plane. It's horrible. It's happened to me many times. There was a point where I couldn't leave me home. I wasn't able to drive because a panic attack would come on. Then, I got a dog. I'm not going to say I was cured, but the number of panic attacks decreased dramatically. The case of the woman with 3 emotional support dogs and the person whose girlfriend bought "service vests" is really quite sad and ruins it for those of us with true emotional problems. Luckily, my dog is small and very well behaved, so it is very convenient for me to do so. As much as I love my dog, I would rather not be in the position having to rely on my dog for help. I'd love to be able to fly on a plane without experiencing a panic attack. It may happen one day, but for now it is best for me and those on the plane that I travel with my dog. The reason I say "those on the plane" was because one time the flight attendant had asked if I wanted to land at a nearest airport to go to the hospital (during a panic attack, you experience shortness of breath, tingling, shaking, racing heart beat, and some people hyperventilate). Please consider my experience before judging someone with an Emotional Support Dog.
I agree with Sandy and Logan. It's unfortunate that people still don't view these animals as legitimate. It's inappropriate to jokingly state that you should try to get your own letter just so you can fly your little dog around for free. As Sandy said, these statements make it more difficult for people who actually need to deal with emotional issues.