Delta Air Lines ESA and Psychiatric Service Dog Policy

Key Takeaways

• Does Delta Air Lines Accept Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?

Similar to most other carriers, Delta Air Lines no longer recognizes ESAs as service animals, meaning they must follow the same guidelines as standard pets.

• Does Delta Air Lines Accept Psychiatric Service Dog?

Yes, Delta Air Lines accepts psychiatric service dogs as legitimate service animals. Psychiatric service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks that assist individuals with psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety, PTSD, or depression. These dogs can fly free of charge, but travelers must provide the required documentation, such as a completed DOT Service Animal Air Transportation form, and may need to give advance notice to the airline before their flight.

• Do Service Dogs Fly for Free?

All service dogs, including psychiatric service dogs, that meet Delta Air Lines’ requirements can fly at no additional cost.

• How to Get a Psychiatric Service Dog:

To get a psychiatric service dog, the dog must be trained to perform specific tasks that assist with your disability. If you already have a dog, the professionals at ServiceDogTrainingSchool can help you to train your own dog to be the ideal service dog to meet your needs.

• How to Qualify for a Psychiatric Service Dog:

To qualify for a psychiatric service dog, you must have a diagnosed mental or emotional disability, such as anxiety, PTSD, depression, or bipolar disorder.

• How to Get Started:

Get started by taking the simple SDTSI online PSD training assessment to see if you qualify, and enroll in the Psychiatric Service Dog Training Course to train your own dog.

Emotional Support Animals (ESA) on Delta Air Lines

ESAs used to be afforded the same travel privileges as fully trained service dogs before December 2020. At the time of writing, Delta Air Lines treats Emotional Support Animals as pets and their Pet Policy applies to any domesticated species like cats and dogs. Depending on availability, the airline may offer to transport your emotional support animal as a pet in a carrier which would be housed in the cargo hold of the airplane. Alternatively, you may be permitted to have the kennel placed under the seat in front of you during your flight.

Recent Regulatory Changes Affecting ESAs on Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines used to allow passengers to bring emotional support animals with no pet carries on their flights and did not charge pet fees. However, the airline changed its policy on March 1st, 2021 after the new regulations from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) came into effect. The DOT issued a final rule on December 2nd, 2020 regarding service animals, emotional support animals (ESAs), the rights of disabled passengers, established general rules for transporting service animals, and prohibited airlines from denying boarding to a dog simply because of their breed. A brief overview of the new regulations can be found here.

How to Fly with a Pet or Emotional Support Animal on Delta Air Lines

Emotional Support Animals are treated as pets under the animal policies enforced by Delta Air Lines. Only small domestic cats, dogs, and household birds would be welcomed in the passenger cabin. Passengers flying with a pet or an ESA are not going to be permitted to take the animals outside of the kennel for the duration of the flight.

You can make your pet reservation by calling the Delta Reservations Team at 800-221-1212 as soon as possible to add your pet to your reservation. You might want to book your flight as early as possible because there is a limit on the number of pets allowed per flight. Delta has a first-come, first-serve policy for pets in the cabin.

Does Delta Air Lines Accept Psychiatric Service Dogs?

The airline adheres to the Air Carrier Access Act and the official DOT policy on service animals. Fully-trained Psychiatric Service Dogs are welcomed on all flights serviced by Delta Air Lines. We have mentioned them in our “Top 5 Dog-Friendly Airlines” article. The passenger cabins of their fleet vary widely in size so you should consult the Reservations Team in advance about fitting your dog under the seat in front of you as mandated by the DOT.

If you are not familiar with your fly rights please refer to the “Consumer Guide to Air Travel”. Should you be denied boarding with your service dog, you have the option to reach out to the US DOT Aviation Consumer Protection. However, we recommend trying to negotiate your boarding with the airline first, and if that does not work report your case to the DOT.

Do Psychiatric Service Dogs Fly for Free?

Service dogs fly for free with any airline as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act the DOT policy on service dogs. However, there are limitations that you need to take into consideration. Service dog users who have more than one service dog may have to pay additional fare fees depending on their flight, route, available space in the cabin, and the size of their service animals. Please, note that you can call the toll-free hotline for air travelers with disabilities at 800-778-4838 (voice) or 800-455-9880 (TTY) if you are flying with Delta and need to learn more about your options.

