Trained Service and Emotional Support Animals

When flying on Delta, our top priority is the health, comfort and safety of our customers. In accordance with the final rule from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Delta will no longer recognize emotional support animals as service animals beginning January 11, 2021. We will honor reservations submitted and confirmed by Delta prior to January 11, 2021 but will not accept new EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL reservations for upcoming travel.

Also beginning January 11, 2021, Delta will only accept trained service animals that are dogs. Customers traveling with a trained service dog(s), regardless of breed, must complete the required DOT form(s) available on this page.

We know how important it is to travel smoothly with your trained service dog. For questions, call 404-209-3434.

To protect public health, Delta Air Lines requires all dogs including service animals to be current on all vaccinations. Dogs can be vaccinated against rabies at a minimum of 12 weeks (three months) of age and must wait an additional 30 days for the vaccine to become effective.

The CDC Issued a Temporary Suspension for Dogs from High Risk Countries Into the U.S.  

Effective July 14, 2021, the CDC has instated a temporary suspension, opens in a new window for dogs imported from countries that are considered high risk for dog rabies. This includes dogs arriving from countries NOT at high risk if the dogs have been in any high-risk country, opens in a new window during the previous 6 months. We strongly advise passengers wishing to travel with their dog to review the informational page, opens in a new window and FAQ, opens in a new window provided by the CDC, including eligibility for dog import permits in exceptional circumstances. Dogs from high-risk countries may be imported only with CDC’s advance written approval (CDC Dog Import Permit) – this applies to service animals, pet in the cabin and shipped via Cargo.

In-page Links

Traveling with your Trained Service or Emotional Support Animal Guidelines

On Delta flights, trained service and confirmed emotional support animals*, Go to footer note are expected to be seated in the floor space below a customer’s seat or seated in a customer’s lap. Trained service and confirmed emotional support animals* and their associated items travel for free. The size of the animal must not exceed the “footprint” of the passenger’s seat.

  • Items include a kennel, blanket, food or similar item

NOTE: If you encounter any issues with your trained service animal while at the airport or on board, please ask to speak to a Complaint Resolution Official (CRO). These trained Delta representatives are ready to assist passengers with accessibility needs and protect your rights when you travel by air.

Trained Service Animals

Trained service animals are defined as only dogs**, Go to footer note, regardless of breed, specifically trained to assist a person with a disability. Customers may travel with up to two trained service animals.

Customers must submit the U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Travel Form, opens in a new window for validation prior to their flight attesting to the animal’s health, training and behavior.

  • For travel booked 48 hours or more prior to departure, customers must submit this documentation in advance for validation through the Accessibility Service Request Form located in My Trips.
  • For travel booked less than 48 hours prior to departure, customers may present the U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Travel Form at the check-in counter or departure gate.
  • For flights scheduled for 8 hours or more, customers must also submit a DOT Relief Attestation Form, opens in a new window attesting that the dog will not relieve itself in the aircraft or can do so in a sanitary manner.

DOWNLOAD RELIEF ATTESTATION FORM, opens in a new window       DOWNLOAD SERVICE ANIMAL AIR TRAVEL FORM

Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available for download free of charge at https://get.adobe.com/reader, opens in a new window, is needed to open the PDF version of the DOT service animal form.

**Customers who have commenced travel before Jan. 11, 2021 and who are traveling with trained service animals that are not dogs will be permitted to complete their travel with their trained service animal under the prior Delta policy.

Emotional Support Animals

In accordance with the final rule by the U.S. Department of Transportation, effective Jan. 11, 2021 new bookings for emotional support animals will no longer be permitted. Customers who wish to travel with a pet may do so according to Delta’s Pet Travel Policy, opens in a new window.

*Confirmed emotional support animals are animals for which the required emotional support animal documentation was submitted and the reservation was confirmed by Delta prior to Jan. 11, 2021.  Delta will honor existing bookings for confirmed emotional support animals for travel on or after Jan. 11, 2021, but new bookings for emotional support animals will not be accepted.

