Service Animals vs Emotional Support Animals: What’s the difference and how does it affect air travel?
Air travel can be stressful and overwhelming for many people, particularly those who have a disability or a mental health condition. Service animals and emotional support animals are two types of animals that can provide assistance and support to individuals who require it during air travel. However, despite their similarities, there are significant differences between the two.
Service Animals (SVAN)
Service animals are trained to perform specific tasks to assist people with disabilities. These animals are specially trained to help with mobility, hearing, vision, seizures, or other disabilities. The most common type of service animal is a guide dog, which helps visually impaired individuals navigate their surroundings. Other types of service animals include hearing dogs, mobility dogs, seizure response dogs, and psychiatric service dogs.
Service animals are permitted to accompany their owners in the cabin of an aircraft, free of charge, under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) of 1986. Airlines are required to accommodate the needs of individuals with disabilities and allow them to travel with their service animals. The animal must be trained to perform tasks that assist the person with their disability, and the animal must be under control at all times. The airline can ask the owner to provide documentation that the animal is a trained service animal and ask what tasks the animal has been trained to perform.
Emotional Support Animals (ESAN)
Emotional support animals (ESAs) are animals that provide comfort and support to individuals who have a mental health condition or emotional disorder. Unlike service animals, emotional support animals do not have to be trained to perform specific tasks. Their role is to provide emotional support to their owner, which can alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other emotional disorders.
ESAs are not recognized as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but they are protected under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). The ACAA permits individuals with emotional support animals to travel with their animals in the cabin of an aircraft, free of charge. Airlines are not required to accommodate ESAs that are not well-behaved or pose a threat to the safety of other passengers. Additionally, airlines can require documentation from a licensed mental health professional that certifies the animal is necessary for the individual's emotional well-being. Furthermore, as of December 2020, the US Department of Transportation adopted measures so airlines are no longer legally required to make accommodations for emotional support animals. Airlines can choose to treat emotional support animals as regular pets, in which case they would be subject to the same fees and restrictions pets are.
Difference between Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals
The primary difference between service animals and emotional support animals is the type of assistance they provide. Service animals are trained to perform specific tasks that assist people with disabilities, whereas emotional support animals provide emotional support to individuals with mental health conditions.
Another significant difference is the level of training required. Service animals must undergo rigorous training to perform specific tasks, while emotional support animals do not require any specific training. However, both service animals and emotional support animals must be well-behaved and under control at all times while in public spaces.
In air travel, service animals are permitted to travel in the cabin of an aircraft free of charge, and airlines must accommodate their needs. Emotional support animals are also permitted to travel in the cabin of an aircraft for the same fee as pets in cabin, but airlines have more flexibility in determining whether the animal is well-behaved and poses no threat to the safety of other passengers. Additionally, ESANs are subject to the same policies, restrictions and requirements as pets in-cabin.
In conclusion, while both service animals and emotional support animals provide support to individuals who require it, there are significant differences between the two. Service animals are trained to perform specific tasks that assist people with disabilities, while emotional support animals provide emotional support to individuals with mental health conditions. Understanding these differences is crucial, particularly when it comes to air travel, as airlines have different policies and requirements for accommodating service animals and emotional support animals. It’s important to know these differences.
Our recommendation
If you do not have a legitimate, trained service animal (SVAN), or if you do not legitimately need your dog to travel for your mental well-being (ESAN); do the ethical thing. Follow the rules. Let the people who have legitimate health or mobility considerations travel with their service animals. They rely on them to live and function in our society.
There are many options for pet travel
Pets can fly in-cabin on commercial airlines, semi-private flights, and private charters. By working with a professional pet transport company like Signature Pet Transport, larger pets can travel in the comfort and safety of the passenger cabin. Additionally, traveling by train or car can also be a wonderful way to spend time with your pet. Sometimes, in-cabin air or ground transport just isn’t possible due to the size or species of your pet; even country import/export regulations can be a factor. For these cases pets may need to travel via air cargo. For this we recommend only working with a reputable pet shipping company that is a member of IPATA (International Pet and Animal Transport Association). They maintain the highest standards for pet safety and welfare while transporting as cargo.
If you need assistance relocating your pet in-cabin via commercial airlines, semi-private flights, or private charters, (even ground transports!) contact Signature Pet Transport today. Our team of experienced pet travel professionals is happy to help make your pet’s journey as safe, comfortable and as stress free as possible!
