Service Dogs, ESA and Emotional Support Animals: Airline Policy Comparison for 2026

Don’t get stopped at the gate: the 2026 side‑by‑side on service dogs, ESA and airline rules

Travelers’ pain: you need certainty—will my dog fly free as a service animal, do I need medical letters, and will the airline charge a pet fee for my emotional support animal? Airlines changed rules after 2021 and policies kept evolving through late 2025; here’s a concise, actionable carrier comparison you can use right now.

Why this matters in 2026 (short answer)

Since the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2021 update and matching trends in Europe, most carriers no longer treat Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) as service animals. In practice in 2026 that means:

• Service dogs (trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability) are still broadly accepted free of charge in the cabin—subject to behavior and advance-notice rules.
• ESAs are usually treated as pets: they travel under each airline’s pet policy and typically incur in‑cabin or cargo fees and carrier/crate requirements.
• Documentation and notice requirements tightened in 2024–2025; airlines now often require digital upload of forms, proof of recent veterinary checks, and behavior attestations within a specific time window before departure.

How to use this guide

Below is a compact, side‑by‑side carrier breakdown (what they accept, documentation commonly required, advance notice, and typical fee guidance as of January 2026). Use it to:

• Decide whether your animal is treated as a service animal or as a pet.
• Prepare the correct paperwork and timing for uploads.
• Expect and compare likely fees so you don’t get surprised at booking or check‑in.

Quick note on sources and safety

Policy landscape: U.S. DOT guidance (post‑2021), EU/UK accessibility rules, and carrier policy changes through late 2025 shaped these practices. Airlines publish their current rules on their policies pages—always verify 24–72 hours before travel. This guide distills the common rules you’ll see across major carriers in 2026 and flags carrier‑specific wrinkles.

Side‑by‑side carrier comparison (concise)

Each carrier entry lists: Service dog policy, ESA/companion animal status, Docs usually required, Advance notice, Typical in‑cabin pet fee (non‑service), and notes.

American Airlines

• Service dog: Accepted free in cabin when documented; behavior and handler control required.
• ESA: Treated as a pet (not a service animal) for travel; subject to pet rules and fees.
• Documentation: Airline service animal form (if requested), proof of training or handler attestation sometimes required; international travel requires health/vaccine certificate per destination rules.
• Advance notice: Submit documents if requested—typically 48–72 hours recommended; contact disability desk for confirmation.
• Typical fee: In‑cabin pet fees for non‑service animals usually in the mid‑range (check for current rate at booking).
• Notes: Size and breed limits apply for pets; service dogs are exempt from pet fees but not from behavior rules.

Delta Air Lines

• Service dog: Accepted free in the cabin with required attestation forms; airlines may require behavior assessments.
• ESA: Considered a pet; subject to pet fee and carrier requirements.
• Documentation: Delta’s service animal forms and health/vaccine proof for international segments; recent updates encourage digital upload.
• Advance notice: 48–72 hours recommended for pre‑travel form processing.
• Typical fee: Pet-in-cabin fees for non‑service animals fall into the industry range (verify on Delta’s site when booking).
• Notes: Delta tightened processes in 2024–25 after incidents; expect staff to confirm behavior and seating arrangements at boarding.

United Airlines

• Service dog: Accepted free with documentation and behavior assurances; trained service animals are prioritized.
• ESA: Classified as pets and subject to pet policy and fees.
• Documentation: United’s service animal/assistance animal form when required; health certificate for international travel.
• Advance notice: Upload forms 48–72 hours before travel when requested; call accessibility desk for complex trips.
• Typical fee: Industry‑standard in‑cabin pet fees for companion animals; cargo fees apply for larger animals.
• Notes: United enforces crate rules and has clear cargo policies for animals not traveling in cabin.

Southwest Airlines

• Service dog: Accepted free with attestation and control. Southwest staff will check behavior.
• ESA: Treated as a pet; Southwest’s policy requires booking as carry‑on pet and payment of the pet fee.
• Documentation: Service animal form if requested; health certificates for international flights.
• Advance notice: No formal long lead time but call Customer Service to confirm seating and logistics.
• Typical fee: Southwest is known for mid‑tier in‑cabin pet fees (often lower than some legacy carriers). Check the exact rate before booking.
• Notes: Southwest’s open seating style means early boarding or gate coordination is important for space next to you.

JetBlue

• Service dog: Accepted with required attestations; customer must maintain control and the animal must behave.
• ESA: Treated as a pet; will need to be booked and paid for under pet policy.
• Documentation: Service animal form and, for international, a health certificate and vaccination records.
• Advance notice: 48 hours recommended for form review and seating; JetBlue’s system allows simple uploads in many cases.
• Typical fee: Among industry averages—check JetBlue’s booking pages for the current rate.
• Notes: JetBlue tends to be flexible with pet carriers but enforces size limits strictly.