Inappropriate Animal Behavior

We understand how important your animal is to you. We will only refuse transportation of a trained service animal (and an emotional support animal confirmed before Jan. 11, 2021) if it engages in disruptive or aggressive behavior such as: 

  • Growling 
  • Biting 
  • Jumping on customers, flight attendants or staff 
  • Relieving themselves in the gate area or cabin 
  • Barking excessively, not in response to a handler’s need or distress 
  • Eating off seatback tray tables

Effective Jan. 11, 2021 if you are traveling with a trained service dog you must submit the U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Travel Form for validation 48 hours prior to your flight attesting to the dog’s health, training and behavior. If you booked a flight less than 48 hours prior to departure, you may present the Service Animal Air Travel Form at the check-in counter or departure gate. If your flight is scheduled for 8 hours or more, you must also submit a DOT Relief Attestation Form.

If you’re traveling with a trained service or confirmed emotional support animal*, you should select a seat that offers space for your animal. Trained service and emotional support animals must be seated in the floor space below a seat, or in a customer’s lap. No animals are allowed to occupy seats that are designed for customers or to eat off tray tables. Additionally, we do not accept pit bull type dogs as emotional support animals.

Please understand that with larger trained service animals or customers with multiple trained service animals, we may need to re-accommodate you if the animal encroaches on other customers or extends into aisles, which would be a violation of FAA regulations.

If you would like additional time to board the aircraft, pre-boarding is available to accommodate you during the boarding process. Please be sure to arrive at the gate with enough time to make arrangements with the gate agents prior to departure.

It is important to remember that some locations such as Hawaii, U.K. and other island nations have additional requirements, quarantine laws may not permit the entry or transit of animals, opens in a new window. Contact us at 404-209-3434 or visit the local government’s consulate to learn the requirements for any transit points as well as for your final destination.

For tickets purchased on or after November 17, 2020, customers traveling with a trained service animal or emotional support animal may not also bring a pet in the cabin.

*Starting Jan. 11, 2021 new bookings for emotional support animals will no longer be accepted. Delta will honor existing bookings for emotional support animals after Jan. 11, 2021 provided required documentation was submitted and the reservation was confirmed prior to Jan. 11, 2021.

 

We do not permit the following as service or support animals, as these animals pose safety and/or public health concerns.  If you have additional questions, please contact the accessibility assistance line at 404-209-3434.

  • Small mammals or pocket pets (e.g. hedgehogs, sugar gliders, rabbits , chinchillas, prairie dogs, ferrets)
  • Insects and spiders
  • Rodents (e.g. mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs)
  • Reptiles (e.g. Snakes, lizards, turtles)
  • Amphibians (e.g. frogs, salamanders)
  • Birds
  • Animals improperly cleaned and/or with a foul odor
  • Animals with tusks, horns or hooves (e.g. goats, pigs)

Beginning on Jan. 11, 2021 trained service animals are restricted to dogs only. Customers who have commenced travel before Jan. 11, 2021 and who are traveling with trained service animals that are not dogs will be permitted to complete their travel with their trained service animal under the prior Delta policy. Customers who purchased a ticket before Jan. 11, 2021 for travel on or after Jan. 11, 2021 with a non-dog trained service animal will be permitted to travel with their trained service animal with a waived fee under Delta’s Pets in Cabin, opens in a new window (PETC) policy if the animal satisfies Delta’s Pets in Cabin acceptance criteria or as Pet in Hold (AVIH) if the customer provides a kennel.

Trained Service and Emotional Support Animal FAQs

Customers who require a trained service animal can now fly with pit bull type dogs that meet documentation and behavior requirements for trained service animals. Pit bull type dogs will not be allowed to travel as emotional support animals for those customers who have been confirmed to fly with an emotional support animal after Jan. 11, 2021.

In most circumstances, a service animal in training does not meet qualifications for a trained animal and cannot ride in cabin. However, a service animal in training may travel with a professional trainer en route to the owner. 

Yes, all airports in the United States are required to provide a designated animal relief area. Although Delta Air Lines is not responsible for providing care, food or supervision to the areas, we can assist with identifying the location of an animal relief area and escorting a customer to the area, including through security if necessary.

The Delta Sky Club policy for trained service and emotional support animals confirmed before Jan. 11, 2021 is the same as the policy for these animals on a Delta aircraft.

Effective Jan. 11, 2021, Delta accepts customers traveling with a maximum of two trained service animals. It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure that they have adequate space to accommodate both animals and for completing the required DOT documentation for each animal. Though it is not required, extra seats may need to be purchased to provide enough floor space to accommodate the extra animals. Animals cannot sit in seats at any time (including during taxi or boarding). They must be placed in the customer’s lap or on the floor in the foot space of the customer. All animals must behave appropriately in a manner fit for public access.

