If you are flying with Alaska Airlines in mid-January, do not board your support pig or miniature horse.
The airline, which is acting on new federal guidelines aimed at decorating a series of sometimes exotic animals that brought passengers on commercial planes as emotionally supportive animals, kept it simple to announce on Tuesday what it will do allow: only qualified service dogs that can lie on the floor or be held in the lap.
Ray Prentice, director of advocacy for clients at Alaska Airlines, who said it was the first major airline to publicly change its animal policy in light of the updated federal guidelines, said the airline’s decision was a positive step.
“This regulatory change is welcome news as it will help us reduce disruption on board while still accommodating our guests traveling with qualified service animals,” he said. Prentice said in a statement.
The airline said that from January 11, it will only allow service dogs trained to perform work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.
A Dec. 2 ruling by the U.S. Department of Transportation that amended the department’s airline access law gives airlines the right to classify emotional support animals as pets rather than service animals. According to the ruling, only dogs that meet specific training criteria are allowed as service animals for people with physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disabilities.
The new regulatory ruling has been criticized by disability rights advocates, who said the restrictions would weaken the protection of people with disabilities by restricting the definition of a service animal. According to the formal guidance released by the Department of Transportation in 2019, ordinary service animals include dogs, cats and miniature horses.
“Although it is no secret that we are still far from a truly accessible transport system in this country, the DOT rule will only exacerbate the existing inequalities for people with disabilities who participate in air travel and instead almost exclusively the interests of the airline accommodates. industry, ”said Curt Decker, executive director of the National Disability Rights Network, in a statement this month.
Despite the criticism, airlines and others in the air travel industry, such as the lobby group Airlines for America, have celebrated the recent changes, saying they will do more to reduce animal misconduct on flights and to put off individuals abusing the rules of service. to scare. animals.
In the past, passengers tried to travel with a variety of animals, from the mundane to the downright unusual, such as pigs, monkeys and birds. (One failed attempt even included a peacock.)
The Americans with Disabilities Act defines dogs and miniature horses as service animals “who are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.” According to the law, dogs that only offer emotional support are not designated as service animals.
Alaska Airlines’ revised policy allows for a maximum of two service dogs per guest and will include psychiatric service dogs. Passengers will also need to submit a form, developed by the Department of Transport, confirming that a dog is a service animal and has received appropriate training and vaccinations.