Delta Airlines - Everything About Flying with an Emotional Support Animal
Delta Airlines Emotional Support Animal Policies
Traveling on flights can be daunting, especially when you suffer from a medical condition. Anxiety and stress kick in, and it becomes tough to fight it thousands of feet up in the air. And fairly why now you can travel with your emotional support animal in-cabin in flights without paying any extra charges. Having an ESA accompany you in the flight can help improve your in-flight experience and manage your condition during the flight as well. Yes, now Delta Airlines allows you to fly with your best friend with fur but with respect to certain conditions. You need to adhere to Delta Airlines’ emotional support animal policy to travel hassle-free with the airlines.
Rules & Regulations Regarding ESA on Delta Airlines
To ensure the safety and comfort of people traveling on Delta Airlines, there are some rules and regulations placed. Let’s check them out.
- Only one emotional support animal is allowed per guest.
- The emotional support animal must be current on all vaccinations and carry the documents regarding the same during the flight.
- The emotional support animal should remain in control of the owner at the airport and onboard the aircraft.
- The size of the ESA must not exceed the footprint of the passenger’s seat.
- Delta Airlines does not allow emotional support animals that engage in disruptive behavior.
- The emotional support animal is only allowed to sit on the floor respective to the seat of the guest or the lap of the guest. No seat or tray table should be used for the animal.
- All the required documents need to be submitted at least 48 hours prior to the departure when flying with emotional support animals.
- Delta Airlines doesn’t accept emotional support animals for flights that are longer than 8 hours.
- Pitbull type dogs are not allowed to accompany you in-cabin.
Delta Emotional Support Animal Documentation
There are certain documents that you need to travel with your ESA on Delta Airlines. These include an emotional support animal letter from a certified health professional which indicates the need for ESA. The letter should also mention the license number of the health professional. Along with the letter you also need to download and fill some forms available on their website. These forms include an acknowledgment form, veterinarian health form, medical/mental health professional form, and confirmation of animal training. You can upload the documents through the “Accessibility Service Request Form” located in the “My Trips” section. Carry a health form from the doctor also mentioning vaccination against rabies.
Also, Read: Does American Airlines accept emotional support animals?
Although emotional support animals do not require any training but to fly with Delta Airlines, they need basic training, so they remain at their best behavior when traveling on the flight. Traveling with ESA on Delta Airlines is a great experience, but you need to be responsible and extra careful when traveling with an animal. You must make sure that it doesn’t endanger or cause any disturbance to your fellow passengers and the staff in any manner.
Emotional Support Animal Behavior
One of the most important things when flying with pets is their behavior. Delta Airlines does not support any aggressive or disruptive behavior. These include growling, biting, eating off tray tables, barking excessively (not when the owner is at distress), and jumping on passengers or airline staff. Under the FAA regulations, your emotional support animal cannot extend itself into the aisle or encroach other people’s seats. In case that happens, Delta Airlines may have to re-accommodate you. Also, if you want additional time to board the aircraft, the airlines allow you with the pre-boarding facility. All you need to do is arrive at the gate, making sure you have enough time to make arrangements with the agents.
To ensure the safety of our passengers and staff, we do not permit several animals on our flight. These include:
ESA Policy Updates
- March 2018 – Three additional forms with an ESA letter to travel hassle-free with your emotional support animal
- July 2018 – Only 1 ESA per person. Pitbull and pitbull-type dogs banned to travel in the airlines.
- May 2019 – An additional emotional support animal form added to ESA documentation request.
Since 2018, Delta Airlines requires three additional forms to travel with an ESA. The documents must be submitted and the airlines must be notified at least 48 hours before the time of departure. These forms include a veterinary health form, medical health professional form, confirmation of animal training, and acknowledgment form. Also in July 2018, the airlines have banned pit bulls and likewise dogs. It also limited one emotional support animal per traveler. When flying with a cat or dog, you must be updated with pet travel policies so that you have a hassle-free experience. You can check out the Delta pet policy here.
Emotional Support Animals Not Accepted in Delta Airlines
Though Delta allows dogs and cats and some other animals, to ensure the safety of our passengers and staff, we do not permit several animals on our flight. These include:
- Animals with horns or tusks like goats and pigs
- Spiders and insects
- Amphibians like salamanders and frogs
- Rodents like mice, rats, guinea pigs
- Animals with a foul odor
- Non-household birds
- Reptiles like snakes, lizard, and turtles
- Small mammals or pets like hedgehogs, rabbits, and ferrets
In-Cabin Requirements
Delta Airlines allows pets in-cabin but there are certain requirements and regulations you need to adhere to ensure a hassle-free experience. When traveling on Delta Airlines there are certain in-cabin regulations that you need to adhere to. These are drafted to ensure the safety and comfort of your emotional support animal, you, and other passengers. The ESA is not allowed to occupy a passenger seat and must remain either on your lap or on the floor. Also, when traveling on Delta Airlines, you must make sure that your ESA is at its best behavior and does not cause any disturbance to other traveling passengers. Whether flying with a small pet or a large one, if you follow these requirements, you would be allowed to fly with your pet hassle-free.
