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Service and Support Animals

Service and Support Animals 

When flying on Delta, we welcome service and support animals in the aircraft cabin. When traveling with a service or support animal, we’re here to work with you to make sure your travel day runs smoothly.

 

 

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRAINED SERVICE ANIMALS AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT/PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE ANIMALS 

We know that both types of animals provide invaluable services and we welcome both on our flights. To travel with an emotional support or psychiatric service animal, passengers must upload the required documentation at least 48 hours before a flight. For questions, call 404-209-3434.  Advanced notice is encouraged but not required for customers travelling with trained service animals. 

Please be advised that our service and support animal policy is changing. Effective juli 10, 2018, each customer will be limited to one emotional support animal. Additionally, we are no longer accepting pit bull type dogs as service or support animals.

 

 

TRAINED SERVICE ANIMAL

Trained service animals receive training to assist those who are blind or have low vision, deafness or hard of hearing, diabetes, seizures, mobility limitations or other needs.

If you are traveling with a trained service animal, in some cases you may be asked to show:

  1. The animal’s Veterinary Health Form and/or an immunization record or other proof that the animal's vaccinations are current within one year of the travel date
  2. While not required, customers are encouraged to upload this documentation to My Trips through the Accessibility Service Request Form

 

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE ANIMALs

Emotional support and psychiatric service animals assist those with emotional, psychiatric, cognitive or psychological disabilities.

To travel with an emotional support animal, passengers must: 

  1. Download and fill out the required Emotional Support or Psychiatric Service Animal PDF.  You may submit a copy of vaccination records in lieu of the Veterinary Health Form as long as the vaccination dates and veterinary office information are included.
  2. Upload it to My Trips through the Accessibility Service Request Form
  3. Keep completed paperwork with you while traveling

 

 

Any animal other than a dog or cat will be evaluated on case-by-case basis. Service and support animals must remain with the passenger at all times.  Unaccompanied animals are not permitted in the cabin.  There is a limit of one emotional support animal per customer per flight.  


 

Flying with a Trained Service or Emotional Support/Psychiatric Service Animal

On a Delta flight, service and support animals are expected to be seated in the floor space below a passenger’s seat, or seated in a passenger’s lap. Service and support animals and their associated items travel for free. The size of the animal must not exceed the “footprint” of the passenger’s seat.

  • Associated items include a kennel, blanket, toy, food or similar item

Passengers traveling with emotional support or psychiatric service animals must complete the required paperwork.  Customers traveling with a trained service animal are encouraged to submit vaccination records prior to travel.  

  • Download Emotional Support/Psychiatric Service Animal Required Documentation 
  • In My Trips,  attach your documentation to the Accessibility Service Request form

OPMERKING: If you encounter any issues with your service animal while at the airport or on board, please ask to speak to a Complaint Resolution Official (CRO). These trained Delta representatives are ready to assist passengers with accessibility needs and protect your rights when you travel by air.

Review Complete Service or Support Animal Guidelines

If you’re traveling with a service or support animal, you should select a seat that offers space for your animal. Service and support animals must be seated in the floor space below a seat, or in a passenger’s lap.  No animals are allowed to occupy seats that are designed for passengers or to eat off tray tables.

Please understand that with larger service or support animals or for passengers with multiple service animals, we may need to re-accommodate you if the animal encroaches on other passengers or extends into aisles, which would be a violation of FAA regulations. 

If you would like additional time to board the aircraft, pre-boarding is available to accommodate you during the boarding process.  Please be sure to arrive at the gate with enough time to make arrangements with the gate agents prior to departure.  

It is important to remember that some locations such as Hawaii, U.K. and other island nations have additional requirements, quarantine laws may not permit the entry or transit of animals .  Contact us at 404-209-3434 or visit the local government’s consulate to learn the requirements for any transit points as well as for your final destination.

 

 

We do not permit the following as trained service or support animals, as these animals pose safety and/or public health concerns.  If you have additional questions, please contact the accessibility assistance line at 404-209-3434.

