Wondering if service dogs in training can fly?

Flying dogs? Can service dogs in training fly? We’re talking today about whether service dogs in training can fly with their human in an aircraft cabin for air travel. It’s a good question, to which the answer is most likely “no,” however, individual airlines may allow it, so it’s worth checking into it ahead of travel, just in case. Service dogs in training are usually still able to fly as a pet.

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The Air Carrier Access Act

The Air Carrier Access Act prohibits commercial airlines from discriminating against people with disabilities who will be traveling by air. Under the ACAA, a service dog must be fully trained before it may fly in the cabin with its human handler. However, individual airlines may vary.

Under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) a service animal means a dog, regardless of breed or type, that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.  Animal species other than dogs, emotional support animals, comfort animals, companionship animals, and service animals in training are not service animals.

Service Animals – U.S. Department of Transportation

Let’s take a look at some popular airlines and their service animal in training policies

Can service dogs in training fly? Quick Snapshot

• Delta Airlines – a service animal in training may travel with a professional trainer en route to the owner
• jetBlue – Service dogs in training are not accepted to fly in the cabin
• Hawaiian Airlines – Service animals in training will be considered pets and are subject to two travel options: in the cabin, in accordance pet policies or as checked baggage
• Tradewind – Pets of all sizes, including large-breed dogs, are welcome to fly in the spacious cabins of the Citation CJ3s and Pilatus PC-12s
• Alaska Airlines – Service animals-in-training are not covered by the Air Carrier Access Act (Part 382) but may be accepted for no charge at the airline’s discretion. Space is limited and subject to availability.
• Southwest Airlines – Dogs are the only trained service animals accepted onboard
• United Airlines – Individually trained service dogs that are traveling with a qualified disabled person are allowed on United flights
• American Airlines – Service animals in training, emotional support animals, and comfort animals may travel as pets, not as service animals
• Frontier Airlines – Frontier will not accept service animals in training

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1. Can service dogs in training fly with Delta Airlines?

Service animals are accepted in cabin for qualified individuals with a disability.  Delta accepts only trained service animals that are dogs. Customers traveling with a trained service dog(s)  must complete the required DOT form(s) available on this page. Delta no longer recognizes emotional support animals as service animals.

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. 

Delta – Trained Service Animals

2. Can service dogs in training fly with jetBlue?

Service animals in training are not accepted for travel on JetBlue. 

jetBlue – Traveling with Service Animals

3. Can service dogs in training fly with Hawaiian Airlines?

Effective Jan. 11, 2021, emotional support animals, therapy animals, comfort animals, and companionship animals will not be accepted as service animals. They will be considered pets and can travel one of two ways: either in the cabin, in accordance with our pet policies or as checked baggage.

Service animals in training will also be considered pets and are subject to the same two travel options: either in the cabin, in accordance with our pet policies or as checked baggage.

Hawaiian Airlines – Service Animals

4. Can service dogs in training fly with Tradewind?

Pets of all sizes, including large-breed dogs, are welcome to fly in the spacious cabins of our Citation CJ3s and Pilatus PC-12s. (Note: Limit one party with pets per flight and seats must be purchased for dogs over 100 pounds.) Without the stress and discomfort of the cargo hold, four-legged passengers will arrive at your destination feeling relaxed and ready to enjoy their getaway.

Tradewind

5. Can service dogs in training fly with Alaska Airlines?

Service animals-in-training are not covered by the Air Carrier Access Act (Part 382) but may be accepted for no charge at the airline’s discretion. Space is limited and subject to availability. Otherwise, service animals-in-training may travel as pets under our pet travel policy.Travel requests for a service animal-in-training must be made at least 48 hours in advance by contacting reservations.

Newly trained service animals being delivered to a new owner/handler’s home may be accepted for no charge provided all of the following conditions are met:

• The service animal is being transported by a trainer.
• The trainer can identify the new owner’s/handler’s name and home city.
• The trainer can provide documentation on official letterhead noting the service animal has successfully completed training.

Service dog/puppy-in-training who are traveling with a trainer/raiser for training purposes may be accepted no charge while they are in training provided all of the following conditions are met:

• Travel is wholly within the United States.
• The service dog/puppy is being transported by their trainer/raiser.
• The trainer/raiser must provide a health certificate or current vaccination record for the service dog/puppy in training on official letterhead from the assistance organization or local veterinarian.
• The trainer/raiser must provide an official Trainer ID card issued by the assistance organiz

Alaska Airlines – Traveling with Service Animals

6. Can service dogs in training fly with Southwest Airlines?

A fully trained service animal is individually trained to perform tasks or work for a person with a physical and/or mental disability. Dogs are the only trained service animals we accept onboard.

Southwest – Flying With Trained Service Animals

7. Can service dogs in training fly with United Airlines?

Service animals are accepted in cabin free of charge for qualified individuals with a disability. A service animal is a dog, regardless of breed or type, that is

• over the age of 4 months
• individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability

Qualified individuals with a disability are permitted to travel with a maximum of only two service dogs.

Individually trained service dogs that are traveling with a qualified disabled person are allowed on United flights. Service dogs training to assist disabled travelers can fly with their trainers for free.

United – Traveling with Service Animals

8. Can service dogs in training fly with American Airlines?

Fully-trained service dogs may fly in the cabin at no charge if they meet the requirements.

A service animal is defined as a dog that’s individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability, including but not limited to:

• Visual impairments
• Deafness
• Seizures
• Mobility impairments
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

Our team members are trained to ask certain questions to determine if your animal is a service animal acceptable for travel.

Please note, service animals in training, emotional support animals, and comfort animals may travel as pets, not as service animals. All requirements and applicable fees will apply.

American Airlines – Service Animals

9. Can service dogs in training fly with Frontier Airlines?

Here are the new guidelines for traveling with a trained service animal:

• Frontier will accept only dogs in our cabin as trained service animals
• