Yay!! No ferrets, snakes, spiders, poultry, etc. What the heck is a sugar glider? Also, it has to fit in the “footprint” of the passenger’s seat space. No Great Danes, Bull Mastiffs, etc https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/special-travel-needs/service-animals.html
Now Delta is, sadly, not the best with taking care of animals it handles in their cargo bay area. Hope they fix that, or they will be facing a law suit (they have already, IIRC)
The vet form we had to get for a paid in-cabin flight for my son’s puppy specified that the dog did not have behavioral problems, as well as certifying that he was up on his shots.
One problem I anticipate is that these forms would be exceedingly easy to fake. Heck, we could have printed up an ESA letter and signed it “Dr. Sigmund Freud” and I don’t think anyone would have questioned it. They don’t really have a way to check on whether these letters are legitimate. Or rather, it’s possible but I can’t imagine the airlines want to spend the staff time it would take to do it properly.
Too bad we cant post gif’s on cc! :o3
@Sue22- they have to be submitted through the Delta portal to the passenger’s ticket at least 48 hrs before the flight, and then there is a special area for people flying with pets to check in. I hope they make it as inconvenient for them as possible. Hopefully once a passenger and the identified pet has passed muster once, perhaps it will be easier for future flights. Maybe they will take a picture of the pet and attach it to the account. Who knows. Just a thought… I want legit people to not be inconvenienced, but hope the fakers are severely inconvenienced.
From Delta:
Forging someone’s signature can have significant consequences, and hopefully it would be at least a mild-moderate deterrent from those who are anxious and risk averse. 48 hrs at least lets Delta check to see if the providers license info matches the provider (though that’s easy to find). If someone forged my signature and I found out about it… they would not be a happy camper.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad Delta is taking this step and hopefully having to sign a form saying their animal behaves will give a few people pause. I just wonder how the airline would go about checking on these letters. Because of confidentiality laws they can’t just call up psychiatrists. I also think the people who have tried to get a round the rules will continue to try to get around the rules. Hopefully Delta just made it a bit harder for them to do so.
My niece is a faker, but she has a TSA pass to get right through security. She does have all the paperwork in order because she takes her dog to Mexico at least once a year, and to Canada almost monthly. Her dog is perfect for travel as he’s the perfect size to just curl up by her feet (it’s a Blue Heeler) and perfectly well behaved.
However, it’s still wrong for him to get to go as an ESA.
That’s another consideration–if you have an animal it should invalidate your “quick check” privilege.
Pre-board check for dogs… A seat tray with cheese on it…
Although they don’t give us anything to eat anymore anyways–go ahead and feed your dog.
The airlines could have a way for anyone who writes letters for ESA to register their name and credentials.
Not who the client/patient is nor the animal. Once registered and cleared it stays in a airline wide data base to be
checked whenever their signature comes up–or they have a verification number that is checked.
@Sue22,
You are correct that there is not an easy way to verify with a provider, due to HIPAA privacy laws and confidentiality. That said, the fact that a patient is in treatment may not in and of itself be considered confidential, its the information disclosed in the appointments that definitely is (only disclosed with written permission of the patient).
Here is what the Air Carrier Access Act says airlines can require of individuals traveling with ESA’s :
This new procedure may be seen as an unfortunately necessary inconvenience by the legit users,but if it deters a few of the fakers, then that’s a start.
While its not doable (since it can’t be required) I would love to see a provider filling out one of these forms have to register with the airlines and note every time they completed one of these forms. Without sharing any information about who the form was for, this procedure could help to shut down the online “mills” that are selling these letters, as the sheer volume of #s of forms completed by any one provider/clinic would be a huge red flag. That said, yes, cheaters are cheaters, and the on-line and call-in “clinics” could simply change their names and find other providers willing to compromise their license and ethics.
While there will always be those who look to get around the rules, maybe, hopefully, because this requires them to jump through a few more hoops , it will give pause to some, and some will not try. I would love to see the stats on the # of “ESA’s” taken aboard Delta flights in the past 12 mos compared to what the numbers will be in the next 12.
But so what? The airlines can’t invalidate the letter just because the doctor has issued a million of them. Federal law says they have to accommodate the ESA animals. They can set procedures as they are doing now, but have no power to decide if the letter is valid or question the judgment of the doctor who issued it.
You know they do issue an ‘express pass’ type thing for animals going across the border. A co-worker had a second home across the Mexican border and had the passes for him, his wife, his dog (big dog!) and two cars. They got to go through a ‘fast land’ from both sides of the border.
If a mental health “clinic” operating a call-in operation and 3 “providers” are generating, say 300 letters/mo, how could they be ethically or realistically “treating” these people? Hard to justify this as. being under their care. Now, this would require someone sending a complaining to a state licensing board or something, and its unlikely that Delta or a representative would do this. But might it be a deterrent? One can hope. But maybe they can slow down the users if there are identified suppliers who might be (hopefully) stopped, as it were.
That said, I just watched a SNL skit with the premise that “nothing really matters anymore”. Sad that this may be in that category too.
That’s up to their licensing board, but not up to the airlines to determine when someone shows a letter. The airline would be in violation of federal law. It would not surprise me if someone objects to the restrictions that Delta has proposed because they limit federal law and the federal law does allow big animals, or comfort hedgehogs, or reptiles.
I really think federal law needs to change, and there is no need for ESA to travel for free or live for free in their apartments while other tenants either can’t have pets or pay extra for them. Some people really can’t fly without a human support person, or their children, and those support people have to buy a ticket.
I saw the Bald Eagle who flies at NFL, college, MLB, etc games on TV today (he’s flying at the Eagles/Vikings game tomorrow) and learned he flies on Southwest Airlines, has the front 2 seats on the airplane, and they pay for both seats (his carrier needs both seats) plus the handlers. While on the flight, the handlers give an educational talk to the other passengers. It was cool.
How would the airline be in violation of federal law? If Delta notified a licensing board that the provider was issuing 300 letters/mo ? It would be up to the licensing board to pursue. But most providers dont like to have to answer to a licensing board complaint. THen again apparently there are people with no scruples who might not be bothered.
Delta would be in violation if it refused to accept the letters because the doctor issued 200 per month. It can report if it wants, but can’t decide that the letters aren’t valid.
Pics of the mauling victim , OMG, no wonder Delta changed the policy.
Not saying Delta won’t accept them, unless Delta tried to verify them in the 48 hrs prior to the person trying to board, and there was something amiss (e.g. couldn’t verify doctors license or something- and thats easy to check). Am hoping that this will cut back the “suppliers” of the letters.
Oh my, @partyof5 ! Horrible bite!
@jym626 IKR!!! I was well aware of the story but never saw his injuries. I’m even more irate about people and their ESAs. I don’t think any ESAs should be allowed in to he cabin unless they are small enough to fit in a doggie bag that can be placed under the seat. That poor man will be scarred for life, mentally and physically.
What about muzzling any animals brought out in public?