Flying with Your Psychiatric Service Dog

How to travel with your Psychiatric Service Dog?

Traveling with a Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD) can be a smooth experience when you’re prepared with the right information and documentation. This guide covers essential laws, documentation requirements, and airline policies to help you and your service dog enjoy a seamless journey.

Understanding Service Dog Laws in the United States

1. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The ADA provides access protections for individuals with disabilities, including those with physical or mental impairments. Under the ADA, service dogs are permitted access to public spaces, ensuring they can accompany their handlers wherever they go.

2. Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA)

When it comes to air travel, the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) specifies protections for passengers with disabilities who travel with service animals. The ACAA requires airlines to allow qualified service dogs to fly with their handlers, free of charge. Unlike the ADA, the ACAA applies exclusively to airlines and includes specific regulations, such as documentation requirements and airline-specific pet policies.

Service Dog Travel Documentation

Most airlines require the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Service Animal Air Transportation Form, which verifies your dog’s training and suitability for travel. Here’s what you need to know:

• Form Details: The DOT form requires details about your dog’s training, behavior, and health, and includes sections for the handler to certify that the dog is well-behaved in public and able to handle air travel.
• Submitting the Form: Some airlines require this form to be submitted before the flight, while others may request it at check-in. Verify submission requirements with your airline to avoid any last-minute issues.
• Additional Health Certification: Some airlines may also ask for a health certificate or vaccination record to ensure your PSD is fit for travel. Keeping these documents handy is helpful.

Service Dog Training Requirements

When traveling, especially in busy settings like airports, service dogs must remain calm, focused, and under control. Airlines expect service dogs to behave well and follow commands. This helps ensure a safe and comfortable experience for everyone on board.

Key Training Requirements:

• Basic Obedience: Your service dog should reliably respond to commands like "sit," "stay," "down," and "heel," even in busy or high-stress situations like airport terminals or boarding gates.
• Leash Control: Your PSD should walk calmly beside you without pulling or wandering. This is essential for navigating security lines, boarding gates, and terminal areas.
• Ignoring Distractions: A well-trained PSD should remain focused on its handler and ignore distractions, such as other animals, food, and loud noises.

Examples of disruptive behaviors to avoid while flying include:

• Growling, biting, or lunging at others
• Jumping on people
• Relieving themselves outside designated relief areas
• Excessive barking (unless in response to a handler’s needs)
• Eating off seatback tray tables

Air Travel Training: Tips for First-Time Flyers

Traveling by air with your Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD) for the first time can be daunting, especially since replicating an air travel experience is challenging. While it’s hard to fully anticipate how your PSD might react in a busy terminal or on a plane, these tips can help ease the experience:

• Navigating Airport Security Screening: Your service dog should stay calm and focused as you navigate terminals and security checkpoints.
  • • Separation During Screening: You and your PSD will need to pass through the security metal detector separately.
    • Handling the Leash: Place your dog’s leash on the conveyor belt for screening.
    • Security Screening Process: Direct your PSD to "sit and stay" in a designated area while you walk through the metal detector. After clearing security, call your PSD to come through the metal detector independently.
      
• Acclimation to Confinement and Noise: Airplane cabins can feel confined and noisy. Gradual exposure to similar environments, like buses or public transportation, can help. Offering favorite treats can help your dog feel more comfortable in a new setting.
  
• Settling During Flights: Train your PSD to settle calmly at your feet or under the seat. Practicing longer “stays” in confined settings, like a movie theater, can help. Paws on Planes founder Alison recommends using a familiar blanket as a “spot” during the flight.
  
  • • Tip: Start introducing a designated “travel blanket” as your PSD’s go-to spot during training sessions.

Tips for a Smooth Travel Experience with Your Psychiatric Service Dog

Seat Selection: For larger service dogs, select a bulkhead seat with more floor space at your feet. Bulkhead seats are typically in the first row of either first class or economy

Pack Essentials: Bring along food, a collapsible water bowl, treats, and a blanket for your service dog's “spot.”

Service Dog Vest or Harness: Though not required by the ADA, using a service dog harness or vest can help distinguish your service dog from regular pets and streamline the travel experience.

Pet Relief Areas: Allow extra time to visit outdoor pet relief areas before going through security. Some dogs may be hesitant or uncomfortable with indoor pet relief facilities (they tend to have a chemical smell).

Service Dog Airline Travel Policies

While the ACAA grants you the right to travel to trained service dogs, airlines may have specific policies to keep in mind:

• Major Airlines (United, American, Delta, Alaska, and Southwest) allow up to two service dogs per person, free of charge. The service dog must:
  
  • • Travel with their handler and trained to work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.
      
    • Be over four months old and up-to-date on vaccinations.
      
    • Fit at your feet, under the seat, or in your lap (lap animals must be smaller than a 2-year-old child). The dog must not obstruct the aisle or interfere with adjacent passengers.
      
• Service Dog in Training policies vary by airline:
  
  • • Alaska and United allow a service-dog-in-training to fly with a trainer.
      
    • Delta generally requires the dog to be fully trained, except when accompanied by a trainer traveling to deliver the dog.
      
    • American and Southwest require service dogs in training to travel as pets.
• Airline pet policies do not recognize assistance animals, such as therapy animals or emotional support animals, as service animals. They must travel under pet policies, requiring a pet fee.

Each airline has unique policies, so it’s a good idea to check your airline’s website or call ahead for the most current information.

• Delta Airlines Policies: Service Dog Policy
• American Airlines Policies: Service Dog Policy
• United Airlines Policies: Service Dog Policies
• Alaska Airline Policies: Service Dog Policy
• Southwest Airline Policies: Service Dog Policy

Final Thoughts

Traveling with a psychiatric service dog can be an enjoyable experience when you’re prepared. Understanding the legal requirements under the ADA and ACAA, knowing airline-specific policies, and having the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form ready can make all the difference.

At Paws on Planes Inc., we’re here to guide you through every step of the travel process. With some planning and training, you and your service dog can travel with confidence.