DOT service animal form for air travel

2021 DOT service animal rule change

DOT's final rule, "Traveling by Air With Service Animals," took effect January 11, 2021. It defines a service animal as a dog, regardless of breed or type, individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability, including a psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability.

Under the old rules, psychiatric service animal users could be required to provide a letter from a licensed mental health professional and to check in an hour early. The final rule says psychiatric service animals are now "treated the same as other service animals" and removes those extra requirements. It also says carriers are not required to recognize emotional support animals as service animals.

The two DOT service animal forms

An airline may require a current, completed DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form before your dog travels in the cabin. DOT describes it as a form attesting to the animal's health, behavior and training. "Current" means completed on or after the date you bought the ticket (14 CFR 382.75).

For flight segments scheduled for 8 hours or more, an airline may also require the DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form, stating that your dog either won't need to relieve itself or can do so in a sanitary way. Airlines may not require any other documentation, except what a federal agency, U.S. territory or foreign government requires for transporting animals.

DOT form deadlines and check-in

• Booked more than 48 hours ahead: the airline may require the forms up to 48 hours before departure (382.75(g)).
• Booked less than 48 hours ahead: the airline may not require advance notice, but may ask you to complete the forms and hand them in at the gate.
• Submission: if advance forms are required, you must be offered both electronic and paper options (382.75(f)).
• Missed deadline: the airline must still accommodate you if it can do so with reasonable efforts without delaying the flight (382.75(h)).
• Check-in: an airline may not make you check in physically at the airport because of your service dog when online check-in is available to everyone else (382.76).

Service dog rules on board

Your dog may ride on your lap or in your foot space, as long as that is consistent with safety rules and doesn't encroach on another passenger's space. If a large dog doesn't fit, the airline must first offer another seat in the same class if available; if nothing works, it must offer to carry the dog in the cargo hold free of charge or let you take a later flight with space (382.77).

Airlines may require your dog to be harnessed, leashed or otherwise tethered in airport areas they control and on the aircraft (382.73(b)). They need not accept more than two service animals for one passenger (382.74), and they may charge for damage your dog causes only if they charge other passengers for similar damage (382.78).

When an airline can refuse a service dog

An airline may refuse a service dog that poses a direct threat, causes significant disruption or shows it hasn't been trained to behave in public (for example running loose, repeated barking or growling at people, biting or jumping on people), violates a government health or safety rule, or travels without forms the airline properly required (382.79).

Those decisions must be based on the individual dog, not its breed, and the airline must use a lesser measure first if one would solve the problem. If it refuses, it must give you a written explanation at the airport or within 10 calendar days. DOT notes that other passengers' discomfort isn't a valid reason for refusal.

Flying with your PSD

Check your airline's service animal page as soon as you book, download its version of the DOT form, and submit it early. You complete the form yourself; it asks you to attest to your dog's health, training and behavior, so answer truthfully.

A PSD letter is not the document airlines may require, and an airline can't demand one. Some travelers bring a letter for their own records, but the DOT form is what counts at the airport.

For international trips, also check the destination country's animal entry rules well ahead of time; DOT notes that U.S. airlines flying abroad must follow the destination country's rules. If something goes wrong, ask for the airline's Complaints Resolution Official at the airport, and you can file a complaint with DOT.