  • Pit bull type dogs
  • Hedgehogs
  • Ferrets
  • Insects
  • Rodents
  • Snakes
  • Spiders
  • Sugar gliders
  • Reptiles
  • Amphibians
  • Goats
  • Non-household birds (farm poultry, waterfowl, game bird, & birds of prey)
  • Animals improperly cleaned and/or with a foul odor
  • Animals with tusks, horns or hooves

 

Required Service or Support Animal Documentation

For the safety and health of everyone, we require documentation when passengers  travel with a psychiatric service or a support animal in an aircraft cabin. To submit documentation, please download the PDF and upload it through the Accessibility Service Request form located in My Trips.

Getrainde hulpdieren

 

Customers are encouraged to submit the Trained Service Animal documentation at least 48 hours before a flight.  Download the form and upload through the Accessibility Service Request form located in My Trips.  You may submit a copy of vaccination records in lieu of the Veterinary Health Form as long as the vaccination dates and veterinary office information are included.  For assistance with this form, please call our accessibility assistance line at 404-209-3434.  In some cases, customers may be asked to show the animal’s Veterinary Health Form and/or an immunization record or other proof of vaccination (current within one year of the travel date).

Download available form:

Getrainde hulpdieren

Emotional Support & Psychiatric Service Animals

 

Submit the Emotional Support and Psychiatric Service Animal documentation at least 48 hours before a flight. Currently, we require documentation that is no more than a year old (prior to the first flight in the itinerary) from a certified mental health professional indicating need for an emotional support animal, certification of the animal’s health including rabies shott verification, and a signed Confirmation of Training form.  You may submit a copy of vaccination records in lieu of the Veterinary Health Form as long as the vaccination dates and veterinary office information are included. Documentation can be provided with a digital copy, and a professional license number is recommended, but not required. Download the required documentation and upload it through the Accessibility Service Request Form located in My Trips.

Download required forms:

Emotional Support & Psychiatric Service Animals

 

Inappropriate Service or Support Animal Behavior

We know that service and support animals are highly-trained working animals. We will only refuse transportation of the animal if it engages in disruptive behavior such as: 

  • Growling 
  • Jumping on passengers 
  • Relieving themselves in the gate area or cabin
  • Barking excessively, not in response to a handler’s need or distress
  • Eating off seatback tray tables

Service and Support Animal Frequently Asked Questions

In most circumstances, a service or support animal in training does not meet qualifications for a trained animal and cannot ride in the cabin. Two exceptions are as follows: 

  • The service or support animal in training is traveling with a professional trainer en route to the owner 
  • The animal in training is already a trained service or support animal, and is traveling with a certified trainer for additional training

Yes, all airports in the United States are required to provide a designated animal relief area. Although Delta Air Lines is not responsible for providing care, food or supervision to the areas, we can assist with identifying the location of an animal relief area and escorting a passenger to the area, including through security if necessary.

The Delta Sky Club policy for service and support animals is the same as the policy for these animals on a Delta aircraft.

We accept passengers traveling with multiple service animals. There is a limit of one support animal per customer per flight. It is passengers’ responsibility to ensure that they have adequate space to accommodate multiple service animals. Though it is not required, extra seats may need to be purchased to provide enough floor space to accommodate the extra animals. Animals do not sit in seats, they must be placed on the floor in the foot space of the passenger. All animals must behave appropriately and documentation for emotional support/psychiatric service animals must reflect the need for the additional animals. Animals must be of a size to not exceed the “footprint” of the seat.

  • The service or support or animals may be placed at the feet of the passenger with a disability at any bulkhead seat or in any other seat as long as no part of the animal extends into the aisle. Animals must be of a size to not exceed the “footprint” of the seat.
  • The animal or animals may not extend into the foot space of another passenger who does not wish to share foot space with a service or support animal.
  • Service and support animals may ride in the passenger's lap for all phases of the flight, including ground movement, take off, and landing, provided the trained animal is no larger than a lap held child (under 2 years of age).
  • The animal must remain with the passenger at all times.
  • The animal cannot occupy a seat.
  • If no single seat will accommodate both animal and passenger without causing an obstruction, the passenger may check the service or support animal as baggage, at no charge (see Animal Travel in Hold), or purchase an additional ticket for the animal, allowing the animal to occupy that space on the floor. The passenger can buy a second ticket at the same rate as the original ticket.
  • There is no guarantee of additional space beyond 1 seat per ticket.
  • Passengers with trained service or support animals are permitted to occupy flat-bed seats, but may require assistance from the flight attendant.

