# Is there any airline that will let me fly with a 30lb dog in the main cabin?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 30, 2016, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446 "2016-11-30T05:41:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2016, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446/1 "2016-11-30T05:41:23Z")
We are traveling cross country and would like to take our 30lb dog (medium sized mutt). We do not want her to travel in cargo and would buy her a ticket if they would let her travel in the main cabin. Does anyone know a commercial airline that would allow this?
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### Author:  [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2016, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446/2 "2016-11-30T07:22:53Z")
I believe most will, so here’s a start with an article from USA Today [“Traveling Tips With Your Pet on Commercial Airlines”](http://traveltips.usatoday.com/traveling-tips-pet-commercial-airlines-35461.html) …
Next step is to check with the airline in question … each have differing rules on the specifics …
(and in the USA, you can get a service animal prescription from your doctor if you’re so inclined)
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### Author:  [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2016, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446/3 "2016-11-30T11:51:13Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#):
>
> (and in the USA, you can get a service animal prescription from your doctor if you’re so inclined)
…and have a documented medical need, plus two years of initial intensive obedience training for the dog, plus an additional 6 months of specialty training, plus another 2 months of one on one training with a handler, plus about $25,000-$40,000 for the training (which can be raised via a variety of fundraisers while you’re going through training).
Seriously, don’t ever just casually toss out “get a SA prescription” as a solution to a question like this. Ever.
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### Author:  [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2016, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446/4 "2016-11-30T11:54:31Z")
To the OP: if your dog plus its carrier won’t fit under your seat, it’s not going in the cabin with you. It’s not like a toddler where you buy the dog its own seat and belt it in- unless it’s a service animal or emotional support animal, it must be in a carrier.
Is there a reason you don’t want to put it under the plane?
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### Author:  [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2016, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446/5 "2016-11-30T12:33:25Z")
I suppose an air taxi company like [Linear Air Taxi](http://www.linearair.com/) or [ImagineAir](http://www.imagineair.com/) might be able to accommodate this request. But you’ll pay through the nose for that.
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### Author:  [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2016, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446/6 "2016-11-30T12:52:21Z")
How would this work exactly? On the seat? I’d also be interested to know what airline would permit this, so that I could avoid flying with them.
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### Author:  [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2016, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446/7 "2016-11-30T13:12:44Z")
According to the Americans with Disabilitis Act, all you need to do is show up and declare that it is a service animal. From [ada.gov](http://ada.gov),
“In situations where it is not obvious that the dog is a service animal, staff may ask only two specific questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform? Staff are not allowed to request any documentation for the dog, require that the dog demonstrate its task, or inquire about the nature of the person’s disability.”
Of course, if you google /service animal/ you will get a jungle of hucksters who ae getting rich selling “certificates” to people with service animals. But generally, employees of restaurants, hotels, etc. know the rules and a person arriving with a pet is rarely challenged.
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### Author:  [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2016, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446/8 "2016-11-30T13:20:20Z")
> [@jtur88](#):
>
> According to the Americans with Disabilitis Act, all you need to do is show up and declare that it is a service animal. From [ada.gov](http://ada.gov),
>
> “In situations where it is not obvious that the dog is a service animal, staff may ask only two specific questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) **what work or task has the dog been trained to perform?** Staff are not allowed to request any documentation for the dog, require that the dog demonstrate its task, or inquire about the nature of the person’s disability.”
>
> Of course, if you google /service animal/ you will get a jungle of hucksters who ae getting rich selling “certificates” to people with service animals. But generally, employees of restaurants, hotels, etc. know the rules and a person arriving with a pet is rarely challenged.
(my bolding) - So what outright lie would you suggest the **OP** tell when asked “what work or task has this dog been trained to perform?”
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### Author:  [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2016, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446/9 "2016-11-30T13:29:42Z")
> [@jtur88](#):
>
> generally, employees of restaurants, hotels, etc. know the rules and a person arriving with a pet is rarely challenged.
Which plenty of people with pets that aren’t actually service animals understand, and abuse. If challenged, you can simply claim your animal offers “emotional support” - which is no doubt true of the vast majority of pets.
Google “service animal fraud” for lots of depressing stories.
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### Author:  [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2016, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446/10 "2016-11-30T13:36:54Z")
So I can take my monkey butler(s) on the plane?
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### Author:  [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2016, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446/11 "2016-11-30T13:42:25Z")
> [@jtur88](#):
>
> According to the Americans with Disabilitis Act, all you need to do is show up and declare that it is a service animal. From [ada.gov](http://ada.gov),
>
> “In situations where it is not obvious that the dog is a service animal, staff may ask only two specific questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform? Staff are not allowed to request any documentation for the dog, require that the dog demonstrate its task, or inquire about the nature of the person’s disability.”