  • Trained service and confirmed emotional support animals may be placed at the customer’s feet at any bulkhead seat or at any other seat as long as no part of the animal extends into the aisle. Animals must be of a size to not exceed the “footprint” of the seat.
  • The animal or animals may not extend into the foot space of another customer who does not wish to share foot space with a service or support animal.
  • Trained service animals and confirmed emotional support animals may ride in the customer’s lap for all phases of the flight, including ground movement, take off, and landing, provided the trained animal is no larger than a lap held child (under 2 years of age).
  • The animal cannot occupy a seat.
  • Customers seated in Delta One seats, at times when the seat is not reclined, must keep animals larger than the size of a lap child in the foot space of the seat.
  • All animals must remain with the customer at all times.
  • If no single seat will accommodate both animal and customer without causing an obstruction, the customer may check the trained service or confirmed emotional support animal as baggage, at no charge, or purchase an additional ticket for the animal, allowing the animal to occupy that space on the floor. The customer can buy a second ticket at the same rate as the original ticket.
  • There is no guarantee of additional space beyond 1 seat per ticket.

Delta Air Lines policies and procedures still apply to customers with memberships in the NSAR or any similar entity. Review the policies and procedures or call our accessibility assistance line at 404-209-3434.

Travel fees

There is no charge to transport trained service or confirmed emotional support animals or their assistive devices, whether they are transported in the cabin or in the hold as checked baggage, or as an oversized animal in cargo. An animal's kennel (whether empty or occupied) is considered an assistive device and does not incur baggage fee.

Baggage

Trained service or confirmed emotional support animals do not count toward a customer’s carry-on allotment.

Airport restrictions

Some airports have additional state and local requirements for transporting trained service/emotional support animals through their airport.

PBI

Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) requires emotional support animals to be crated in the airport from lobby to gate.

GSP

Greenville Spartanburg Airport (GSP) requires emotional support animals to be crated in the airport from lobby to gate.

JFK

Upon arrival to John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport, all trained service and emotional support animals arriving from an international pre-cleared station are required to clear TSA.

Hawaii Requirements

Trained service animals may travel to Hawaii under certain conditions. Trained guide dogs and service dogs, only, are accepted with certain provisions, including making advanced arrangements and verifying availability.

Per HDOA, customers must follow the steps outlined in the link below to come into Hawaii without quarantine. You may contact the HDOA at:

hdoa.hawaii.gov;, opens in a new window
808-483-7151
rabiesfree@hawaii.gov, opens in a new window

  • The trained service animal must be traveling with the customer with a disability. All animals are inspected upon arrival in Honolulu International Airport (HNL) at the Animal Quarantine Holding Facility, which operates 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. daily
  • Customers that have guide dogs or trained service dogs may request inspection at the HNL terminal between 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. if notified and approved by HDOA 7 days or more before travel

An emotional support animal (dogs or cats) traveling to or through Honolulu International Airport must meet the requirements and be approved by the 5-Day-Or-Less Quarantine program, opens in a new window, If the animal does not meet these requirements, it may possibly be quarantined for up to 120 days. Note: Because of the minimum amount of time needed to prepare a puppy or kitten to meet the requirements of the 5-Day-Or-Less program, the animal will need to be about 10 months old by the time preparations are complete.

  • For animals other than dogs or cats, the customer must contact the Animal Control Disease Branch, opens in a new window at 808-837-8092 or 808-483-7106. The emotional support animal must meet the requirements and be approved by the Animal Control Disease Branch.
  • For travel to neighboring islands, the emotional support animal must meet the requirements and be approved by the Neighbor Island Program., opens in a new window
  • Upon arrival at the airport, any documentation received from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA), the Animal Control Disease Branch or the Neighbor Island Program. Delta documentation requirements also apply. Note: CES must document in the PNR that Customer has been advised of all required documentation.
  • Customers traveling with emotional support animals should arrange for their flights to arrive after 9 a.m. or by 3:30 p.m. Hawaiian time, opens in a new window, because it may take up to 1 hour for the airlines to transport an animal to the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility. Animals arriving to the facility too early or after 3:30 p.m. will not be released at the airport that day.
  • Customers with emotional support animals may request inspection at the Honolulu International Airport (HNL) terminal before 9 a.m. and after 3:30 p.m.; approval for the inspection is required by HDOA, 7 days or more before arrival.