Delta Air Lines policies and procedures still apply to passengers with memberships in the NSAR or similar entity. Review the policies and procedures, or call our accessibility assistance line at 404-209-3434.

Travel fees: There is no charge to transport service or support animals or their assistive devices, whether they are transported in the cabin or in the hold as checked baggage, or an oversized animal in cargo. An animal's kennel (whether empty or occupied) is considered an assistive device and does not incur baggage fee.

Baggage: Service or support animals do not count toward a passenger's carry-on allotment.

Airport restrictions: Some airports have additional state and local requirements for transporting emotional support/psychiatric service animals through their airport.

  • PBI - Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) requires emotional support/psychiatric service animals to be crated in the airport from lobby to gate.
  • GSP - Greenville Spartanburg Airport (GSP) requires emotional support/psychiatric service animals to be crated in the airport from lobby to gate.
  • JFK - Upon arrival to John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport, all trained service and emotional support/psychiatric service animals arriving from an international pre-cleared station are required to clear TSA.
  • Hawaii Requirements:
    Service Animals may travel to Hawaii under certain conditions. Trained guide dogs and service dogs, only, are accepted with certain provisions, including making advanced arrangements and verifying availability.

Per HDOA, passengers must follow the steps outlined in the link above to come into Hawaii without quarantine
HDOA - hdoa.hawaii.gov; phone number: 808-483-7151; email: rabiesfree@hawaii.gov
The service animal must be traveling with the passenger with a disability
All animals are inspected upon arrival in Honolulu International Airport (HNL) at the Animal Quarantine Holding Facility, which operates 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. daily
Passengers that have guide dogs or service dogs may request inspection at the HNL terminal between 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. if notified and approved by HDOA 7 days or more before travel

An emotional support/psychiatric service animal (dogs or cats) traveling to or through Honolulu International Airport must meet the requirements and be approved by the 5-Day-Or-Less Quarantine program. If the animal does not meet these requirements, it may possibly be quarantined for up to 120 days. Opmerking: Because of the minimum amount of time needed to prepare a puppy or kitten to meet the requirements of the 5-Day-Or-Less program, the animal will need to be about 10 months old by the time preparations are complete.
For animals other than dogs or cats, the passenger must contact the Animal Control Disease Branch at 808-837-8092 or 808-483-7106. The emotional support animal must meet the requirements and be approved by the Animal Control Disease Branch.
For travel to neighboring islands, the emotional support animal must meet the requirements and be approved by the Neighbor Island Program.
Upon arrival at the airport, any documentation received from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA), the Animal Control Disease Branch or the Neighbor Island Program. Delta documentation requirements also apply. Opmerking: CES must document in the PNR that passenger has been advised of all required documentation.
Passengers traveling with emotional support/psychiatric service animals should arrange for their flights to arrive after 9 a.m. and by 3:30 p.m. Hawaiian time, because it may take up to 1 hour for the airlines to transport an animal to the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility. Animals arriving to the facility too early or after 3:30 p.m. will not be released at the airport that day.
Passengers with emotional support/psychiatric service animals may request inspection at the Honolulu International Airport (HNL) terminal before 9 a.m. and after 3:30 p.m.; approval for the inspection is required by HDOA, 7 days or more before arrival.

For more information:
Hawaiian Department of Agriculture (HDOA)
Website: HDOA.Hawaii.gov
Phone: 808-483-7151; email: rabiesfree@hawaii.gov

Animal Control Disease Branch
Phone: 808-837-8092 or 808-483-7106


 

Acceptance policies for service animals vary by country. This includes requirements for pet passports and animal health documentation.

