[NAGDU] Current Service Animal Information Directly From United Air Lines

Thu Feb 1 23:15:29 UTC 2018

I can
 say that right this moment, the rules for emotional support animals do not apply to psychiatric service animals via United Airlines alone. They can make this decision under the ACAA. Their strategy is to see how people attempting fraud shift the definition of their animals, for both physical and mental health based disabilities. Will people indeed suddenly have trained tasks for the ESAs? Let’s find out before we assume, according to United. 

This opinion was formed based on private conversations with United staff and is by no means official for anyone involved. Let’s hope I’m right though based on what I gathered from the conversations. 
> On Feb 1, 2018, at 5:30 PM, Danielle Sykora via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> This article makes it pretty clear that these new requirements are only for emotional support animals and not for service animals for people with physical disabilities, but does anyone know if psychiatric service animal handler's also now need to provide health records? I'm a little unclear. 
> 
> Danielle 
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Feb 1, 2018, at 4:53 PM, Passle Helminski via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org <mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org>> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>>> 
>>>> This information was copied unabridged on February 1, 2018 directly from: 
>>>> https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/specialneeds/disabilities/assistance_animals.aspx <https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/specialneeds/disabilities/assistance_animals.aspx>
>>>> Service animals
>>>> Beginning March 1, 2018, United will require additional documentation for customers traveling with an emotional support animal. Currently, customers must provide 48 hours’ notice to the Accessibility Desk and a letter from a licensed medical/mental health professional. For travel on or after March 1, customers will need to also provide a veterinary health form documenting the health and vaccination records for the animal as well as confirming that the animal has appropriate behavioral training.
>>>> Additional information and forms will be available soon, so please continue to check united.com <http://united.com/> if you have upcoming travel with an emotional support animal. The process for trained service animals is currently not changing.
>>>> Helpful travel reminders
>>>> • The animal is expected to be seated in the floor space below your seat
>>>> • We may re-accommodate you if the animal encroaches on other passengers
>>>> • The animal should not extend into the aisles
>>>> • The animal must behave properly in public and should follow directions from its owner
>>>> • Contact the United Accessibility Desk at 1-800-228-2744 if you have any questions or special requirements
>>>> Trained service animals
>>>> Trained service animals are animals that receive specific training to perform life functions for individuals with disabilities. Examples include animals that assist with visual impairments, deafness, seizures and mobility limitations.
>>>> Trained service animals are accepted in cabin for qualified individuals with a disability. A service animal should sit in the floor space in front of the customer's assigned seat but cannot protrude into the aisles. Customers may use an approved in-cabin kennel for smaller animals provided its use meets stowage requirements. Exit row seating is prohibited. Documentation may be required for an animal traveling to international destinations.
>>>> Emotional support and psychiatric assist animals
>>>> Emotional support animals are animals that that provide emotional, psychiatric or cognitive support for individuals with disabilities, but may or may not have training with respect to the disability.
>>>> Emotional support and psychiatric assist animals are also accepted in cabin for qualified individuals with a disability if certain documentation requirements are met. Additional documentation may also be required for an animal traveling to an international destination. Please note that not all international destinations allow the entry of animals, and restrictions vary by country. Customers should contact the appropriate consulate or embassy to make sure that all necessary procedures are followed.
>>>> An animal should sit at the customer's feet without protruding into the aisles to comply with safety regulations. Customers may elect to use an approved in-cabin kennel for smaller animals. Exit row seating is prohibited. Refer to the U.S. Department of Transportation 14 CFR Part 382 or contact United for additional information.
>>>> Customers traveling with an emotional support or psychiatric assist animal must provide a minimum 48-hour advance notification to the United Accessibility Desk by 1) calling 1-800-228-2744 from within the United States or Canada, or from elsewhere calling the United Customer Contact Center and asking to be connected to the Accessibility Desk and 2) submitting the required documentation by email (uaaeromed at united.com <mailto:uaaeromed at united.com>) or fax (1-872-825-0208). The Accessibility Desk must receive and validate the required documentation prior to the time of travel. Verification of documentation will include United contacting your mental health care professional. If we are unable to validate the documentation or if the advance notification is not given, customers will be required to transport the animal as a pet, and pet fees will apply.
>>>> Service animals in training
>>>> United only recognizes service animals which have been trained and certified. Animal trainers are permitted to bring one service animal that is training to assist disabled passengers onboard free of charge. These service animals must not occupy a seat. Trainers transporting service animals in the ordinary course of business or service animals who are not in training must check these animals.
>>>> Therapy animals
>>>> Therapy animals, which are pets that have been trained and registered by a therapy organization in order to visit nursing homes, hospitals, schools and other facilities, are not considered to be service animals. When traveling with a therapy animal, standard pet-related regulations and restrictions will apply.
>>>> Destination-specific information
>>>> United States
>>>> The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires all dogs entering the United States to be immunized against rabies. Proof of vaccination is required before air travel begins.
>>>> Hawaii
>>>> There are restrictions regarding the entry of service animals into Hawaii. Customers planning to travel to Hawaii should contact the Hawaii Animal Quarantine Branch manager directly for quarantine requirements. The 24-hour phone number is 1-808-837-8092. You may also view animal quarantine information at the Hawaii Department of Agriculture website 
>>>> Republic of Ireland
>>>> Customers traveling with a service animal to Dublin, Ireland should review the entry requirements at www.agriculture.gov.ie/pets/ <http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/pets/>. Significant advance notice is required.
>>>> United Kingdom
>>>> United is approved under the United Kingdom's Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) to accept service animals on flights to the UK. Review the entry requirements on the gov.uk <http://gov.uk/> website. Please provide a minimum one-week advance notification. Additional fees may apply.
>>>> Service animal policy and location
>>>> Destination
>>>> Service animal policy
>>>> Edinburgh, Scotland
>>>> Notify the Border Inspection Post at Edinburgh Airport at arc at extrordinair.co.uk <mailto:arc at extrordinair.co.uk> or +44 (0) 131-317-7277.
>>>> Glasgow, Scotland
>>>> Contact Pets on the Move at arc at petsonthemove.co.uk <mailto:arc at petsonthemove.co.uk> or +44 (0) 156-382-9262.
>>>> London Heathrow
>>>> Notify the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre through their website. Visit the City of London Corporation website for more information.
>>>> Manchester
>>>> Notify Pets on Jets at info at petsonjets.com <mailto:info at petsonjets.com> or +44 (0) 161-209-7670.
>>>> Other international destinations
>>>> Restrictions on the entry of animals vary by country. Customers should contact the appropriate consulate or embassy at least four weeks before departure to make sure that all necessary procedures are followed.
>>>> Once customers receive approvals from the respective authorities, please provide a minimum 48-hour advance notification to the United Accessibility Desk at 1-800-228-2744 from within the United States or Canada, or from elsewhere call the United Customer Contact Center and ask to be connected to the Accessibility Desk. Please also fax or email the required documentation to 1-872-825-0208 or uaaeromed at united.com <mailto:uaaeromed at united.com>.
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>> 
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