Frontier ESA and Service Dog Policy

Key Takeaways

Does Frontier Airlines Accept Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)?

Due to the changes made at the end of 2020 by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Frontier no longer accepts Emotional Support Animals onboard as service animals. However, they are welcome to travel as pets if they meet the airline’s pet transport requirements. Relevant pet fees will apply.

Does Frontier Airlines Accept Service Animals, Including Psychiatric Service Dogs?

Yes, Frontier Airlines accepts service dogs, including psychiatric service dogs.

Do Service Dogs Fly for Free?

All service dogs, including psychiatric service dogs, that meet Frontier Airlines’ requirements can fly at no additional cost.

How to Get a Service Dog?

To get a service dog, you must be a qualified individual with a disability and have a dog trained to perform specific tasks directly related to your health condition. If you already have a paw friend, the team at Service Dog Training School can help you train them to become the perfect service dog based on your needs.

How to Qualify for a Service Dog?

To qualify for a service dog, an individual must be diagnosed with a physical and/or mental disability, such as mobility, hearing or visual impairments, anxiety, PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, high/low blood sugar, or blood pressure levels.

How to Get Started?

Get started by taking the simple SDTSI online training assessment to see if you qualify, and enroll in the Service Dog Training Course that would best suit your needs.

Today, we will discuss how to travel with our furry companions and prepare for a flight on Frontier Airlines.

Whether you are an experienced dog owner or a new handler flying with a dog for the first time, this article can be very helpful!

What to Consider Before Your Flight on Frontier Airlines?

Please keep in mind that you will be charged a one-way, directional fee. It needs to be paid in advance during the booking process. If you do not pay when you book your flight, you will need to settle the payment when checking in your pet.

In addition to their pets’ carriers, passengers can bring either one personal item with the following maximum dimensions (8” H x 14” W x 18” L) or one carry-on bag (10” H x 16” W x 24” L). Passengers with a carry-on bag will be subject to an additional fee.

Frontier Airlines does not permit pets to be checked as baggage.

The airline advises its passengers to review the relevant laws, customs, and other governmental regulations, requirements, or restrictions at the destination. It is specifically noted that this is the owners' responsibility and not the airline's.

Passengers need to obtain all the necessary documentation for their animals.

Additionally, pet owners are advised not to give food or water to their pets for four hours before the flight.
 

What Pets/ESAs are Accepted?

Frontier Airlines accepts specific animals in the cabin such as: domesticated dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, and small household birds. These species are allowed on domestic flights.

Domesticated dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks old.

Pet Restrictions

The following species are not accepted by the airline: large birds (such as parrots, cockatoos, macaws, and birds of prey), rodents (such as rats, mice, and squirrels), ferrets, beavers, reptiles (including snakes), amphibians, spiders, and insects. 

The airline specifically points out that animals such as lions, tigers, or bears will not be allowed.

Flying with Pets/ESAs Internationally

Frontier Airlines accepts only domesticated dogs and cats to or from international locations.

Pets can travel in the cabin on all domestic flights and international flights to and from Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

Flying With Pets/ESAs- Seating Arrangements

Passengers flying with pets/ESAs can not sit in the first row or in an exit row.

For safety reasons, pets must remain in their travel carriers at all times. 

Passengers flying with pets need to ensure their pets are well-mannered. If a pet becomes disruptive, it is their owner’s responsibility to help them calm them down without removing them from their carrier. Pets should be non-disruptive, non-threatening, and odorless. Also, they should not require attention throughout the flight.

Due to factors such as travel-related stress and the motion of the aircraft, Frontier Airlines requires passengers not to feed their pets or give them water during the flight.

Frontier Airlines- Important Notes for Flying with Pets/ESAs

The airline agents understand the efforts passengers put into helping their furry friends feel comfortable during the flight.

However, they specify that most veterinarians do not recommend sedatives for pets for travel purposes, as they may have unpredictable effects at high altitudes. 

Also, passengers should keep in mind that oxygen won’t be supplied to their pets in case of an emergency.

The airline accepts only one pet in the cabin per person.

Pet Carriers- Requirements

As with other airlines, you need to consider Frontier Airlines’ requirements for pet containers onboard. These are:   

• Pet carriers must be large enough to ensure the animal feels comfortable and can stand, lie down, or turn around normally.     
• Pet carriers must fit under the seat in front of you. Some seats may be unable to accommodate a pet carrier, however, airline agents will support passengers with pets to help them find a proper seat.
• Carriers must not exceed the following dimensions: 18” L x 14” W x 8” H.
• The airline advises passengers with pets to opt for soft-side carriers.  
• Pets are required to remain in their carriers at all times.