Alaska Airlines

• Service dog: Accepted with documentation; Alaska requires good behavior and control.
• ESA: Treated as a pet; subject to in‑cabin pet fee and carrier restrictions.
• Documentation: Alaska’s assistance animal form when required; health certificate for international segments.
• Advance notice: 48–72 hours advised to avoid gate surprises.
• Typical fee: In‑cabin pet fees in the mid‑range; cargo options available with additional charges.
• Notes: Alaska has clear breed and carrier rules—important for West Coast routes and smaller planes used regionally.

Spirit / Frontier / Ultra‑low‑cost carriers (general)

• Service dog: Generally accepted free if properly documented; carriers may have stricter behavior proof and physical space limits on smaller seats.
• ESA: Classified as pets and must be booked with pet fee—ULCCs often require early notification and have lower daily cage limits on flights.
• Documentation: Carrier service animal forms or DOT attestation; strict adherence to crate size and weight limits for pets.
• Advance notice: Strongly recommended—ULCCs can run out of pet slots quickly and may deny boarding if not cleared.
• Typical fee: Often lower sticker price but with fewer protections—expect the full pet fee at booking plus strict size rules.

Air Canada

• Service dog: Accepted in cabin when documented; Canada recognizes trained service animals under accessibility rules.
• ESA: Treated as pets for travel purposes; fees and carrier rules apply.
• Documentation: Air Canada assistance animal form and required health certificates for international travel.
• Advance notice: 48–72 hours for documentation submission; longer for international crossings.
• Typical fee: Pet fees for in‑cabin animals vary by route—check Air Canada for current CAD amounts.

British Airways

• Service dog: Accepted for passengers with disabilities; documentation required and subject to behavior checks.
• ESA: The UK/EU approach generally does not treat ESAs as assistance animals; ESAs are usually pets and must travel via approved routes (often cargo for long flights).
• Documentation: Assistance animal form and international health/vaccination certificates (pet passports where applicable).
• Advance notice: 72 hours or more recommended for international processing and to arrange cabin space or alternative routing.
• Typical fee: For pets traveling in cabin (where allowed) or as manifest cargo—fees vary; many long‑haul routes require manifest cargo transport for pets.

Lufthansa

• Service dog: Accepted with proof and only when meeting airline criteria; handlers must control animals at all times.
• ESA: Considered pets; long‑haul routes often require cargo arrangements and health paperwork.
• Documentation: Airline assistance animal forms plus international veterinary certificates, rabies details, and possible quarantine info for some countries.
• Advance notice: At least 72 hours is common, often longer for intercontinental flights to allow for veterinary checks and permits.
• Typical fee: Varies by route and whether in cabin or cargo; long‑haul pet travel is often significantly costlier than domestic in‑cabin fees.

Ryanair / easyJet (European low‑cost carriers)

• Service dog: Many EU carriers accept assistance dogs with documentation but require advance notice and may restrict which flights allow animals in the cabin.
• ESA: Usually treated as pets and not recognized as assistance animals; many low‑cost carriers don’t accept pets on many routes or place them in cargo only.
• Documentation: Assistance animal forms plus destination‑specific health/vaccine paperwork for international travel.
• Advance notice: Required; low‑cost carriers may limit capacity and close bookings for pets early.
• Typical fee: Lower nominal in‑cabin charges where allowed, but limited availability and strict size/weight rules increase risk of denial at boarding.

Practical rule: assume ESAs will be treated as pets unless the airline explicitly says otherwise for your route. Book early, upload documents, and call the disability/assistance desk to confirm.

What airlines commonly ask for (documentation checklist)

Across carriers in 2026 you will commonly need some or all of the following—prepare digital copies and be ready to upload them:

• Service animal attestation or airline assistance animal form (many carriers provide a specific digital form).
• Recent veterinary health certificate (often within 7–10 days for international travel; some airlines set 48–72 hours for domestic checks).
• Vaccination records (rabies proof mandatory for many countries and some carriers even on domestic legs).
• Behavior/fit‑for‑flight statement (attesting the animal is trained to behave in public).
• Identification—microchip information and owner ID where required by destination regulations.
• Import permits or quarantine paperwork for certain countries (very common outside North America and the Schengen area).

