Airlines banning emotional support animals in plane cabins

[Catherine]

In recent years airlines  have accommodated a wide range of  emotional support animals. 
Many of these animals were not trained in any way and were not actual service animals.
American Airlines has decided only registered service animals will be allowed in the cabin of the plane. All other animals must fly in the cargo hold or in a carrier under the seat, for a fee.
Alaska Airlines has also banned emotional support animals.


https://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/america...-1.5254325

https://people.com/pets/alaska-airlines-...t-animals/

This ban has been in the works for some time now.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelgold...626e333f9f

This whole situation is unfortunate. It took years of work to gain rights for actual service dogs. Giving emotional support animals  the same rights  did make sense. Some people really do have an animal that is trained to give emotional support. Having those animals on planes makes sense. However lately there have been some abuses of the system. People put a vest on a random pet and claim that makes it a support animal. Many of these animals are poorly trained a pets and they cause problems.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55177736

It is a complicated issue and I can understand someone needing their pet with them on a plane.  It just isn't working to have peacocks as support animals on planes. There have been some very odd animals presented as emotional support animals.

https://bestlifeonline.com/emotional-support-animals/

All of our pets are support animals in some ways. It just gets difficult if we insist on flying with them.

[Catherine]

Now Delta Airlines is banning emotional support animals.

https://thepointsguy.com/news/delta-bans...t-animals/

This was so predictable. One airline after another will start banning emotional support animals.
People were labeling all  kinds of animals there emotional support animal.  They let those animals behave badly on the airplanes and other places. Now all emotional support animals are being banned. This is sad because in some cases the person really does need the emotional support animal and it is a trained animal.

[Catherine]

Now United Airlines is joining the ban.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/ai...600308002/


Before long all airlines will be banning emotional support animals. I just hope this ban doesn't effect registered service dogs.

[LPC]

Sadly, abuse of the system caused all this. A minority pushed the rules to the limit - and well beyond - and now everyone must suffer as a result.

[Catherine]

Quote:Sadly, abuse of the system caused all this. A minority pushed the rules to the limit - and well beyond - and now everyone must suffer as a result.

That is it exactly. Airlines were willing to accommodate small dogs and even cats. I think they could even handle a rabbit. However when people showed up at the airport with a peacock that went too far. How could they really safely have a peacock or a miniature horse lose in the cabin of a plane.
Rather than get into arguments over animals, airlines are banning everything  but registered service animals. 

I just hope this doesn't cause a problem for service animals. Some people would not be able to get around safely without their service dogs.

Airlines are banning emotional support animals. How soon before restaurants follow their example. 
Just a thought, if you are going to have an emotional support animal wouldn't it make sense to choose one that can fit into your environment.
If you plan to fly, pick an animal that can fit on a plane. If you live out on a farm and never go anywhere a horse might work out, but you can't expect to take it into a city restaurant.