When Pigs Don't Fly

You may have to leave that Service Pig at home

Delta Airlines transports over 700 service & support animals each day and they have seen it all. Because of policy-abuse, starting March 1 they will be changing their service & support animal  policy. 

“Customers have attempted to fly with comfort turkeys, gliding possums known as sugar gliders, snakes, spiders and more,” an airline spokesman explained. “Ignoring the true intent of existing rules governing the transport of service and support animals can be a disservice to customers who have real and documented needs.” 

Here's a primer:

TRAINED SERVICE ANIMALS VS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT/PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE ANIMALS 

• Trained service animals receive training to assist those with visual impairment, deafness or hard of hearing, diabetes, seizures, mobility limitations or other needs.
• Emotional support and psychiatric service animals assist those with emotional, psychiatric, cognitive or psychological disabilities.

On Delta Airlines, to travel with an emotional support animal, passengers must: 

1. Download the official 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

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

​Other airlines are following suit.

* statistically, you'd have to fly 200 flights to have a service/support animal on board