Posted on 05/14/2018 4:15:03 PM PDT by EdnaMode
Starting July 1, ferrets, goats and hedgehogs can no longer fly American Airlines, even if they’re support animals.
They’re just three of a somewhat lengthy list of barred animals the airline has put out in response to an increase in customers transporting a service or support animal onboard their aircraft — more than 40 percent from 2016 to 2017.
“We support the rights of customers, from veterans to people with disabilities, with legitimate needs for a trained service or support animal,” AA said in a statement. “Unfortunately, untrained animals can lead to safety issues for our team, our customers and working dogs onboard our aircraft.”
Some of the changes include additional restrictions on animal types, including sugar gliders and snakes. American will now enforce the existing 48-hour advanced notice and pre-clearance policy for emotional support animals, but will have procedures in place for emergency travel booked within 48 hours of departure.
For people traveling with service animals on flights longer than 8 hours, documentation is required stating the animal won’t need to relieve itself or can do so in a way that doesn’t create a health or sanitation issue.
AA employees are trained to ask certain questions to determine the classification applicable to the animal.
Trained service animals are specifically trained to perform life functions for individuals with disabilities such as visual impairments, deafness, seizures and mobility impairments.
To travel with an emotional support and psychiatric service animal in the cabin, customers must contact the Special Assistance Desk with all required documentation at least 48 hours before their flight. Documentation validation includes AA contacting their mental health professional.
(Excerpt) Read more at dfw.cbslocal.com ...
That is Old School!
When I worked for a rent-a-rig oil company, one of the old timers talked of staring at a llama chewing his cud for three hours while flying to Peru in a DC-3. Canvas-lined seats were stretched along each side with the animals in the middle.
Some planes have support bed bugs.
Pohnpei International Airport
http://www.micronesia.emb-japan.go.jp/nikokukan/Rainbownesia/POHNPEI%20RUNWAY27.jpg
Gerbils...?
LOL!!!
I am SURE it will be on FreeRepublic in minutes and have a thousand replies!!
I was on a puddle jumper in Indonesia and there was a monkey on board as well as some pet birds in cages. (And this was long before the Support Animal craze!)
Cute but no longer can you take him on the plane to comfort you in the too-small seats. You’re on your own.
That’s why for international travel I take Emirates with the 2nd choice being Qatar, I do not have to put up with US airline BS when I use them.
That would probably require a support camel—natural spitters, you know:
You would need a support llama for that...
Sugar gliders aren’t rodents, they are marsupials, like kangaroos and ‘possums.
Lol!
What about my support animal, an elephant? Oh by the way, it has a support animal...a giraffe...can I fly, American?
Well, if they now allow animals to fly airplanes, they ought to let them ride as passengers too.
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