Flying with Service Animals

Planning a vacation or business trip and need to take a service animal? Airlines are required, by law, to let you bring your service dog with you on the plane. But if you've never flown with yours before, it can be a bit hectic, particularly since you need to plan every element of your trip carefully before you go.

Traveling with a service animal can seem scary without the right help. Thankfully, we can show you how to fly with a service dog to make your business trip or family vacation more enjoyable. In these travel tips, you'll learn about various service animals and service dog laws, as well as travel tips for traveling with an emotional support animal.

Understanding Service Animal Laws Before Traveling

The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) apply to service dogs in various ways. According to the ADA, only dogs are recognized as service animals under titles II and III, the defining sections of the act. It defines a service dog as "...individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with a disability”. 

Under the Air Carrier Access Act, service dogs must be permitted to accompany you in the space under the seat in front of you, though some small ones may be allowed to sit on your lap. The airline must allow your service animal onboard, but isn't required to upgrade you to a different class free of charge to accommodate your animal. It must also behave properly. 

Differentiating Service Animals, Emotional Support Animals, and Pets

Before flying with a service dog or traveling with a service animal, it's important to note that they differ from emotional support animals. A dog trained for service can help blind people find their way around an airport, retrieve medicines correctly, or prevent impulsive behaviors. Emotional support animals are trained to provide comfort when someone feels emotionally unbalanced.

Pets may be able to do all these things but haven't received specific training or licensing. As a result, they won't be allowed on a plane without being placed in the luggage area. While frustrating, this step protects other people from untrained animals and minimizes potential problems. Note: while emotional support animals don't necessarily receive formal training, they must behave on the plane.

International Travel Laws for Service Animals 

Taking a service pet or emotional support animal on international trips is possible. In fact, most countries support international travel with a service dog and can teach you how to fly with a service dog into their country. Each nation varies, naturally, based on its specific rules and guidelines. The following section will include the paperwork you'll typically need to fly with service animals.

Preparing for the Trip

Traveling with a service animal can actually be easier than family trips with kids if your pup is well-trained and properly behaved. However, that doesn't mean national or international travel with a service dog will be simple. There are a lot of steps you need to take to prepare, and our team at The Parking Spot can help you learn how to fly with a service dog before your trip.

Paperwork You'll Need When Traveling With a Service Animal

Whether you're flying to Chicago or Paris, you need many types of paperwork before jumping on your plane with your service dog or emotional support animal. Most of these items you can get from your veterinarian to make flying with a service dog much more manageable. So please keep the following travel tips in mind before booking your vacation:

• Proof of rabies vaccinations is likely required by any country you may enter
• Internal and external parasite tests are essential 
• Health certificates from veterinarians to prove their overall well-being 
• ISO microchips or scanners may be necessary 
• A health certificate provided by the host country 
• A short period of quarantine before the trip
• Proof of service animal training (may be requested at the airport)
• Pet Passport with a letter from a medical professional

Packing Essentials Your Pup Needs on Your Flight

When packing your bags for your trip, packing with your dog in mind to ensure they're protected and safe on the plane is essential. Here are some of the most important things you need to bring with you when taking your service pet on a plane:

• Vest, leash, and harness to make handling them much easier 
• Identification tags that are easy to read and include all relevant info
• Food and water  
• Collapsible bowls that make feeding your pup a little easier 
• Medications that they may need for the journey (such as anti-anxiety or motion sickness meds)
• Pee pads to put down if they have to go any time during your flight
• Waste bags if they have to "go" during the trip (take them to the back of the plane)
• Toys, blankets, and other comfort items that make your pup's trip easier 

Air Travel Preparation for Your Service Pup

When taking a solo trip with your service animal, knowing precisely what your airport and airline will and will not allow is essential. It's crucial to research airline policies, call the airline in advance about your service dog, and submit any forms they require for flying with a service dog, such as the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form, to ensure you meet their guidelines.

This latter form includes sections on animal health, training and behavior, and other assurances you must meet while traveling with a service animal. If you do not meet or violate these guidelines, the airline has the right to deny you access to their plane or remove you if your animal misbehaves. As a result, it's best to do everything by the book when flying with pets.

Best Flight Booking Practices and Travel Tips for Your Trip

Whether traveling during the hectic summer months or even the winter holiday season, booking your flight correctly is critical to minimize potential issues. Here are some tips:

• Know that you can't book an extra seat for your dog: they must stay at your feet 
• Get a row seat if you can to avoid blocking your pup uncomfortably during the flight 
• See if the airline will block off the extra seat if your dog is too big to sit beneath your feet 
• Identify the dog restroom areas in your airport (they're usually near human bathrooms)
• Plan for potential layovers by bringing toys and other entertainment items for your pup

Security Procedures When Traveling With A Service Dog 

Your service pet should be fine with your check-in process, especially if you already have the DOT form filled out and handy. Note that your dog is NOT counted towards your carry-on allowance, and no fees should be charged to your service animal even if they're checked. To streamline your security experience, we strongly recommend having:

• All your paperwork is printed and in a small folder for security officials 
• A strong leash and muzzle to protect others and your pet 
• Acclimate your dog to crowded and loud areas to avoid frightening them 
• Non-metal pet gear to prevent holding up security lines 

Navigating the Airport With a Service Animal 

When traveling with a service animal, you'll move through the airport long before you get on the plane. Whether you're planning international travel with a service dog or an emotional support animal, it's essential to follow these travel tips to keep them (and others) protected:

• Security Screening: During your security screening, TSA officials may pat down your pup. Try to keep them calm by petting or talking with them. Keep them on a leash.
• Pet Relief Areas: Before your trip, find the pet relief areas in your airports, which are typically located outdoors or near human restrooms. International airports, such as Perth in Australia, follow similar guidelines. 
• Stress Management: Keep treats handy during your trip to reward your dog or distract them if they get stressed. Acclimate them to overstimulation before the trip by taking them to busy areas and getting them used to it.

