Starting January 11, Alaska Airlines will be the first major airline in the United States to ban animals with emotional support.
The move comes after the Department of Transport revised its Access to Airline Revisions Act on December 2, which no longer classifies support animals as service animals.
“This regulatory change is welcome news as it will help us reduce disruptions on board as we continue to accommodate our guests traveling with qualified service animals,” Ray Prentice, director of customer service at Alaska Airline, said in a press release. .
Under the new policy, the airline said passengers should complete a DOT form showing that the animal is a legal service dog, trained and vaccinated and that he will act in the correct manner.
Alaska said it would continue to accept animals with emotional support under current policies for flights booked before Jan. 11 and flights before or on Feb. 28.
The airline said it would not accept animals with emotional support on their flights after Feb. 28, the company said.