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US ends era of emotional support animals on planes

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Re: US ends era of emotional support animals on planes

#51

I'm finding a lot of the comments in this thread to be hurtful. Yes, many were abusing the system to register pets as service animals. No, that is not a reason to forbid the practice which was genuinely helpful to people like myself who have a phobia of flying coupled with anxiety and having a service animal genuinely helps get through a flight without the need for medication. The problem is the desire to not devote…

They didn't completely forbid the practice. Dogs are still allowed.

How would they verify claims? Ask for a prescription or a note from a doctor or psychiatrist?

EDIT: I'm wrong, only service dogs are allowed, so they need to be trained to do a specific task to help a person with a disability.

But also, I'm pretty sure verication was already technically required. From AA's website, these forms are required:

- Medical / Mental Health Professional Form

- Veterinary Health Form, or vaccination record with current rabies vaccination information

- Confirmation of Animal Behavior Form

Re: US ends era of emotional support animals on planes

#52
post #8

I wish there were better options for people to travel with their pets over long distances. There are plenty of horror stories of pets who have died in cargo. I would be willing to pay for a seat, or even a row, to take my dog on a cross country flight. Setting aside the absurd cases, like emotional support peacocks, I think a lot of the emotional support animal shenanigans are simply people not wanting to cargo their…

Yeah, this. I once actually turned down a job offer in part because there wouldn't be a way to transport my cat internationally without subjecting him to the horrors of airlines that might put him in cargo, or worse, promise to let him be in the cabin and then put him in cargo anyway.

Re: US ends era of emotional support animals on planes

#53

I'm finding a lot of the comments in this thread to be hurtful. Yes, many were abusing the system to register pets as service animals. No, that is not a reason to forbid the practice which was genuinely helpful to people like myself who have a phobia of flying coupled with anxiety and having a service animal genuinely helps get through a flight without the need for medication. The problem is the desire to not devote…

[deleted]

Re: US ends era of emotional support animals on planes

#54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So let's just make assumptions then. Disabled people should have a case prepared, and always be ready to argue it in front of people. Upon challenge, by people "inconvenienced" by your accommodations, you should be able to spend 2 minutes showcasing your disability, how it came to be, and plead for said accommodations. Maybe you could edit that "not to be a jerk" bit to "I'm a jerk, hence:".

Please read up on the term "Invisible Disabilities". Not every disability is obvious, not every disability is immediately provable to satisfy an adhoc request, and not every disability has immediate effects. Your suggestion would lead to people being further marginalized, if every person feels that they can barge in for 2 minutes each. Add up more and more people each stealing away 2 minutes, and that is quite a lot…

This is a bit of a whoosh moment, as the person you're replying to is actually on the same side as you.

Re: US ends era of emotional support animals on planes

#55
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Adjustments for disabled people need to be "reasonable". It's reasonable for a blind person to take their guide dog on a plane. It's reasonable for someone with mental illness to take their well trained support animal on the plane. It's unreasonable for someone who's struggling a bit to take their pet cow on a plane.

Who decides what's reasonable, though? The whole thing is a big grey area. The rules should be explicit.

> Who decides what's reasonable, though?

The court system. I say something is reasonable, you do not and don't allow me on a flight so I take you to court over it and the court decides.

Re: US ends era of emotional support animals on planes

#56

I'm finding a lot of the comments in this thread to be hurtful. Yes, many were abusing the system to register pets as service animals. No, that is not a reason to forbid the practice which was genuinely helpful to people like myself who have a phobia of flying coupled with anxiety and having a service animal genuinely helps get through a flight without the need for medication. The problem is the desire to not devote…

It's also because there's a market for this even from people who aren't "trolling". Flying is difficult for pet owners, full stop. There really needs to be safe, affordable options for pet/dog owners to travel. As the horrible things airlines have done to pets makes it absolutely clear to many that we can't put our animals lives in the Airlines hands.

Re: US ends era of emotional support animals on planes

#57

I'm finding a lot of the comments in this thread to be hurtful. Yes, many were abusing the system to register pets as service animals. No, that is not a reason to forbid the practice which was genuinely helpful to people like myself who have a phobia of flying coupled with anxiety and having a service animal genuinely helps get through a flight without the need for medication. The problem is the desire to not devote…

They didn't completely forbid the practice. Dogs are still allowed. How would they verify claims? Ask for a prescription or a note from a doctor or psychiatrist? EDIT: I'm wrong, only service dogs are allowed, so they need to be trained to do a specific task to help a person with a disability. But also, I'm pretty sure verication was already technically required. From AA's website, these forms are required: - Medical…

> How would they verify claims? Ask for a prescription or a note from a doctor or psychiatrist?

Yes?

Re: US ends era of emotional support animals on planes

#58

FTA, 'Trade group Airlines for America'... how many trade groups are there? What does it take to form one? What kind of influence do they carry?

A ton of them. Pretty much any chamber of commerce, the NFL, many of the big software foundations (though some are 501(c)(3) organizations). So they range from small and local to very big money.

Re: US ends era of emotional support animals on planes

#59

I'm finding a lot of the comments in this thread to be hurtful. Yes, many were abusing the system to register pets as service animals. No, that is not a reason to forbid the practice which was genuinely helpful to people like myself who have a phobia of flying coupled with anxiety and having a service animal genuinely helps get through a flight without the need for medication. The problem is the desire to not devote…

The problem is the desire to not devote resources to verifying the legitimacy of individual claims and instead banning the practice wholesale. Honestly, why make a mockery of this? Chastise people who are obviously trolling or scamming the system.

It would have required a lot of resources to verify every individual claim and that would have raised prices for everyone. The burden of proof has been shifted to where it should always have been: on the person wanting to bring the animal.

Re: US ends era of emotional support animals on planes

#60
post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They didn't completely forbid the practice. Dogs are still allowed. How would they verify claims? Ask for a prescription or a note from a doctor or psychiatrist? EDIT: I'm wrong, only service dogs are allowed, so they need to be trained to do a specific task to help a person with a disability. But also, I'm pretty sure verication was already technically required. From AA's website, these forms are required: - Medical…

> How would they verify claims? Ask for a prescription or a note from a doctor or psychiatrist? Yes?

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