Keeping Your Service Dog Safe Onboard the Flight

Knowing how to fly with a service dog or service animal requires properly planning your trip and executing it. In other words, flying with a service dog or traveling with a service animal means you have to sit on a plane with your service pup or emotional support animal! Here are a few tips that can make international travel with a service animal a little easier:

• Flight Expectations: While a handful of airlines let you book a seat for a service dog, most do not. Instead, they'll have to sit under your feet or the seat in front of you. Airlines expect your dog to behave and won't tolerate aggression or excessive barking.
• Long Flight Management: Most dogs should be able to hold their urine or feces for the entire trip, but to ensure their safety, put down a pee pad in their pet crate. Ensure the crate is large enough for them to stand up and walk around, and include a comfort toy to soothe their nerves.
• Unexpected Issue Handling: Try to exhaust your pup before your trip by playing with them in the relief areas. That helps most ignore frightening issues like turbulence or layovers. If they get nervous, give them an excellent chewy toy or treat to distract them while you wait.

International Air Travel Considerations for Service Animals

International travel with a service dog is different from flying with a service dog throughout the country. While the general rules for your service animal or service dog are often similar, traveling with a service animal overseas may require more documentation and other steps to ensure your service or emotional support animal is safe. Here are some travel tips:

• Microchipping: Countries in the European Union and beyond require that your pet have a microchip or readable tattoo that can track its overall health needs. Make sure you do this before your trip and research how recently this microchipping has to be done to qualify. 
• Vaccinations and Quarantines: To avoid contamination, pet quarantines are common in more isolated areas, like Australia. These countries may also require specific vaccinations, so talk to their officials before visiting. 
• Airport Differences: Airports and customs vary widely in some countries, and some might not even allow service dogs in airplane cabins. Talk with your airline about this potential risk, as they will know all too well whether your pup has to ride in the back of its crate.

General Travel Considerations Beyond Air Travel for Your Service Dog

At The Parking Spot, we know that traveling with a service animal can seem confusing even after your flight. Taking advantage of money-saving hacks when flying with a service dog, knowing what transportation to take on international travel with a service dog, and emotional support animal tips can make this process easier. Here are some travel tips:

• Rideshare Policies: When traveling with your pup after your flight, check any rideshare company's rules, including those of firms like Lyft. You should also learn whether they're allowed on rental cars or trains. Service dogs and emotional support animals are usually allowed.
• Accommodation Rules: Most countries have laws protecting service dog rights in accommodations, including hotels. Owners can't leave their pets behind and must take them when they travel, so bring along all service paperwork. 
• Ground Travel Needs: Since you'll have to take your dog with you no matter where you go, it's important to identify dog parks, pet relief areas, animal-friendly restaurants, and other areas where you can take your dog to make their life a little easier.

Handling Emergencies or Unexpected Situations With Your Dog 

While rare, some businesses might try to deny a service animal access or keep a service dog out of their building. That's actually against the law in most places, even in international areas. In this situation, it's best to be polite and ask why you're being denied. Listen to them and then tell them that your pet is covered by the law and that you need them for your health.

In some cases, people may not know service animal laws and may deny you by accident. In instances where they do not, you can file a complaint against them. Note there are areas where even a service or emotional support animal can't go, such as:

• Restaurant kitchens (they may contaminate food or introduce allergens)
• Operating rooms (they can bring in allergens, parasites, and other issues)
• Churches or other religious settings (while rare, some facilities may prefer to keep service animals out)
• Private property (if a person runs a business from their home, they can deny animals)

Handling Emergencies Properly 

If your dog shows signs of sickness or panicking during your flight, it's crucial to alert the airplane officials immediately. They'll talk with the pilots and others and try to find a solution. If you're not on the plane, speak with local officials to find a veterinarian who can help you. Buying travel insurance to cover things like these is wise, as it can significantly decrease costs.

Post-Flight and Arrival for Your Trip 

Now that you know how to fly with a service dog and have planned your trip, you should know how to handle your post-flight and arrival experience. Here are a few final travel tips that should make traveling with your service animal less hectic.

• Taking Care of Your Pup's Bladder: Your dog will need some relief after the flight, so find a pet relief area immediately and clean up after them. If you have time, play with them a little to release some nervous energy and prepare them for their next big adventure. 
• Feed and Hydrate Your Dog: After a two-hour flight, your canine pal deserves some food and hydration. In the relief area, there's usually a place to care for this need. Collapsible bowls are critical here, which is why we suggested you pack them earlier! You'll be glad you did.
• Getting Through the Airport: Be prepared to talk with customs officials and immigration about your pup and talk with them about potential accommodations. For instance, you might need a pet carrier to help transport your dog if you're hitting multiple flights.

Get The Best Experience Possible With The Parking Spot 

Remember that our team at The Parking Spot can improve your international travel with a service dog or emotional support animal by setting up your reservation ahead of time. You can also join our Spot Club to get various discounts, coupons, and deals that can increase your savings even further. You and your pet deserve great and safe parking while you're traveling.