Alaska Airlines Announces New Guidelines on Emotional Support Animals

The new set of guidelines set by Alaska Airlines will safeguard the health and wellbeing of passengers. Yes, the carrier recently declared new instructions on emotional support animals in order to limit the continuous surge in accidents like animal bites. Coming into effect on May 1, the airline stated that if in case the passengers want to accompany their emotional support pet, they are entitled to carry the animal’s behavioural documents duly signed by a medical professional before flying.

Goats, amphibians and other animals with horns, tusks or hooves are banned. Travelers can only bring their miniature horses which are identified as service animals under the federal law. The changed norms are only limited to animals majorly for cognitive, emotional, psychological and psychiatric problems and not applicable for guide dogs that help in physical disability support and are certified.

Ray Prentice, the airline’s customer advocacy director stated, ‘undeniably, most of the animals cause no harm; however, in the last couple of years, we have noticed a surge in incidents caused by animals which are not given proper training of behaving in busy airports. This has led us to make major changes in our policies.’

Alaska Airline is not the first to introduce the guidelines on emotional support animals. Prior this year, Delta Airlines and United Airlines became popular in implementing the strict changes to upkeep the safety of passengers.