Emotional support animals (ESAs) — companion animals who provide therapeutic relief to individuals with debilitating emotional or mental health disabilities — are becoming increasingly more prevalent throughout the US as a treatment option.

If you’re the proud owner of an ESA dog, you may be wondering if they can legally fly with you on an airplane. Today, we’ll answer your “can ESA dogs fly in cabin” question and discuss everything else you need to know when flying with your ESA, including how they differ from service animals.

What Is an Emotional Support Animal?

An emotional support animal is an animal that provides comfort, security, and reassurance to individuals with diagnosed mental or emotional disabilities. They achieve this purely through their physical presence and companionship, and therefore are not required to undergo any training.

Any species can become legally recognized as an emotional support animal, including dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, and even reptiles like snakes.

Emotional Support Animals vs Service Animals

Emotional support animals and service animals are commonly confused. Since both animals assist those with disabilities, it’s easy to understand where the misconceptions arise from. However, service animals and emotional support animals provide support in different ways.

Unlike ESAs, service animals are working animals specially trained to perform tasks that ease disability-related symptoms. The exact tasks they perform can vary, depending on their handler’s unique circumstances, symptoms, and needs. For example, an individual with anxiety may train their ESA to administer deep pressure therapy (DPT) to help prevent the onset of panic attacks.

What’s more, although any species can become an ESA, only dogs and miniature horses can be legally recognized as service animals in the US.

Service animals are protected under federal laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They are granted travel rights, public access rights, and reasonable accommodations in rental properties and the workplace.

ESAs do not receive the same legal rights as service animals because they do not perform trained tasks. However, they are granted certain protections under federal laws — we’ll touch on how this affects their travel rights below.

Can ESA Dogs Fly in Cabin?

Emotional support animals used to be granted travel protections under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). Under this federal law, airlines were required to reasonably accommodate ESAs on airplanes and allow them to fly in the cabin with their owners. They also could not subject them to standard pet restrictions, policies, and fees.

However, in 2021, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) amended its ACAA policies and revised their definition of working animals. Now, only dogs “individually trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability” can benefit from the travel protections outlined in the ACAA.

This change means airlines are no longer legally obligated to accommodate ESAs. It is entirely at their discretion whether your ESA dog can fly with you, and if standard pet restrictions and policies apply.

Unfortunately, virtually all airlines have opted to treat ESAs as pets. If you’re hoping to bring your ESA dog on board with you, you will need to contact the airline directly in advance to learn more about their stance, and if applicable, the policies and costs involved.

Typical Airline Pet Travel Policies and Expectations

Every airline will have its own unique approach, and the destination you’re traveling to can also affect whether the airline will accommodate your pet on board.

Generally, airlines that permit ESA dogs on board the cabin will require them to be well-behaved, housebroken, and meet specific size, breed, and weight limits. They will also need to be tethered via a leash or kept in a pet-safe carrier approved by the airline.

Keep in mind that even if your ESA dog satisfies the airline’s criteria, they can still be denied their right to fly with you if:

• They exhibit unruly behavior, such as excessive barking
• They show signs of poor health or inadequate hygiene
• They cause distress or endanger other passengers on board

Before traveling with your ESA dog, it’s advisable to make sure they’ve mastered their basic obedience and have good public access skills. You should also give them ample opportunity to relieve themselves before the journey to prevent accidental soiling on board.

Can I Make My ESA Dog a Psychiatric Service Dog?

Although ESA dogs are no longer protected under the ACAA, service dogs are, and they still receive flight travel privileges. It’s possible that you can make your ESA dog a psychiatric service dog — and benefit from the ACAA travel rights — provided they can fulfil the role effectively and you qualify.

Your ESA dog must have the right temperament for the role and be able to reliably (and consistently) perform at least one disability-related task to become a psychiatric service animal. Keep in mind that you should only consider making your ESA dog a service dog if you will truly benefit from a trained task.

Can ESA Dogs Fly in Cabin: Final Recap

While airlines used to be legally required to accommodate ESA dogs, as of 2021, this is no longer the case. This means whether or not ESA dogs can fly in the cabin will ultimately be at the airline’s discretion.

Unfortunately, virtually all airlines in the US have decided to treat ESA dogs as pets, meaning standard pet policies and fees will apply. You will need to consult the airline staff in advance to learn more about your ESA dog’s travel rights.