Good morning, readers! As always, the CertaPet Team has been working hard to curate Emotional Support and Service Animals stories to keep you updated. This week, we’ve got some exciting news for American Airlines travelers. The airline has introduced a more accommodating pet policy for pets in air cabins, potentially making your travel experience more streamlined and enjoyable.
American Airlines Introduces Change That Will Likely Appeal To Pet Owners
If you’re a member of the pet community, you’ve likely noticed the trend of airlines adopting stricter pet policies nationwide. Airlines ‘ pet policies have changed noticeably from paperwork red tape to harsher scrutiny of Service and Emotional Support Animals.
This trend led to pet owners and activists raising their voices for laxer rules to make air travel more accessible to people with disabilities. On the flip side, reports of travelers misrepresenting their pets as Service Animals or ESAs were used by supporters of the new stricter set of laws to demand the changes be kept in place.
Just last month, a dog wearing a service vest on a United Airlines flight went viral on the internet for acting in a manner not associated with trained animals.
However, despite the controversy surrounding the topic, American Airlines announced that it was updating its pet policy. Under the recent change, a pet carrier no longer counts as a large personal item for folks wanting to travel with their pets.
The airline’s website now states that travelers “On flights with American you can bring one pet carrier as a carry-on if: you pay the carry-on pet fee [and] your pet stays in the pet carrier and under the seat in front of you the entire flight.”
Though the size of pets allowed on board hasn’t changed, the update relates to whether they’re counted as a large personal item. The (carry-on) pet fee is typically around $150. So, what does this new change mean for travelers with pets?
The change will help reduce the overall expense of traveling with a pet, as you were allowed to bring another small personal item earlier. Now, travelers will be able to carry a small carry-on suitcase. This will help travelers avoid paying another $100 for checked baggage.
It’s important to note that the new amendment does not affect larger pet items or accessories that require checking in as oversized or regular items (depending on their size and dimensions). Additionally, the policy applies only to flights within the U.S. and a few international exceptions (such as Mexico).
American Airlines believes this change will help the company stand apart from its competitors and attract travelers looking to journey with their pets. Whether or not this amendment is successful remains to be seen.
Source: TheStreet
CertaPet’s Thoughts on This Week’s News
American Airlines’ recent change in pet policy may not be the relief Emotional Support and Service Animal owners were looking for, but it’s a start. Hopefully, we’ll soon see fundamental amendments in air travel that will protect the rights of all people with disabilities.
If you’re living with a mental illness, getting an emotional support animal could really help your recovery. These loving animals could ease your symptoms and help you live a happier, fuller life. If you’re ready to start the process, take our 5-minute pre-screening test for free. We’ll connect you with a licensed mental health professional, who will have a consultation with you. Then, if you qualify, you’ll get your ESA letter in no time.