10 practical steps before you fly (actionable checklist)

1. Classify your animal: Is it a trained service dog that performs tasks (service animal) or an ESA/companion (likely a pet for airline purposes)?
2. Read your carrier’s policy page: Search “[airline name] assistance animal policy” and print/save the page snapshot.
3. Contact the airline’s accessibility desk: Call and get a confirmation reference number—do it 72+ hours before travel for peace of mind.
4. Gather documents: airline forms, vet health certificate, vaccination records, microchip and any national permit required.
5. Upload early: If the airline allows digital upload, do it as soon as you book; some carriers will pre‑clear forms.
6. Book pet space if ESA/pet: If the animal is treated as a pet, reserve the in‑cabin slot immediately—many flights limit the number of animals.
7. Crate & carrier rules: Verify size (under seat), hard/soft carrier rules, and leash rules for the airport and onboard. See our packing tips and field kit advice for travel carriers.
8. Plan seating: Request bulkhead or window seating only if allowed—airlines balance safety with space needs for animals.
9. Arrive early: Give yourself extra time at check‑in and security to present paperwork and handle any gate checks.
10. Bring backups: Extra copies of documents, a stable leash, bowl, medications, and calming aids (prescribed only) to manage anxiety.

International and connecting flights—special considerations

Cross‑border rules are stricter: Many countries require a veterinary certificate completed within a narrow time window, export permits, or even quarantine. In 2026, airlines increasingly require these documents before allowing boarding—so failure to provide them can lead to denied boarding even if the animal is a service dog.

Multi‑leg trips: If any leg is operated by a partner airline, you must meet the policies of the operating carrier. When in doubt, contact both the marketing and operating carriers and get written confirmation. For details on smaller regional operators and fleet mix issues, see regional market notes like regional jets market.

Real‑world example (experience snapshot)

Case: A commuter flew SFO–JFK in late 2025 with a psychiatric service dog. They pre‑uploaded the airline’s service animal form 5 days prior, confirmed with the accessibility desk 48 hours out, and arrived 90 minutes early. Gate staff verified the form and observed the dog’s comportment; no fees applied. That preparation (digital upload + phone confirmation) prevented a gate delay.

2026 trends and what to expect next

• Digital compliance: Airlines and airports will continue to streamline digital upload and verification—expect QR‑based checks at the gate.
• Standardization moves: Industry groups are discussing harmonized minimum document standards for service animals vs. medical animals—this may reduce last‑minute confusion by 2027.
• Higher scrutiny and limited ESA recognition: ESAs will largely continue to be treated as pets. Expect more fees and stricter in‑cabin capacity caps on long‑haul flights.
• Health security and tele‑veterinary checks: Airlines started partnering with telemedicine and veterinary networks in 2025 to verify certificates in near real‑time; expect broader rollout in 2026.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

• Pitfall: Assuming an ESA equals a service dog. Fix: Get clear documentation from a medical provider if you believe your animal meets your airline’s definition of a service animal—but be ready to pay pet fees if the airline classifies it as a companion animal.
• Pitfall: Missing destination paperwork. Fix: Check the destination country’s import rules at least 30 days before travel; some permits take weeks.
• Pitfall: Not reserving pet space. Fix: Book the in‑cabin pet slot immediately after ticketing; if it’s full, ask about cargo transport options early.

Checklist for booking day (concise)

• Confirm classification: service vs. pet (ESA).
• Call the airline’s assistance desk and get a confirmation code.
• Upload all requested forms and vet paperwork (digital verification recommended).
• Reserve in‑cabin space or cargo as required.
• Print or save screenshots of airline confirmations and policy screenshots.

Final takeaways

In 2026: Service dogs still travel free when properly documented and controlled. ESAs are usually treated as pets and commonly face fees, carrier/crate rules, and stricter advance‑notice requirements. The single best actions you can take are to classify your animal correctly, read the airline policy, upload required documents early, and call the airline to confirm.

Call to action

Ready to book? Don’t wait until check‑in—use this guide to prepare your documentation now. Click through to your airline’s official assistance animal page, gather your vet certificates, and call the airline’s accessibility desk at least 72 hours before travel. For step‑by‑step help comparing fares and confirmed pet policies across carriers, subscribe to our alerts and get a free checklist you can take to the gate.

Related Reading

• Travel‑Ready Footwear in 2026: Modular Soles, Airline‑Friendly Design
• 17 Places to Go in 2026 — Customized Itineraries
• Regional Jets Market: Fleet Availability & MRO Bottlenecks (2026 Outlook)
• Micro‑Mobility, Predictive Curb Intelligence & Airport Pick‑up Logistics
• Networking for Tabletop Gamers: How Critical Role & Dimension 20 Players Turn Tabletop into Careers
• Ethics & Trust: Should Quantum Systems Ever Decide Ad Targeting?
• Quick Guide to Verifying Promo Codes and Avoiding Phishing Offers
• The Best Smart Plugs for Kitchen Appliances: Which Ones Are Safe for High-Power Use?
• Why 'Games Should Never Die': Lessons from Rust Exec's Take on New World's Shutdown