Delta Airlines announced a new policy restricting service animals, as well as emotional support animals on flights eight hours or longer. In addition, service animals and emotional support animals under the age of four months will not be permitted on flights of any length.
“We will continue to review and enhance our policies and procedures as health and safety are core values at Delta,” said John Laughter, Senior Vice President – Corporate Safety, Security and Compliance. “These updates support Delta’s commitment to safety and also protect the rights of customers with documented needs – such as veterans with disabilities – to travel with trained service and support animals.”
Murphy Newgen Philbrick–Old English Sheepdog Photo by: Heather Newgen
The updated restrictions follow an 84 percent increase in reported incidents involving service animals in 2016-2017. Urination/defecation, biting and even a widely reported attack by a 50-pound dog are among reasons for the ban.
The updated support and service animal age requirement aligns with the vaccination policy of the CDC. The eight-hour flight limit for emotional support animals is consistent with the principles outlined in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Air Carrier Access Act.
As a result of the policy changes, customers ticketed on or after Dec. 18 will no longer be permitted to originate travel with service animals on flights longer than eight hours. Passengers will also no longer be permitted to originate travel with service and support animals under four months of age regardless of flight length. Customers with tickets purchased prior to Dec. 18, who have already requested to travel with an emotional support animal will be allowed to travel as originally ticketed.
Photo Courtesy of Delta Airlines
Regardless of booking date, service animals will not be accepted on flights longer than eight hours on or after Feb. 1. Additionally, service and support animals under four months of age will not be accepted on flights of any length on or after Feb. 1. Customers will be contacted by Delta’s Reservations and Customer Care teams to adjust reservations if the policy update impacts their travel plans.