United Airlines has further enhanced its restrictions on the transportation of pets with its PetSafe Program which became effective as of Monday, June 18, 2018 — which includes no longer accepting reservations for certain breeds of dogs and cats.
United Airlines Tightens Restrictions on Its PetSafe Program
United Airlines already implemented stricter requirements for emotional support animals earlier this year — including requiring all passengers traveling with emotional support animals to provide documentation of proof of health or vaccinations 48 hours in advance of the departure of a flight — effective as of Tuesday, March 1, 2018.
In 2017, United Airlines was responsible for 75 percent of the deaths of animals aboard airplanes operated by domestic carriers in the United States; as well as almost 87 percent of injuries to animals, according to the February 2018 edition of the Air Travel Consumer Report of the Department of Transportation of the United States.
Additionally, the French bulldog puppy of a passenger died after the bag in which it was stored was placed in an overhead bin aboard an airplane operated by United Airlines back in March of 2018; and a giant rabbit also died during a flight operated by United Airlines from London to Chicago.
Of the 189 deaths of animals aboard commercial flights between June of 2005 and June of 2011 as reported by the Department of Agriculture of the United States, 98 of them — which is more than half — were brachycephalic breeds of dogs, which have trouble breathing due to their short noses; and their respiratory conditions worsen when flying at high altitudes in the cargo holds of airplanes where temperatures can be too hot or too cold for them.
In an effort to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries to animals aboard its airplanes, the following changes to the policies of the PetSafe Program of United Airlines were last updated on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 — and embargoes and information will be updated as detailed requirements are rolled out and is subject to change at any time:
| NEW PETSAFE EMBARGOES | Effective Monday, June 18, 2018, United Airlines PetSafe: | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Animals Accepted for PetSafe |
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| Reservation and Travel Resume |
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| Dog Breeds and Cat Breeds For Which Reservations Are Not Accepted By United Airlines | Not accept reservations for the following brachycephalic — or short- or snub-nosed — dogs and cats and strong-jawed dog breeds, out of concern for higher adverse health risks:
Dog Breeds
Cat Breeds
Including mixed breeds |
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| Weather Restrictions |
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| Reservation Timeframe |
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| Additional Conditions for Acceptance |
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| Locations Served |
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| Flight Segments or Connections |
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| International Routings |
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| Crates |
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Summary
The additional restrictions are for the protection of certain breeds of animals — as well as another way for airlines to carefully toe the line of protecting its customers and employees while simultaneously supporting the rights of customers with legitimate needs, which has not been easy to balance.
I have written extensively over the years pertaining to service dogs and emotional support animals in the form of articles posted here at The Gate — including:
- Passengers To Be Limited to One Emotional Support Animal on Delta Air Lines
- Stricter Requirements for Emotional Support Animals By American Airlines
- Stricter Requirements for Emotional Support Animals By Alaska Airlines
- Stricter Requirements for Emotional Support Animals By United Airlines
- Enhancements Added to Stricter Requirements for Emotional Support Animals and Service Dogs By Delta Air Lines
- Stricter Requirements for Emotional Support Animals and Service Dogs By Delta Air Lines
- In Defense of Emotional Support Animals? Not Exactly
- Forget Hamsters. How About True Emotional Support From an Airline?
- Can an Emotional Support Animal Be Used as a Threat?
- Why It is NOT Time to Ban Emotional Support Animals From Airplanes
- Confession by Pet Owner: “Emotional Support Dogs” are “B.S.”
- Emotional Support Animals: More Evidence of Faking
- Support Animals Versus Allergies: Here We Go Again
- Woman Forcibly Removed From Airplane Reignites Support Animals Versus Allergy Debate
- Service Animals or Emotional Support Animals: A Pig Continues The Debate
- Service Dog Denied Permission to Board an Airplane? Yeah — When Pigs Fly! Oh, Wait a Minute…
- When Pigs Fly: Somebody Tell The Sun That This is 2017
- Passengers Applaud as Boy Allergic to Dog is Removed From Airplane
- Update: Misinterpretation of Applause From Passengers Over Allergic Boy? What Really Matters is…
- Service Animals: Your Comments Requested by the Department of Transportation
- Delta Air Lines to No Longer Accept Pets as Checked Baggage
- Video: Woman Escorted Off the Airplane By Police Because of Her Unruly Dog
- Can Orphaned Parrots, Crows and Ravens Qualify as Service Animals?
- Service Animals Bill: Could a Legal Decision Arrive in Florida as Soon as Tomorrow?
- Service Animals Bill Unanimously Passes in Florida Today; To Become Law on July 1, 2015
- Court Rejects Ruling of Air Canada Separating Dogs From Allergic Passengers
- Dog Days in Flight, and How to Avoid Paying a Fee for Your Dog
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.
