Alaska Airlines Emotional Support Animal: Everything You Need to Know about Flying

No, Alaska Airlines is not one of the emotional support animal airlines.

Alaska Airlines emotional support animal flying is no longer an option due to a new rule by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) that allows airlines to choose whether or not to allow emotional support animals (ESAs) on their planes. Most airlines have decided to permit them no longer the way they did before 2021.

Although they still recognize service animals and psychiatric service dogs, emotional support animals are now required to board like regular pets and are limited to the specifications and restrictions set forth for pets.

These restrictions include being able to fit under the seat and remaining in their carrier for the flight. Owners of ESAs are required to pay any associated pet fees, and an ESA letter from a mental health professional is no longer recognized as documentation that would allow an animal onto a plane.

Yes, Alaska Airlines has chosen to ban emotional support animals. Due to the regulatory change in the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) by the DOT form, ESAs are no longer recognized as qualified service animals and, therefore, must be boarded as pets.

The decision was made after an American Airlines flight attendant was bitten on the hand by an ESA, and as a result, ESAs are now recognized as pets by Alaska Airlines. Pets are required to fit within a strict set of requirements that service animals are not, and as such, ESAs are now required to fit within the pet requirements.

Here are the Alaska Airlines emotional support animal traveling policies.

Pets in the Alaska Airlines Plane Cabin. Any pet owner boarding the passenger cabin with a pet must be at least 18 years old and may not occupy an emergency exit row or bulkhead row. Pet carriers count as carry-ons, so a passenger may either bring a carrier or a personal item, and each passenger is allowed up to two pets only when the seat next to them is open.

The pet must fit comfortably inside the carrier, and the carrier must fit under the seat. The pet is also to remain in the carrier for the flight duration. The carrier must be leakproof, well ventilated, and large enough to comfortably accommodate the animal for the duration of the flight.

Pet owners are responsible for the animal’s behavior, and animals are not sedated as the effects of tranquilizers at high altitudes can be unpredictable.

Pets in the Alaska Airlines Plane Cargo. To fly in the cargo compartment, a pet must have a valid health certificate, dogs and cats must be at least eight weeks old and weaned, no more than one dog or cat may travel in one kennel, and no more than one puppy eight weeks to 6 months old and weighing over 20 lbs may be in the same kennel. No more than two live puppies or kittens eight weeks to 6 months of age may be in the same kennel.

Animals must be offered food and water within four hours of check-in and have enough to last for the length of the journey, customers with a connection of four or more hours must request access to their animal in the connection city to offer additional food and water, and during check-in, you will be asked to complete a pet check record to certify your pet has been offered food and water. Alaska Airlines does not transfer pets to other airlines.

These are the steps to take for Alaska Airlines emotional support animal and pet flying:

Alaska Airlines only allows dogs, cats, rabbits, and household birds in the cabin, but the pet carrier will count as a carry-on bag. In the cargo hold, they allow cats, dogs, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, household birds, non-poisonous reptiles, pot-bellied pigs, rabbits, and tropical fish.

This is done much the same way as flying with a pet, however, different paperwork is required. According to their service animal policy on alaskaair.com, the animal must have a reservation, and the reservation is recommended to be made five days in advance.

A maximum of two service dogs are allowed per handler, and each animal must have a Service Animal Travel Solutions (SATS) ID number, and each animal must be up to date with their vaccinations.

Passengers with service dogs are not to sit in emergency exit seats, and you should choose a window seat to avoid the animal interfering with foot traffic during air travel. It is also recommended you print a hard copy of the DOT Service Animal Transportation Form and the email approval for travel from SATS in case of technical difficulties.

Once at the airport, you will be asked to verify that you are traveling with a service animal, that the service animal will fit in the floor space of your seat, and they will briefly assess the animal’s behavior.

On board, the plane, service animals must be seated on the floor space below your seat or on your lap. They are to behave appropriately and are not to occupy empty seats. They must also remain out of the aisle to avoid obstructing the walking path.

You will need to submit the DOT Service Animal Transportation Form, Service Animal Travel Solutions ID number, and vaccination records.

To request a SATS Service Animal ID, you will need the veterinarian’s name and contact number, rabies vaccination date and expiration, and the trainer’s name or organization and contact number. From here, you can request travel with your service animal, and this step is to be done each time you make a reservation.

If your reservations were made more than 48 hours in advance, you could submit these forms through a link on alaskaair.com, and if you have made reservations less than 48 hours in advance, you will need to bring hard copies with you to the airport.

Service dogs are the only service animals Alaska Airlines allows.

They must remain at the handler’s feet or under their seat for the duration of the flight. They are not to be seated in an empty seat or on tray tables and are only permitted to sit in the handler’s lap if they are smaller than a two-year-old child.

The dog must be well behaved, well-groomed, and free from offensive odors. Excessive barking is prohibited, as is jumping, eating off tray tables, relieving themselves in the aircraft cabin, and aggressive behaviors.

Here are the Alaska Airlines emotional support animal and pet fees: