Slide 1
Guide Dogs for the Blind / Alaska Airlines Webinar, January 20, 2021
Department of Transportation 2021 Service Animal Regulation Changes	
Guest presenter: Ray Prentice, Alaska Airlines - Director of Customer Advocacy
Photo: An Alaska Airlines plane flying above the clouds against a blue sky background. 

Slide 2
Rule change summary - effective January 11, 202011 major changes -  we’ll focus on the service animal form

1. DOT’s new regs defines a service animal as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability; 

2. No longer considers an emotional support animal to be a service animal; 
 
3. Requires airlines to treat psychiatric service animals the same as other service animals; 

4. Allows airlines to limit the number of service animals traveling with a single passenger with a disability to two service animals;  

Slide 3
Major Regulation Changes, continued

5. Allows airlines to require a service animal to fit within its handler’s foot space on the aircraft; 

6. Allows airlines to require that service animals be harnessed, leashed, or tethered at all times in the airport and on the aircraft; 

7. Continues to allow airlines to refuse transportation to service animals that exhibit aggressive behavior and that pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others; and 

8. Continues to prohibit airlines from refusing to transport a service animal solely based on breed. 

9. Check in requirements for individuals traveling with a service animal:
Airlines can’t require passengers to physically check-in at the airport, rather than using the online check-in process. 
Airlines can require passengers to provide the service animal form(s) at the departure gate on the date of travel. 

Slide 4
Major Regulation Changes, continued

10. Service Animal Forms (two forms): 
Allows airlines to require the following two forms - developed by DOT
Form 1: Attesting to a service animal’s health, behavior and training, and 
Form 2:	If taking a long flight (8 or more hours) attesting, that the service animal can either not relieve itself, or can relieve itself in a sanitary manner;

When must individuals traveling with service animals complete/present the form?
Answer: Up to 48 hours in advance of the date of travel if the passenger’s reservation was made prior to that time (check with your airlines website or call center) 
For bookings less than 48 hours in advance, airlines may require a person with a disability to provide the DOT service animal form(s) at the passenger’s departure gate on the date of travel

For bookings made 48 hours in advance, most carriers will likely require forms submitted 48 hours advance notice: check with your carrier!
The Form (is a DOT FORM with all elements are the same – but the process to submit the form will vary by carrier! Check with your carrier! 

Note: Alaska’s Service Animal in Puppy training program remains unchanged. Service animal form isn’t required!

For more: See Alaskaair.com/AccessibleServices (Traveling with a service animal in training)  

Slide 5
Service Animal Air Transportation Form

Photo: The DOT's Service Animal Air Transportation Form

Slide 6
Let’s break down the Service Animal Transportation form (4 elements): Handler info, Safety info, Behavior/training info, other assurances

Photo: A detail of the DOT's Service Animal Air Transportation Form; shows sections of the form that ask for contact information as well as animal health. 

Slide 7
Photo: A detail of the DOT's Service Animal Air Transportation Form; shows a section of the form with questions about animal training and behavior

Slide 8
Photo: A detail of the DOT's Service Animal Air Transportation Form; shows a section of the form with questions about other assurances (indicating the person signing the form agrees to the terms). 

Slide 9
Photo: The DOT's Relief Attestation Form; shows a section of the form that ask for contact information as well as animal relieving. Required for flights 8 hours or longer.  

Slide 10
Where can I learn more? 

1. Check with your airline (website or call center)

2. U.S. Department of Transportation
https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer-protection/service-animals

3. Check with your service animal focused disability service organization 

4. You can always ask for help from an airline CRO!

Slide 11
Questions?