Are emotional support animals allowed on flights?

What the Law Says

The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in air travel, but its implementation — particularly regarding animals — is defined by regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). In 2021, the DOT revised its rules to limit accommodations to 'service animals' only — defined as dogs individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.

The ACAA itself does not define 'service animal' or mention emotional support animals. Instead, it broadly states: 'An air carrier, including a foreign air carrier, may not discriminate against an individual on the basis of disability in the provision of air transportation.'

The DOT’s implementing regulation (14 C.F.R. Part 382), updated effective January 11, 2021, explicitly excludes emotional support animals from the definition of service animals. Only dogs that are trained to perform specific tasks for a qualified individual with a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability must be accommodated.

Airlines may require documentation for psychiatric service animals (e.g., a letter from a licensed mental health professional), but they are not required to accept ESAs — even with letters — as they are no longer considered protected under the ACAA framework.

Statutory Text

An air carrier, including a foreign air carrier, may not discriminate against an individual on the basis of disability in the provision of air transportation.

— 49 U.S.C. § 41705 — Prohibitions on discrimination

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