2023 Service Animal Travel Guide for American Airlines
- Published on:
- By: ASP Team
Plan to fly with a service animal this year? Be sure you are aware of the 2023 American Airlines service animal policy to ensure a smooth and seamless experience with your service animal. This blog post will cover the process of adding a service animal to an American Airlines reservation, information about the DOT Form, and the essential travel requirements for a hassle-free journey with your service dog.
Difference between an ESA and PSA When Flying
At American Service Pets, we connect people with licensed healthcare professionals who can review their eligibility and provide a signed letter indicating their need for an emotional support animal (ESA) or psychiatric service animal (PSA). ESAs are for housing and PSAs, sometimes simply called service animals, are for both housing and travel.
Airlines like American Airlines view ESAs as pets, which have their own set of requirements and fees. Fully trained PSAs, however, are regarded by most institutions as medically necessary and therefore may fly in the cabin at no extra cost as long as all requirements are met.
American Airlines’ Service Animal Requirements
The DOT Form for American Airlines Flights
At least 48 hours in advance of your flight, you must submit the U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form online at aa.com/svan. For flights you book within 48 hours of the flight, the DOT Form can be completed at the airport, but arrive plenty early to complete it for approval.
This form is your legal sign-off on a few areas regarding your service animal:
- Your service dog’s health
- Your service dog’s training and behavior
- Your pledge to keep your service dog restrained at all times and your understanding of your liability if your dog causes any damage
In addition to submitting the DOT form, you should keep a copy of it with you during the entirety of your flight.
Approval of your form will grant you the opportunity to book more American Airlines flights within one year of the signature date (as long as your dog’s vaccinations haven’t expired) without having to resubmit the form. Be sure to keep your Service Animal ID (SVAN ID) handy because you’ll need that to book future flights with your service animal.
The secondary DOT Form you’ll need applies to flight durations of 8 hours or more. It’s the DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form and pertains to your service animal not creating a health or safety issue by not being able to go to the bathroom during the longer flights.
Get Your ESA Today
Other American Airlines Service Animal Requirements
In order to ensure safe and comfortable travel with service animals, there are certain requirements that must be adhered to. First, the service animal must be at least four months old and be restrained (via harness or leash) throughout the journey. Service animals are limited to two per passenger.
Animals are expected to be clean and well-behaved, and they should be able to fit under the seat, at your feet, or in your lap (if they are lap animals, they must be smaller than a two-year-old child).Â
Approval for travel will be granted only upon arrival at the airport, after determining that the animal can be accommodated safely at your feet. If the animal is in a kennel, it must fit under the seat in front of you with the animal inside.
There are also certain restrictions on where the animals cannot be placed during the flight, such as in exit rows, blocking aisles, occupying seats, or eating from tray tables. If the animal is too large or heavy to be accommodated in the cabin safely, alternatives like rebooking on a flight with more open seats, purchasing a ticket for the animal, or transporting it as a checked pet may be necessary.Â
By following these guidelines, travelers can ensure a smooth and hassle-free journey with their service animals. Not following guidelines will put you at risk for having your animal voided as a recognized service animal by American Airlines and, instead, recognized as a pet, for which pet fees apply.
American Airlines also provides a list of destinations with restrictions for service dogs, which you should be familiar with before booking your flight.
How to Self Train Your Dog to Comply with the 2023 American Airlines Service Animal Policy
Self training your dog is within reach through I Train Academy, an American Service Pets’ 100% online self-paced training program. I Train Academy features celebrity trainer Jas Leverette. Here’s his take on helping your dog become flight-ready and in compliance:
I Train Academy provides a solid foundation with Obedience Training, and then it unlocks PSA status with the Psychiatric Service Task Training for reminders, assistive activities, deep pressure therapy, and more. At the end of both training modules, you’ll earn certificates in both Obedience and PSA Task Training. Professional service animal training can cost thousands of dollars – get started with I Train for one low monthly price today so your dog gets the training needed to fly as a service animal (once training is complete, of course).
Note: This article summarizes American Airlines’ service animal policy as of July 2023. Policies are subject to change, so please review the latest requirements on the American Airlines website prior to planning a flight with your service animal.
The benefits of an Emotional Support Animal certification and a Psychiatric Service Dog certification are drastically different. Fortunately for you, American Service Pets’ network of active board certified doctor or other licensed mental health providers can help you find the right path to certification. To find out whether you need an ESA or PSD letter, take our easy, three-step Pet Owner Survey!
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