There must be an airline exception, I think, because I can’t believe airline attorneys are not aware of the ADA. Here is Southwest Airlines policy:
> **[Help Center | Southwest Airlines](https://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/s/article/pet-policy)**
>
> Find answers to all of your travel and flight-related questions and view common FAQ articles regarding your travel experience when you fly with Southwest Airlines.
> [@](#):
>
> Traveling with an Emotional Support Animal
> In order for a Customer to travel with an emotional support animal, the Customer must
> provide to a Southwest Airlines Employee current documentation (not more than one
> year old) on letterhead from a mental health professional or medical doctor who is
> treating the Customer’s mental health-related disability stating:
>
> 1. The passenger has a mental or emotional disability recognized in the Diagnostic
> and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Edition (DSM IV)
> 2. The passenger needs the emotional support or psychiatric service animal as an
> accommodation for air travel and/or for activity at the passenger’s destination
> 3. The individual providing the assessment is a licensed mental health professional,
> and the passenger is under his or her professional care AND
> 4. The date and type of the mental health professional’s or medical doctor’s license
> and the state or other jurisdiction in which it was issued.
> \*Southwest Airlines does not accept for transportation therapy dogs or exotic animals.
Or is the idea that this only applies if you _say_ it’s an emotional support animal, and if you just lie and claim it’s a service animal for a disability they cannot challenge that?
If so, the law’s an emotionally-supportive ass.
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### Author:  [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2016, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446/12 "2016-11-30T13:46:15Z")
Someone brought their “emotional support” turkey on a plane. I’m sure you can manage to get your dog in a seat as well.
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### Author:  [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2016, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446/13 "2016-11-30T13:56:52Z")
> [@bobkitty](#):
>
> …and have a documented medical need, plus two years of initial intensive obedience training for the dog, plus an additional 6 months of specialty training, plus another 2 months of one on one training with a handler, plus about $25,000-$40,000 for the training (which can be raised via a variety of fundraisers while you’re going through training).
>
> Seriously, don’t ever just casually toss out “get a SA prescription” as a solution to a question like this. Ever.
You should learn the laws before you reject what is allowed, not just under the law, but also as _bona fide_ medical and psychological treatments.
> [@jtur88](#):
>
> According to the Americans with Disabilitis Act, all you need to do is show up and declare that it is a service animal. From [ada.gov](http://ada.gov),
>
> “In situations where it is not obvious that the dog is a service animal, staff may ask only two specific questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform? Staff are not allowed to request any documentation for the dog, require that the dog demonstrate its task, or inquire about the nature of the person’s disability.”
>
> Of course, if you google /service animal/ you will get a jungle of hucksters who ae getting rich selling “certificates” to people with service animals. But generally, employees of restaurants, hotels, etc. know the rules and a person arriving with a pet is rarely challenged.
Two exceptions … if the animal goes peepee or poopoo inappropriately … or if the animal is aggressive … otherwise all reasonable accommodations must be provided …
> [@muldoonthief](#):
>
> (my bolding) - So what outright lie would you suggest the **OP** tell when asked “what work or task has this dog been trained to perform?”
The ADA does not require these questions be answered … the law only allows them to be asked … and it is correct to use the analogy of a wheelchair, the laws are the same, the airline can ask why the passenger in the wheelchair, but the passenger need not answer and the airline would still be required to reasonably accommodate that passenger … (although I don’t think wheelchairs are prone to aggressive behaviors or crapping on the floor) …
ETA `"emotional support" turkey` - Yeah, my understanding is that there are some court cases in the pipeline challenging the definition of what can be considered a service animal … we’ll see … although typical pet-quality domesticated animals are sure to allowed … someday someone will be walking up with their pet skunk or alligator … yeesh, what a tangled web our dear sweet Congress can weave …
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### Author:  [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2016, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446/14 "2016-11-30T13:58:48Z")
We just flew from Florida to Wisconsin and back and I was thinking how nice it would have been had my dog been allowed to fly with me. Then I boarded the airplane. We flew Frontier and Thera no way my 150lb Great Dane would have fit into those things they made us sit on.
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### Author:  [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2016, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446/15 "2016-11-30T14:00:00Z")
That’s a bloody big dog to have in a cabin and the cage is going to be much too big to fit under a seat. At the very least you are going to have to buy it a seat but I can’t see any airline allowing it unless you can honestly justify it as a guide dog or similar.
Is there a reason why it must be in the cabin? I can’t speak for anyone else but I’d certainly prefer not to have dogs in the cabin if at all avoidable.
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### Author:  [@Corry\_El](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corry_El)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2016, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446/16 "2016-11-30T14:00:43Z")
> [@jtur88](#):
>
> Of course, if you google /service animal/ you will get a jungle of hucksters who ae getting rich selling “certificates” to people with service animals. But generally, employees of restaurants, hotels, etc. know the rules and a person arriving with a pet is rarely challenged.
I agree that’s true on the ground. In fact it’s pretty obvious staff at stores and such even with signs saying ‘nothing but service animals’ often don’t even ask if the dog is small or sissy looking\*.