Flying with Pets/ESAs- Health and Wellness Requirements

Frontier Airlines does not require health certificates for domestic flights. However, the airline advises pet owners to familiarize themselves with the regulations of their destination state. In some US states, a health certificate may be required. For more detailed information, passengers with pets are advised to consult their veterinarians or check the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Veterinary Services.

Please note that a health certificate will be needed for international flights. Each country has its own policy regarding pet vaccinations and health requirements.

Pet health certificates must fulfill certain requirements, which we will list below.

Depending on the country of entry, they must be dated:

-Within 10 days of arriving in the U.S.;

-Within 30 days of arriving in Puerto Rico;

-Within 15 days of arriving in the Dominican Republic;

-Within 5 days of arriving in Mexico;

-Within 14 days of arriving in Costa Rica.

Health certificates must include the following information:

-Owner’s name and address;

-Pet’s species;

-Country of origin/destination;

-Immunization against rabies within 1 year for: 

Adult pets at the age of 3 months or older- this applies to all destinations except Costa Rica and Puerto Rico. In Costa Rica, pets are considered adults at the age of 4 months or older. Puerto Rico also considers pets adults at 4 months and requires them to be vaccinated against rabies within 6 months.

Passengers must ensure that their pets are vaccinated no more than a year and no less than 30 days before the international flight. If a rabies booster is administered less than 30 days prior to travel, previous rabies vaccination records will be required.

We strongly advise you to check the additional requirements by country on the airline’s website.

Flying with Pets/ESAs and Service Dogs Internationally- Restrictions

We strongly advise you to review the changes in the airline’s policy regarding flying with pets and service animals internationally.

“Effective immediately, Frontier Airlines will not accept new pets for International Travel. Frontier will only accept service animals for international travel with specific requirements”.

Does Frontier Airlines Accept Service Dogs, Including Psychiatric Service Dogs?

The airline accepts service dogs, including psychiatric service dogs at no cost. 

How Does Frontier Airlines Define Service Animals?

According to the new regulations for flying with service animals administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), only dogs that have been trained to perform tasks or do work for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability are accepted as service animals. This definition also covers psychiatric service dogs. 

Guidelines for Flying with Service Animals on Frontier Airlines

Please review the airline’s guidelines for traveling with service animals before booking your flight:

- The airline accepts only dogs in our cabin as trained service animals;

- The airline also accepts fully trained psychiatric service dogs as trained service animals;

- The airline limits the maximum number of service animals per passenger with a disability to two service animals;

- The airline does not accept animals who provide comfort and companionship but who are not trained to perform specific tasks. The airline’s pet policy applies to them;

- Trained service dogs must behave properly in public settings and be under their handler’s control at all times. Service dogs must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered at all times both in the airport and on the plane.

Service Animals: Types of Behavior That Are Not Accepted Onboard

Trained service animals displaying disruptive behavior or posing a direct threat to others' health or safety may be denied boarding. Disruptive behaviors include but are not limited to:    

• Excessive whining, barking, or growling;

• Scratching;

• Biting;

• Lunging;    

• Urinating or defecating in the cabin or gate area.

Minimum Age of Service Animals

The airline requires service animals to be at least 4 months to be accepted.

Does Frontier Airlines Accept Service Animals in Training?

No, service animals in training are not accepted by the airline.

Documentation Required for Flying with Service Animals

Service dog handlers are required to fill out and submit a DOT form that includes information about the dog’s health, training, and behavior.  You can download the form from the airline’s website and upload it as indicated.

Please note that if you booked your flight more than 48 hours before departure, you must submit the completed form no later than 48 hours before your flight. 

If you booked your reservation less than 48 hours before your flight, you must present the completed form in person to a Customer Service Agent once you arrive at the airport.

Frontier Airlines has listed their mailing address for completed forms:

Attention Frontier Customer Care

4545 Airport Way

Denver, CO 80239

Book Your Flight with a Service Dog

The airline requires its passengers to notify their agents of their intention to travel with a trained service animal. Service dog handlers also must submit a completed Service Animal Air Transportation Form at least 48 hours before their flight. 

For upcoming trips, special requests for trained service animals can be made during the booking process. For current reservations, customers can modify their bookings online. If an animal does not qualify as a trained service animal, it may still be able to travel under our Pet Policy. In this case, applicable fees will be charged.

At the Airport with a Service Dog

To recognize an animal as a trained service animal, the airline will evaluate both the handler and the dog. The passenger requesting travel must be an individual with a disability and the animal must be a trained service dog.

