American Airlines is telling passengers some emotional support animals — including snakes, hedgehogs and tusked creatures — can no longer fly.
American Airlines unveiled new rules for travelling with emotional support animals, banning amphibians, insects, rodents and goats.
Also barred from travelling as a service or support animal are non-household birds and animals with tusks, horns or hooves (excluding miniature horses trained as service animals).
Animals that are unclean or have an odour are also not permitted to fly.
Passengers wishing to travel with a support animals will have to fill out paperwork 48 hours in advance.
The world’s largest airline said it will be stricter about contacting doctors well in advance of flights, in order to verify the mental health care professional’s notes.
American airlines said between 2016 and 2017, the number of customers transporting support animals aboard their planes rose by more than 40 percent.
Service and support animals fly in the cabin for free, unlike household pets, for which the airline charges a $125 fee.
“We support the rights of customers, from veterans to people with disabilities, with legitimate needs for a trained service or support animal,” the airline said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, untrained animals can lead to safety issues for our team, our customers and working dogs onboard our aircraft.”
The new rules go into effect for tickets issued 1st July 2018 or later.
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