How to Fly with Your Psychiatric Service Dog on Delta Air Lines

The first step you may want to take is to check the “Accessible Travel Services" page published by the airline. You should call the airline at 404-209-3434 and fill out the “Accessibility Service Request” application after you book your flight so you are not surprised in a bad way when you arrive at the airport.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requires the Service Animal Air Transportation Form for all service animals to be submitted to the airlines. If your flight is 8 hours or longer, you’ll also need to complete the Relief Attestation Form. These forms should be submitted to Delta at least 48 hours before your flight. We sincerely recommend doing this at least two weeks before your travel so you can make sure there will be space for your service dog on the flight and you will have a smoother boarding experience.

On the day of travel, arrive at the airport early. A Delta check-in agent will review your forms and ensure everything is in order. You will send the forms via their online portal but might want to have the forms printed out too.

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How to Get Your Legitimate Psychiatric Service Dog with Service Dog Training School

It is important to understand that only fully-trained, fully-vaccinated, healthy, safe, and well-behaved dogs are afforded housing, travel, and public access rights. If you are looking to train your pet dog to become a psychiatric service/assistance dog – we would be happy to guide you.

The first thing you need to do is to assess our goals, and requirements, consider any travel plans and understand the legislation for service dogs. Our online self-trained courses may fit your needs and schedule. Public access training which is useful for air travel, basic obedience mastery, and support for task training for patients with PTSD, anxiety, panic attacks, and other conditions is available.

Get Your Psychiatric Service Dog Certification

Service dog certification is optional under US laws. However, training is mandatory and you need to accept responsibility for your service dog. There is no government-operated registry for service dogs in the US so businesses like airlines will ask their passengers to show some proof of completed training. Although you are not legally required to present proof of training for your service dog you might want to work with us and complete one of our training courses.

This can contribute to faithfully representing your dog as a service animal and convince housing providers, airlines, and local businesses that your dog has been trained and is safe to accommodate. The certificates for completed training include a unique identifier that airlines (and other businesses) can quickly verify via our registry page.

What is the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA)?

The Air Carrier Access Act from 1986 (49 U.S.C. § 41705) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in air travel which includes a policy on service dogs. The Department of Transportation (DOT) is the government body that enforces and protects your rights as a passenger. The policies of the DOT apply equally to domestic and foreign-based airlines operating flights to and from the US. We sincerely recommend reading the “Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights”. Also, you can find a useful fact sheet published by the Research and Training Center on Promoting Interventions for Community Living.

What is the Difference Between Emotional Support Animals and Psychiatric Service Dogs?

For legal purposes, the ACAA defines service animals as follows:

“Service animal - means a dog, regardless of breed or type, that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Animal species other than dogs, emotional support animals, comfort animals, companionship animals, and service animals in training are not service animals for the purposes of this part.”

Emotional Support Animals can be any domesticated species while service animals can be only canines. ESAs do not undergo any specialized training beyond basic obedience while service dogs undertake individual training to directly aid the daily lives of their users and be safe to use in public. More on the subject is presented in our article: Service Animals vs Emotional Support Animals vs Therapy Animals

Delta Air Lines Service Dog Policies

The airline follows the policies enforced by the DOT and the Air Carrier Access Act. For legal purposes, a handler is defined as follows:

“A Service animal handler is a passenger in air transportation who is a qualified individual with a disability who receives assistance from a service animal(s) that does work or performs tasks that are directly related to the individual’s disability, or a third party who accompanies the individual with a disability traveling with a service animal such as a parent of a minor child or a caretaker. The service animal handler is responsible for keeping the animal under control at all times, and caring for and supervising the service animal, which includes toileting and feeding.”

Please, note that the number of service dogs permitted per flight will depend on the aircraft model, the number of already booked service dog teams, any country-specific restrictions, and available space.

