DALLAS 鈥� United Airlines wants to see more paperwork before passengers fly with emotional-support animals 鈥� and don鈥檛 even try to bring a peacock on board. The airline announced Thursday that it will tighten rules starting March 1. The changes are similar to those coming at Delta Air Lines.
United said owners will have to confirm that their animal is trained to behave in public, and will need a vaccination form signed by a veterinarian. The vet will have to vouch that the animal isn鈥檛 a health or safety threat to other people.
The airline said the number of comfort animals has jumped 75 per cent in the last year, and there has been a big increase in animal-related incidents. On Sunday, United bounced a passenger who showed up at the airport with a peacock for emotional support. United already bans exotic animals and non-household birds.
Still, the fact that a passenger tried to bring a peacock on board 鈥渉elped illustrate why we needed to revise our policy,鈥� said United spokesman Charles Hobart.
Guide dogs have been occasional flyers for years, but recently there has been a surge of emotional-support animals.
Federal regulations allow them 鈥� if they鈥檙e not too big or exotic 鈥� but airlines can ask for a doctor鈥檚 note verifying that the passenger needs the animal. Airlines believe the rules are being abused, since passengers often have to pay $125 US or more to bring a small pet on board, but comfort animals fly free.
However, Jenine Stanley of the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind is upset that Delta will require service-dog owners to file a health form at least 48 hours before a flight. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I鈥檝e ever filled out a form for assistance. Now my animal is going to have to be verified every time,鈥� she said.
United says it will not require forms for trained service animals. It鈥檚 unclear what would stop someone from claiming their comfort animal is a service animal.
