Service Dog and Emotional Support Information direct from the airline.

Current 2026 Airline Travel Guide

Traveling with your service dog can be a comfortable and organized experience when you know the current airline requirements and prepare before your trip.

The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations provide protections for qualified passengers with disabilities traveling by air.

Airlines may have their own procedures for service-animal documentation, accessibility requests, and travel arrangements. Because airline policies can change, it is always a good idea to confirm the current requirements directly with the airline before your trip.

Service Dogs & Emotional Support Animals

Under current DOT rules, a service animal for air travel is generally a dog individually trained to perform work or tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.

This can include a psychiatric service dog that has been individually trained to perform disability-related tasks.

Emotional support animals and comfort animals are not considered service animals under the current DOT definition.

An emotional support dog may be permitted to travel under an airline’s pet or other animal policies, but an ESA does not automatically receive the same air-travel protections as a qualifying service dog.

Airline Service Dog Information

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines provides accessibility assistance for passengers with disabilities and information for travelers with service animals.

Before traveling, check Alaska’s current accessibility and service-animal requirements.

Accessibility assistance: Check Alaska Airlines’ current official accessibility contact information before your trip.

Allegiant Air

Allegiant provides assistance for passengers with disabilities and service animals.

Travelers should review Allegiant’s current service-animal requirements before departure.

Customer assistance: Check Allegiant’s current official contact information before your trip.

American Airlines

American Airlines currently provides a dedicated Special Assistance service for passengers with disabilities.

Special Assistance: 800-237-7976

Hearing or Speech Impaired Assistance: 800-735-2988

American Airlines Disability Team: 800-892-3624

American currently states that passengers traveling with a service animal must provide notice and receive approval at least 48 hours before the flight. American also uses the U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form.

Tip: Keep your completed airline documentation together with your service dog’s registration and identification information.

Avelo Airlines

Avelo provides accessibility assistance for passengers with disabilities.

Because contact information and procedures may change, check Avelo’s current official accessibility information before traveling with a service animal.

Breeze Airways

Breeze Airways provides accessibility assistance for passengers with disabilities.

Check Breeze’s current accessibility and service-animal information before your trip.

Cape Air

Cape Air provides assistance for passengers traveling with disabilities.

Check Cape Air’s current accessibility and service-animal information before departure.

Delta Air Lines

Delta provides a dedicated Accessible Travel Services line for passengers with disabilities.

Accessible Travel Services: 404-209-3434

Relay Services: 711

Delta states that its accessibility line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Delta also provides information specifically addressing trained service animals.

Delta’s current service-animal information states that up to two service animals may travel with a passenger, subject to applicable requirements and available space. Required DOT documents should ideally be submitted 48 hours or more before departure.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier provides accessibility assistance for passengers with disabilities and service animals.

Check Frontier’s current official accessibility and service-animal requirements before traveling.

Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines provides accessibility assistance for passengers traveling with disabilities and service animals.

Travelers flying to Hawaii should also check applicable Hawaii animal-entry requirements.

Check Hawaiian’s current official accessibility information before departure.

JetBlue

JetBlue provides accessibility assistance for passengers traveling with disabilities and service animals.

Check JetBlue’s current service-animal requirements before your trip, particularly when traveling internationally or connecting to another carrier.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest provides accessibility assistance for passengers with disabilities and service animals.

Check Southwest’s current service-animal requirements before departure, including any applicable DOT documentation.

Spirit Airlines

Spirit provides accessibility assistance for passengers traveling with disabilities.

Check Spirit’s current accessibility and service-animal information before your trip.

Sun Country Airlines

Sun Country provides assistance for passengers traveling with disabilities.

Check Sun Country’s current accessibility and service-animal requirements before traveling.

United Airlines

United Airlines provides accessibility assistance for passengers with disabilities and service animals.

Check United’s current service-animal requirements before departure, particularly when traveling internationally or when another airline operates part of your itinerary.