But airlines say you need documentation and notice to have service animals in the cabin and I guess they enforce that, or else you’d see the same thing on planes, pretty obvious non-service dogs out and about, which I never have.
So I think the answer to getting a regular dog in the cabin of an airliner outside a carrier is to get a medical professional to lie for you on the documentation, which obviously isn’t recommended.
\*our very pleasant dog looks very rough and tough and we often chuckle what would happen if we tried to get into a lot of places where we see sissy dogs. Or maybe they’d just buy it if we gave them a line of BS about how she’s a service dog. She does lend emotional support constantly. 🙂
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### Author:  [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2016, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446/17 "2016-11-30T14:05:14Z")
Would you rather sit next to a 250 lbs well-behaved Newfy … or a 250 lbs man having a total emotional breakdown?
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### Author:  [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2016, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446/18 "2016-11-30T14:13:38Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#):
>
> You should learn the laws before you reject what is allowed, not just under the law, but also as _bona fide_ medical and psychological treatments.
>
> Two exceptions … if the animal goes peepee or poopoo inappropriately … or if the animal is aggressive … otherwise all reasonable accommodations must be provided …
>
> The ADA does not require these questions be answered … the law only allows them to be asked … and it is correct to use the analogy of a wheelchair, the laws are the same, the airline can ask why the passenger in the wheelchair, but the passenger need not answer and the airline would still be required to reasonably accommodate that passenger … (although I don’t think wheelchairs are prone to aggressive behaviors or crapping on the floor) …
>
> ETA `"emotional support" turkey` - Yeah, my understanding is that there are some court cases in the pipeline challenging the definition of what can be considered a service animal … we’ll see … although typical pet-quality domesticated animals are sure to allowed … someday someone will be walking up with their pet skunk or alligator … yeesh, what a tangled web our dear sweet Congress can weave …
So I did some digging, and the ADA is not actually the controlling law here - it’s the [Air Carrier Access Act](http://airconsumer.dot.gov/rules/382short.pdf), which appears to be less restrictive than the ADA in definitions of disabilities and service animals. Regardless, in order to bring an animal into the cabin of a plane under the auspices of the Air Carrier Access Act, the passenger must be disabled. The fact that the airline is not permitted to require proof of disability does not mean the passenger would not be lying with their mere claim to be disabled, if they are not actually so. And such a lie negatively affects actually disabled persons.
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### Author:  [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2016, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446/19 "2016-11-30T14:34:59Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#):
>
> So I did some digging, and the ADA is not actually the controlling law here - it’s the [Air Carrier Access Act](http://airconsumer.dot.gov/rules/382short.pdf)…
from there:
> [@](#):
>
> Carriers shall accept as evidence that an
> animal is a service animal identification cards,
> other written documentation, presence of
> harnesses or markings on harnesses, tags, or
> the credible verbal assurances of the qualified
> individual with a disability using the animal.
There’s no explicit mention of “emotional support” animals. Would that hinge on whether the condition requiring emotional support constituted a disability? Perhaps that’s the intent of the Southwest criteria policy that I linked above, they require formal documentation of a DSM mental health diagnosis.
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### Author:  [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2016, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-airline-that-will-let-me-fly-with-a-30lb-dog-in-the-main-cabin/773446/20 "2016-11-30T14:54:58Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#):
>
> So I did some digging, and the ADA is not actually the controlling law here - it’s the [Air Carrier Access Act](http://airconsumer.dot.gov/rules/382short.pdf), which appears to be less restrictive than the ADA in definitions of disabilities and service animals. Regardless, in order to bring an animal into the cabin of a plane under the auspices of the Air Carrier Access Act, the passenger must be disabled. The fact that the airline is not permitted to require proof of disability does not mean the passenger would not be lying with their mere claim to be disabled, if they are not actually so. And such a lie negatively affects actually disabled persons.
Thank you for this citation … note however that the definition of an “individual with a disability” in your citation is about as close to the definition in the ADA as to make no difference {[Cite](https://www.ada.gov/pubs/adastatute08.htm#12102)} …
Maybe it’s just the American in me … but I generally consider a person innocent until proven guilty … I understand there’s fraud occurring … but how much of a problem is it? … one of our local Wal-Marts just gave up and now allows pets … apparently without ill-effects …
“(and in the USA, you can get a service animal prescription from your doctor if you’re so inclined)”
This seems to be the quote that offends you … why do you think it’s wrong for someone to inquire with their health care professional whether a service animal might bring about a more positive outcome to treatment? … why do you think medical doctors are actively defrauding the public by writing prescriptions willy-nilly? … I understand your concern and I agree 100% … but I’m not suggesting wrapping a pink vest around the dog and saying it’s a service animal … I’m suggesting getting an actual licensed and qualified doctor to recommend keeping a service animal as a medical benefit … do you see the difference?
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