[NAGDU] PLEASE READ: U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Final Rule on Traveling by Air with Service Animals

[Scott Wilson]

It’s not completely out of the question for each airline to adopt it as part of their protocol. But, I don’t think all airlines are going to do it. They haven’t done it as of yet. Only a select few. There is some online information that they ask you as a handler, vouching for the legitimacy of your guide dog or/service animal. The other form that is due at the boarding gate is something that your veterinarian has to fill out once a year. It is very basic and does not ask any outrageous or unusual questions. So each year at my dogs veterinarian visit I have it filled out. And as far as I know my veterinarian doesn’t charge for it. But I wouldn’t doubt it if she did charge me something.

> On Dec 2, 2020, at 8:52 PM, Susan Jones via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> What kind of paperwork will we need to show?
> Will that be up to each individual airline?
> 
> Susan Jones
> Sblanjones11 at sbcglobal.net
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Raul A. Gallegos (NFB) via NAGDU
> Sent: Wednesday, December 2, 2020 6:04 PM
> To: NAGDU List; Blind Talk Mailing List; NFB Talk Mailing List
> Cc: Raul A. Gallegos (NFB)
> Subject: [NAGDU] PLEASE READ: U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Final Rule on Traveling by Air with Service Animals
> 
> Hello all, I am sharing this with our various NFB lists. While we will 
> be able to better answer questions and assist folks with clarification 
> within the next several days, you are always welcome to email me 
> directly at rgallegos at nagdu.org. Also, the NAGDU board can be reached 
> directly by emailing board at nagdu.org. Because this topic has the 
> potential to become rather sensitive, I ask everyone to be respectful of 
> other opinions if they are different than yours.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> The U.S. Department of Transportation, DOT, has announced its final rule 
> on Traveling by Air with Service Animals. This final rule amends the 
> Department’s Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) regulation on the transport 
> of service animals by air. Quoted from the website, 
> https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer-protection/final-rule-traveling-air-service-animals, 
> "This final rule is intended to ensure that our air transportation 
> system is safe for the traveling public and accessible to individuals 
> with disabilities."
> 
> The full PDF can be downloaded from this same link, but here are some of 
> the changes.
> 
> 
> The final rule:
> 
> ·        Defines a service animal as a dog that is individually trained 
> to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability;
> 
> ·        No longer considers an emotional support animal to be a service 
> animal;
> 
> ·        Requires airlines to treat psychiatric service animals the same 
> as other service animals;
> 
> ·        Allows airlines to require forms developed by DOT attesting to 
> a service animal’s health, behavior and training, and if taking a long 
> flight attesting that the service animal can either not relieve itself, 
> or can relieve itself in a sanitary manner;
> 
> ·        Allows airlines to require individuals traveling with a service 
> animal to provide the DOT service animal form(s) up to 48 hours in 
> advance of the date of travel if the passenger’s reservation was made 
> prior to that time;
> 
> ·        Prohibits airlines from requiring passengers with a disability 
> who are traveling with a service animal to physically check-in at the 
> airport instead of using the online check in process;
> 
> ·        Allows airlines to require a person with a disability seeking 
> to travel with a service animal to provide the DOT service animal 
> form(s) at the passenger’s departure gate on the date of travel;
> 
> ·        Allows airlines to limit the number of service animals 
> traveling with a single passenger with a disability to two service animals;
> 
> ·        Allows airlines to require a service animal to fit within its 
> handler’s foot space on the aircraft;
> 
> ·        Allows airlines to require that service animals be harnessed, 
> leashed, or tethered at all times in the airport and on the aircraft;
> 
> ·        Continues to allow airlines to refuse transportation to service 
> animals that exhibit aggressive behavior and that pose a direct threat 
> to the health or safety of others; and
> 
> ·        Continues to prohibit airlines from refusing to transport a 
> service animal solely based on breed.
> 
> The final rule will be effective 30 days after date of publication in 
> the Federal Register.
> 
> -- 
> Raul A. Gallegos
> President: National Association of Guide Dog Users
> First Vice President: National Federation of the Blind of Texas
> 832.554.7285  |  RGallegos at nagdu.org
> 
> "Blindness is a characteristic, not a handicap." -- Dr. Kenneth Jernigan
> 
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