If an individual’s disability is not immediately obvious, the airline’s staff is allowed to ask questions to verify the dog’s legitimacy as a service animal. If the dog does not qualify as a trained service animal they may be eligible to be accepted as a pet. 

Airline agents may ask how the animal has been trained to assist with a disability or what specific tasks they have been trained to perform. Handlers may be questioned about their dogs at various points during their trip. 

Service dog owners are advised to bring a copy of the Service Animal Air Transportation Form, as airline representatives may request it at the airport or on the plane.

On the Plane with a Service Dog

Per federal safety rules, trained service animals must not block passengers’ options for quick evacuation in case of an emergency. Additionally, service dog handlers are not allowed to sit in the emergency exit row. 

Service animals may either sit on the floor or the passenger's lap, provided they are no larger than a child under two years old. Service dogs are prohibited from extending into the aisle, occupying a vacant seat, or encroaching upon another passenger's space. 

Service animals are not required to remain in carriers. However, if a pet carrier is used, it must be safely stored under the seat in front during taxi, takeoff, and landing.

Flying with Service Animals Internationally

Frontier Airlines accepts trained service dogs on both domestic and international flights. However, service dog handlers need to keep in mind that there might be specific service dog regulations based on the destination. 

As already mentioned in our article above, service dog handlers are responsible for reviewing and ensuring their service dogs comply with local laws and requirements of each country on the trip. 

To fly internationally, service animals must have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt.

Additionally, they must:    

•    Be at least 6 months old;
•    Appear healthy on arrival;
•    Have proof of a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner.

Please keep in mind that if your service dog travels from a high-risk country, you will be required to provide additional documentation, upload your dog’s photo, and acquire government-approved veterinary documentation.

We advise you to familiarize yourself with the new regulations administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that came into effect on Aug 1^st.

Train Your Pet Dog as a (Psychiatric) Service Dog with Service Dog Training School International

Our team will assist you in training your furry friend as your service dog so that you can regain your confidence and engage in life to the fullest. You will benefit from flexible, well-structured, comprehensive, and easy-to-follow lessons. Our tutor team will help ensure your dog can support you reliably, behave properly in public, and ignore distractions. This is particularly helpful in crowded areas such as airports.

Evaluate Your Needs

To get started, completeour quick online quiz designed to assess your specific needs. It will evaluate your answers to determine your qualification for a service animal, including a psychiatric service dog. After finishing the quiz, you will be able to choose the type of training that fits your needs and covers the tasks you may benefit from the most.

Train Your Service Dog

Before your dog can serve as a service animal, they must be trained to carry out tasks that are related to your disability. These tasks may include:

Retrieving Medication: Training your dog to bring you necessary medications, ensuring they are within reach when needed.

Applying Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT): Teaching your dog to apply firm pressure can help ease symptoms of anxiety or panic attacks.

Detecting and Alerting the Owner to Oncoming Medical Episodes: Your dog can be trained to recognize these events and respond with specific actions like pawing, nudging, or licking, helping you take necessary precautions.

Service Dog Training School offers online programs that make it easy to train your dog for these essential tasks. The courses are designed for flexibility, allowing you to train your dog from home at your own pace.

Obtain Your Service Dog Certification

After the completion of a training program, you will receive a certificate confirming that your dog has received appropriate training and is a certified service dog. This documentation serves as valuable proof when in public or traveling with a service dog. It verifies that your canine meets the standards required to assist with your disability, in any situation or environment, including air travel. 

By taking these steps, you can properly prepare your dog for service work to support you in everyday life and ensure a seamless travel experience.

FAQ

What should I do if I am allergic to dogs?

Frontier Airlines cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment on its flights. Also, they specify they can not prevent passengers from bringing allergens onboard, which also includes service animals.

Passengers with severe allergies are advised to reach out to a flight attendant onboard the aircraft for assistance. 

“Please understand that we cannot prevent any customer from eating the products they have brought onboard. We encourage customers to review any health concerns with their physicians prior to flying”. 

Can an animal be refused access to the passenger cabin?

The airline reserves the right to deny an animal access to the cabin if requested documentation is not presented or if the animal is considered disruptive or aggressive. 

I am visually/hearing impaired. What should I do?

The airline advises passengers who are deaf/hard of hearing, or blind/sight impaired, to inform them in advance so they can receive assistance. 

It is recommended that you identify yourself to the crew on the plane.

“If you need assistance at the airport, during boarding, or onboard the aircraft, let us know. This information can be added to your reservation during your booking, or can be added after by following the steps below. “