DOT Update: Spirit and Frontier Airlines Emotional Support Animal Policy Changing in 2021
- Published on:
- By: Jessica Wright
On December 2, 2020, the Department of Transportation announced that it is revising rules around flying with Emotional Support Animals. It is our top priority to ensure you have the most up to date information surrounding what airlines will and will not continue to allow ESAs on board in 2021.
Effective January 11, 2021, both Spirit and Frontier Airlines Emotional Support Animal Policy will no longer allow ESAs on board their aircrafts.
Get Your ESA Today
ATTENTION
Due to the new Department of Transportation (DOT) policy, Emotional Support Animals are NO longer allowed to fly in airplane cabins for free. However, Psychiatric Service Dogs are eligible.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT SPIRIT AIRLINES NEW RULES
Effective January 11, 2021, Spirit Airlines will no longer accept emotional support animals aboard their aircraft. ESAs now are required to travel as a pet, but only if they meet the pet requirements found here. According to Spirit, animal species other than dogs, emotional support animals, comfort animals, companionship animals, therapy animal and service animals in training are not considered service animals and will not be permitted to travel onboard the aircraft.
What if I already have a flight booked? If your return flight is on or after January 11, 2021, you will be allowed to travel back with your animal per the previous policy found here.
Click here for more information regarding Spirit’s ESA policy.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT FRONTIER AIRLINES NEW RULES
Effective January 11, 2021, Frontier will no longer accept new bookings for passengers wishing to travel with an emotional support animal.
What if I already have a flight booked? Frontier will continue to accept emotional support animals under their current policy for reservations booked prior to January 11, 2021, for flights on or before January 31, 2021. No emotional support animals will be transported after January 31, 2021.
Click here for more information regarding Frontier’s ESA policy.
WHERE CAN I FLY NOW
Although it is disappointing that Spirit and Frontier airlines are no longer recognizing emotional support animals — there is hope! There are only three airlines (including Alaska, Spirit and Frontier) that has released an official travel ban for emotional support animals, leaving plenty of other airlines to choose from in order to continue traveling with your trusty companion.
We promise to keep you updated as new information becomes available.
There is ambiguity about how these DOT changes will all play out, but you deserve to know your rights as an ESA owner. If you are traveling anytime in the near future, we are here to help ensure that you have the proper paperwork to do so! Now, more than ever, it is key to have legal documentation in hand to protect your ESAs status.
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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- Published on:
- By: Jessica Wright
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Get Your ESA Today
ATTENTION
Due to the new Department of Transportation (DOT) policy, Emotional Support Animals are NO longer allowed to fly in airplane cabins for free. However, Psychiatric Service Dogs are eligible.
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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!
More Great Resources