Airline Contact Information

Because airline telephone numbers and departments can change, the safest approach is to verify the number directly through the airline’s current official website before publishing it as a permanent contact number.

For airlines where a current accessibility number has been independently verified, the current information includes:

Airline	Current Accessibility Contact
American Airlines	800-237-7976
Delta Air Lines	404-209-3434
Other airlines	Verify current accessibility number directly with airline

This approach prevents an outdated telephone number from remaining on your website for years.

DOT Service Animal Forms

Airlines may require the applicable U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form.

The current DOT forms have been updated and renewed by the Office of Management and Budget.

The form may include information concerning:

The dog’s health
Rabies vaccination
Task training
Behavior training
The work or task the dog performs
Trainer information

For flights lasting eight hours or more, an airline may also require the Service Animal Relief Attestation.

Always use the current DOT forms rather than older forms found on websites or in previously published articles.

Service Dog Registration

Keeping your service dog’s information organized can make preparing for travel easier.

Our Service Dog Registration provides a convenient way to maintain a personalized record containing information such as:

Dog’s name
Dog’s photograph
Service Dog ID number
Handler’s name
Contact information
Emergency contact information
Other personalized information

Registration provides a convenient record for your own use and organization.

Service Dog ID Card

A personalized Service Dog ID Card provides a convenient physical way to carry your dog’s information.

Our durable, wallet-sized cards can include:

✓ Dog photograph

✓ Dog’s name

✓ Service Dog ID number

✓ Handler information

✓ Contact information

✓ Other personalized information

Many handlers keep their ID card in their wallet, purse, travel bag, or with their dog’s travel documents.

Prepare Your Service Dog for Air Travel

Before your trip:

✓ Check your airline’s current service-animal requirements

✓ Check the airline actually operating each flight

✓ Complete any required DOT forms

✓ Keep your registration information accessible

✓ Carry your personalized ID card if you choose to use one

✓ Keep vaccination and health information available

✓ Make sure your dog is properly trained and under control

✓ Plan bathroom breaks

✓ Allow additional time at the airport

✓ Check international animal-entry requirements when applicable

Airport Security

TSA is responsible for airport security screening.

A service-dog registration or ID card does not replace TSA screening procedures.

For disability-related security questions or assistance, contact:

TSA Cares

1-855-787-2227

TSA Cares provides information and assistance for travelers with disabilities and medical conditions.

If You Have a Problem With an Airline

If you experience a disability-related problem with an airline, ask to speak with the airline’s Complaint Resolution Official (CRO).

Airlines are required to make a CRO available to address disability-related concerns.

You may also contact the U.S. Department of Transportation.

DOT Disability Hotline

1-800-778-4838

Telecommunications Relay Service

711

The DOT’s current disability resources provide information about passenger rights and updated service-animal requirements.

International Travel With a Service Dog

International travel can involve additional requirements.

Depending on your destination, you may need:

Vaccinations
Health certificates
Microchip information
Import permits
Veterinary records
Quarantine documentation
Animal-entry forms

Check the destination country’s current requirements before traveling.

Travel Prepared With Your Service Dog

Your service dog is an important part of your everyday life.

Preparing your information before your trip can make travel more organized and convenient.

A Service Dog Registration provides a convenient way to maintain your dog’s information, while a personalized Service Dog ID Card gives you a durable physical card to carry with you.

Keep your registration, identification, health information, and airline documentation together so everything is easy to find when you need it.

Important Information

Service Dog Registration and ID Cards are private identification and record-keeping products. They are not government-issued credentials and are not issued, approved, or endorsed by any airline, TSA, Amtrak, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Justice, or other government agency.

Federal law does not require a service dog to carry a private ID card or registration.

Airline requirements and government regulations can change. Always verify current requirements directly with the airline operating your flight and the appropriate government agencies before traveling.

This information is provided for general educational purposes and is not legal advice.

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