Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA)

What the ACAA does

The Department of Justice notes that airlines fall outside the ADA and that the ACAA is the federal law covering air travel for people with disabilities. The statute (49 U.S.C. 41705) is carried out through DOT's rule at 14 CFR Part 382, which applies to all flights of U.S. airlines and to flights to or from the United States by foreign airlines.

Among other things, airlines generally can't refuse transport because of disability, can't limit the number of passengers with disabilities on a flight, and must make complaints resolution officials available.

Service animals under the 2021 rule

DOT revised its service animal rule, effective January 11, 2021. Under 14 CFR 382.3, a service animal is a dog, regardless of breed or type, individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability. Psychiatric service dogs are treated the same as other service dogs.

Emotional support animals, comfort animals and service animals in training are not service animals under this rule. Airlines may choose to carry them as pets.

What airlines may ask for

Airlines may not require other documentation, except to meet federal, territorial or foreign animal-import rules. They may limit a passenger to two service animals and may require the dog to be harnessed, leashed or tethered.

• The DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form, attesting to the dog's health, behavior and training.
• The DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form, for flight segments scheduled to take 8 hours or more.
• Up to 48 hours' advance notice of the forms if you booked more than 48 hours before departure.
• The two questions: whether the dog is required because of a disability, and what task it is trained to perform.

When airlines can refuse a dog

An airline may deny transport if the dog poses a direct threat, causes significant disruption in the cabin or gate area, is too large for the space available, or if required forms aren't provided. These decisions must be based on the individual dog, not its breed, and a written explanation is required. A PSD letter can accompany the DOT form, but the DOT form is what airlines may require.

Planning air travel with a service dog

Before you book, read your airline's service animal page and note its deadlines and upload process. Practice airport-like settings with your dog, plan relief breaks around connections, and keep a copy of your completed DOT forms on your phone and on paper.