For more information:

Hawaiian Department of Agriculture (HDOA)
Website: HDOA.Hawaii.gov
Phone: 808-483-7151; email: rabiesfree@hawaii.gov
Animal Control Disease Branch
Phone: 808-837-8092 or 808-483-7106

Acceptance policies for service animals vary by country. This includes requirements for pet passports and animal health documentation.

If any country/territory on the route prohibits entry of such an animal, the animal will not be permitted to fly.

Attention JFK:
Upon arrival to John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport, all trained service and emotional support animals arriving from an international pre-cleared station are required to clear TSA.

Attention Brazil:
Trained guide dogs are the only type of service animal allowed on intra-Brazil flights operated by codeshare partner GOL Airlines.

  • Emotional support animals are never allowed on intra-Brazil flights operated by codeshare partner GOL Airlines. "Intra-Brazil" means from 1 city in Brazil to another city in Brazil (for example, from Sao Paulo to Rio).
  • International customers connecting to/from a codeshare, partner operated or interline domestic flight within Brazil who request emotional support animal travel must make other arrangements upon arriving into Brazil (for example, traveling by car, bus or rail). Customers must comply with GOL's policies even though in some cases they differ from Delta's.
  • For GOL and Delta flights between the U.S. and Brazil, Delta's emotional support animal rules apply.  GOL Airlines complies with the U.S. DOT on flights to and from the U.S. 

Attention Cuba:
Trained service and emotional support animals are not recognized as service animals by Cuban authorities and will be treated as household pets (dog or cat only) upon arrival.  For an animal to travel to Cuba, the customer must request and have in their possession, a household pet certificate from their local Cuban embassy/consulate.

Documentation Requirements:
In order to receive a pet certificate from the embassy/consulate, customers  will need the following:

  • Animal's Pet Passport (where applicable) showing all vaccinations up-to-date
  • Health Certificate for the animal's trip (Request this from a veterinarian)
  • Certificate of good health
  • Photocopy of the Passport of the person travelling with the animal
  • Payment of the consular fee for this service

By mail:

  • Animal's Pet Passport (where applicable) showing all vaccinations up-to-date
  • Health Certificate for the animal's trip (Request this from a veterinarian)
  • Certificate of good health
  • Photocopy of the Passport of the person travelling with the animal
  • Payment of the consular fee for this service
  • Stamped self-addressed envelope for the return of the documents
  • Note: If the application is made by mail or via a third party, an extra consular fee will be charged for the pertinent Consular service. 
  • All payments must be made in cash or by a bank-certified check.  All cash sent by mail will be refused and returned at the risk of the applicant. 

U.K. Requirements:
Delta will transport trained service dogs and confirmed emotional support animals (dog or cat only)  to London (Heathrow and Gatwick), Manchester and Edinburgh with the proper documentation and compliance to U.K. regulations for transporting animals. 

In order for a customer to transport their dog or cat , they must:

  • Contact the appropriate Animal Reception Center (ARC) in the city they are traveling to for more information and instruction on what will be needed to enter the U.K.  After booking, customers  must contact the ARC directly to plan for the arrival of their pet and to ensure that all required documentation is completed in advance for the U.K. Customs clearance of their dog or cat.
  • Customers must provide a pre-approval letter from the ARC in the city they are traveling to, indicating that the emotional support  service dog or cat has the appropriate documentation, has met the appropriate health requirements and has the proper micro-chip implant.  Delta will ask for this documentation, including the pre-approval letter in order to process a request for transport of the customer’s dog or cat. .
    • Pay all appropriate fees and charges related to U.K. acceptance of trained service dogs and emotional support dogs or cats.  A current list of charges can be provided by the ARC for the city they are traveling to.

LGW—London Gatwick
Animal Aircare Co. Ltd.
Gatwick Airport
Horley, Surrey, RH6 0SQ
(0)129 346 2180

LHR—London Heathrow
City of London Animal Reception Centre
City of London
Guildhall, PO Box 270
London EC2P 2EJ

MAN—Manchester Pets on Jets
Building 300
World Freight Terminal
Manchester Airport M90 5BA
(0)161 489 8220

EDI-Edinburgh Airport's small animal Border Inspection Post
arc@extrordinair.co.uk
(0)131 317 7277

For any questions related to the U.K. Pet Travel Scheme contact DEFRA (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).