If any country/territory on the route prohibits entry of such an animal, the animal will not be permitted to fly.

JFK: Upon arrival to John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport, all trained service and support animals arriving from an international pre-cleared station are required to clear TSA.

Brazilië: Trained guide dogs are the only type of service animal allowed on intra-Brazil flights operated by codeshare partner GOL Airlines.

  • Emotional support/psychiatric service animals are never allowed on intra-Brazil flights operated by codeshare partner GOL Airlines."Intra-Brazil" means from 1 city in Brazil to another city in Brazil (for example, from Sao Paulo to Rio).
  • International passengers connecting to/from a codeshare, partner operated or interline domestic flight within Brazil who request emotional support/psychiatric service animal travel must make other arrangements upon arriving into Brazil (for example, traveling by car, bus or rail).
  • Passengers must comply with GOL's policies even though in some cases they differ from Delta's.
  • For GOL and Delta flights between the U.S. and Brazil, Delta's ESAN rules apply. GOL Airlines complies with the U.S. DOT on flights to and from the U.S.

Cuba:  Trained service animals and emotional support/psychiatric service animals are not recognized as service animals by Cuban authorities and will be treated as household pets (dog or cat only) upon arrival. For an animal to travel to Cuba, the passenger must request and have in their possession, a household pet certificate from their local Cuban embassy/consulate.

  • Documentation Requirements
    In order to receive a pet certificate from the embassy/consulate, passengers will need the following:

Animal's Pet Passport (where applicable) showing all vaccinations up-to-date
Health Certificate for the animal's trip (Request this from a veterinarian)
Certificate of good health
Photocopy of the Passport of the person travelling with the animal
Payment of the consular fee for this service

 

  • By mail:

Animal's Pet Passport (where applicable) showing all vaccinations up-to-date
Health Certificate for the animal's trip (Request this from a veterinarian)
Certificate of good health
Photocopy of the Passport of the person travelling with the animal
Payment of the consular fee for this service
Stamped self-addressed envelope for the return of the documents
Opmerking: If the application is made by mail or via a third party, an extra consular fee will be charged for the pertinent Consular service.
All payments must be made in cash or by a bank-certified check. All cash sent by mail will be refused and returned at the risk of the applicant.

U.K. Requirements:
Delta will transport emotional support/psychiatric service animals- dogs and cats only - to London (Heathrow and Gatwick), Manchester and Edinburgh with the proper documentation and compliance to U.K. regulations for transporting animals.  

In order for passengers to transport their dog or cat, they must:

  • Contact the appropriate Animal Reception Center (ARC) in the city they are traveling to for more information and instruction on what will be needed to enter the U.K. After booking, passengers must contact the ARC directly to plan for the arrival of their pet and to ensure that all required documentation is completed in advance for the U.K. Customs clearance of their dog or cat.
  • Passengers must provide a pre-approval letter from the ARC in the city they are traveling to, indicating that the emotional support/psychiatric service dog or cat has the appropriate documentation, has met the appropriate health requirements and has the proper micro-chip implant. Delta will ask for this documentation, including the pre-approval letter in order to process a request for transport of passenger’s dog or cat.
  • Pay all appropriate fees and charges related to U.K. acceptance of emotional support dogs and cats. A current list of charges can be provided by the ARC for the city they are traveling to.

*LGW—London Gatwick
Animal Aircare Co. Ltd.
Gatwick Airport
Horley, Surrey, RH6 0SQ
(0)129 346 2180
*Virgin Atlantic only

LHR—London Heathrow
City of London Animal Reception Centre
City of London
Guildhall, PO Box 270
London EC2P 2EJ
(0)208 745 7894 

MAN—Manchester Pets on Jets
Building 300
World Freight Terminal
Manchester Airport M90 5BA
(0)161 489 8220 

EDI-Edinburgh Airport's small animal Border Inspection Post
arc@extrordinair.co.uk
(0)131 317 7277
For any questions related to the U.K. Pet Travel Scheme contact DEFRA (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).