Posted on 01/30/2020 8:33:21 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
The airline industry pushed for new rules to restrict emotional support animals, but advocates say such a major change is "discriminatory," "burdensome" and "unconscionable."
Jan. 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. airline industry is praising a move by federal regulators that would allow carriers to disqualify untrained "emotional support animals" as service animals -- a change that could lead to airlines charging travelers who bring along their pets.
Airlines are among the chief supporters of the proposed rule changes this month by the Department of Transportation. Federal officials began mulling the change over concerns from carriers, flight attendants, airports and some of the flying public about a rising number of passengers with emotional support animals, or ESAs -- that are taken aboard flights by way of a law intended for trained service animals, like guide dogs.
Under the Air Carrier Access Act, airlines are required to allow emotionally impaired travelers to bring a support animal at no added cost. In most cases, the only requirement is that a passenger produce documentation from health and veterinary professionals citing a need for the animal. Passengers without such records must pay to travel with their pets.
Those favoring the rule change argue that more passengers are taking advantage of what could be viewed as a loophole in the system -- and more types of animals are being claimed as an ESA. In recent years, ESA-documented passengers have boarded flights with dogs, cats, rabbits, miniature horses, Capuchin monkeys, snakes and peacocks, among others.
(Excerpt) Read more at upi.com ...
What about my emotional support bat?
Bats... GMTA.
Weirdo Dirt bag POS
The OVERWELMING majority of airline customers too, I'm sure; myself included.
ML/NJ
Got to ft myers and was waiting for checked bag. Same a$$holes let the dogs run around again. One immediately took a big dump on the floor right by the luggage carousel; the other was on one of those extendable leashes. Naturally the jerk let it extend to the full length and the animal came sniffing over to my suitcase while she smirked it me. I told her to get her dog away from my suitcase. She immediately gave me a dirty look like I'd suggested something unnatural, but she pulled the dog back.
I feel sorry for the janitors having to clean up the shit from the floor. I personally would have liked to rub their noses (not the dogs' noses, the owners' noses)in the dog crap, but typical dog owners who think nothing of inflicting the odious pets on everyone else.
If you need an emotional support animal to go anywhere best if you just stay at home.
My emotional support bartender couldn’t get his liquids through TSA.
Just taking you non-support cat in a carrier and placed under the seat in front of you is $180 on some flights.
Umm - nope. That’s four seats right there!
Hahaha! Do emotional support people get to fly for free?!?!
I don’t think they actually let the peacock on the plane, but there are photographs of him at the airport.
I personally would like to see pets banned. Since ACTUAL service animals - like a real trained seeing eye dog - are not really pets as such. Those should be allowed. This emotional support excrement is beyond ridiculous. If you are so neurotic/psychotic as to need your pet to travel suck it up buttercup or STAY HOME. You don’t have any business going out among normal people anyway.
Nope
You win!
They’re not going to get any argument from the 99% of normal Americans.
You bet it is! This change means that I will no longer be able to travel with Rupert, my emotional support honey badger.
I don't understand this change at all. Rupert is very cute, although I will admit that he is a bit ill tempered, and takes $h!t from nobody (not even TSA).
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