Delta Air Lines Required Documentation

As mentioned above, you will need to fill out a US DOT Service Animal Form and you may need to fill out a Service Animal Relief Attestation if your flight is longer than 8 hours. You may have to secure a health certificate for your service animal, pet/ESA, and lab results for recently administered vaccinations depending on your route. Please, note that microchipping your dog is mandatory for international travel. In the interest of your dog’s safety, we strongly recommend that you have them implanted with a microchip. You are welcome to refer to our article: Microchipping Your Dog: How Much Does It Cost

Other Delta Air Lines Pet Policies To Know

Customers with carry-on kennels are not permitted seats in the following areas:

Bulkhead seats; An emergency exit row; Seats designated as “no stowage”; Flat-bed or Delta One seats; Rows 46-51 on the A330-200 aircraft; Rows 54-59 on the A330 -300 aircraft; Center seats on the B757-200 aircraft

Please, ensure your pet is at least 10 weeks old for domestic travel or 8 months old for international travel and boarding flights to Europe. As a general rule, the pet has to be at least 16 weeks old when traveling outside the US. In some cases two pets may be permitted to travel in a single kennel if they are small enough and that way you will pay a single pet fee.

Delta Air Lines’ Pet Fees

You should check the pet fees on Delta’s website in advance of booking a flight as you will be expected to pay the fees at check-in at the airport. At the time of writing, you are expected to pay 95 USD per pet and 200 USD per pet on any international flights.

Delta Air Lines’ Breed Restrictions

As mentioned above, the Air Carrier Access Act and the final ruling of the DOT prevent all airlines from denying boarding to any service dog simply because of their breed. However, extremely large dogs like Leonberger, Bernese Mountain Dog, Great Pyrenees, and Bullmastiff are likely to be transported in the cargo hold due to their size which does not enable them to travel under the seat in front of you comfortably.

Snub-nosed dogs and cats have condensed facial structures which impacts their ability to breathe normally. During flights, these features impair their ability to cool themselves. That is why Delta Air Lines does not allow them as cargo on any Delta or Delta Connection flights. The full list of restricted animals is presented here.

Delta Air Lines Pet Carrier Size Requirements

Pets/ESAs will be expected to board the airplane passenger cabin in a kennel that meets the size requirements for the aircraft. The carrier dimensions must not exceed 18” (length) x 11” (width) x 11” (height) since this fits most aircraft types. The carriers must be leak-proof and well-ventilated for the comfort and well-being of your pet/ESA. You have to remember that the airline operates a diverse fleet and the size limitations may vary significantly. Do not hesitate to call the reservations team and double-check the space available to accompanying animals.

Service Dog Training School’s Tips on How to Fly with Your ESAs and Psychiatric Service Dogs

You should plan ahead accordingly and make sure you have at least 2-3 months to prepare your dog’s papers, negotiate boarding with the Delta Reservations Team, obtain the necessary permits, microchip, and vaccinate your dog as necessary. Booking early means you have time to change your plans in case an emergency occurs, you can get cheaper tickets and resolve any problems so you can travel in peace.

Nobody likes to share their flight with misbehaving people and animals. Make sure your dog is prepared for tight spaces, meeting many strangers, and staying calm in busy environments. That way you will not have to worry they would bark, whine, and cause you stress. We strongly encourage you to double-check the requirements for dogs/pets at your destination before booking your ticket so you have time to prepare.

The flight attendants are not legally obliged to offer food to your dog but you can ask for water and you will have to carry a water bowl with you. Of course, you should not forget to bring a food bowl too. 

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FAQ

Can my dog sit on my lap during a Delta Air Lines flight?

-They can not. Pets/ESAs are expected to remain in their kennels until you disembark the aircraft. Some small service animals may be permitted to be seated in the lap of their users if they are small enough and at the discretion of the flight attendants.

Can Delta Air Lines ask for proof of a service dog?

-The airline can ask you to show proof of completed training but you are not legally obligated to present one. Any aggressive or misbehaving dogs will not be allowed on any flights and they may be banned from any Delta services.

Can Delta Air Lines deny a psychiatric service dog?

-Yes, they can. This usually happens based on the size of the dog as there are space limitations, the route you are taking as there are countries with strict rules when you are missing papers, and legitimate considerations for the health of the dog.

Where to Call or Visit for More Information on Delta Air Lines Pet Policy?

-You can call the toll-free hotline for air travelers with disabilities at 800-778-4838 (voice) or 800-455-9880 (TTY). Additionally, you can call the Delta Reservations Team at 800-221-1212.

How to Notify Delta Air Lines You Will Be Bringing Your ESA/Pet/SA?

-You can do so after booking your flight and you will have to use the “Accessibility Service Request” application.