ESA Air Travel and Public Access 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: As of January 2021, how did the DOT's revised rule change ESA air travel?
- Airlines must still accept ESAs for free in-cabin
- Airlines may treat ESAs as pets and charge pet fees (Correct answer)
- ESAs gained the same rights as psychiatric service dogs
- Only cats and dogs qualify as ESAs on flights
Correct answer: Airlines may treat ESAs as pets and charge pet fees
The DOT's January 2021 rule allows airlines to treat ESAs as regular pets, meaning carriers can charge pet fees and apply size/breed restrictions.
Question 2: Which federal law previously required airlines to accommodate ESAs in-cabin at no charge before the 2021 rule change?
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Fair Housing Act (FHA)
- Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) (Correct answer)
- Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Correct answer: Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA)
The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) was the law under which DOT issued guidance requiring airlines to accommodate ESAs, before the 2021 regulatory revision.
Question 3: If an airline decides to accept an ESA after the 2021 rule change, what may the airline lawfully require?
- No documentation of any kind
- Only a verbal statement from the passenger
- A DOT-approved form attesting to the animal's health, behavior, and training (Correct answer)
- Proof that the animal passed a government certification exam
Correct answer: A DOT-approved form attesting to the animal's health, behavior, and training
Airlines that still accept ESAs may require passengers to complete a DOT-approved form covering the animal's health, behavior, and the passenger's need.
Question 4: Under current rules, which animal category retains guaranteed cabin access on all U.S. airlines regardless of the 2021 DOT change?
- Emotional support animals
- Trained psychiatric service dogs (Correct answer)
- Therapy dogs certified by a nonprofit
- Any dog under 25 pounds
Correct answer: Trained psychiatric service dogs
Trained psychiatric service dogs that perform a specific task related to a disability retain guaranteed cabin access under the revised ACAA rules.
Question 5: A passenger with an ESA books a flight on an airline that no longer accepts ESAs. What is the airline permitted to do?
- The airline must allow the ESA in-cabin for free
- The airline can refuse the ESA or require it travel as cargo/checked baggage per its pet policy (Correct answer)
- The airline must waive pet fees for documented ESAs
- Federal law requires the airline to provide a separate ESA seating section
Correct answer: The airline can refuse the ESA or require it travel as cargo/checked baggage per its pet policy
Since 2021, airlines are not obligated to accept ESAs in-cabin and may apply their standard pet policies, which may include cargo transport or denial.
Question 6: Which document is MOST important for an ESA owner to carry when attempting to fly under an airline's voluntary ESA policy?
- A letter from a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) (Correct answer)
- A government-issued ESA ID card
- A receipt from an online ESA registry
- A veterinary certificate of breed
Correct answer: A letter from a licensed mental health professional (LMHP)
An ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional remains the most recognized documentation when an airline voluntarily accommodates ESAs.
Question 7: How far in advance do most airlines that still accept ESAs require the passenger to submit ESA documentation?
- No advance notice is required; passengers can show up at the gate
- Typically 48 hours before departure (Correct answer)
- At least 30 days before the flight
- Only at check-in on the day of travel
Correct answer: Typically 48 hours before departure
Airlines that voluntarily accept ESAs commonly require documentation submitted at least 48 hours before departure to allow for review.
ESA Air Travel and Public Access 2
As of January 2021, how did the DOT's revised rule change ESA air travel?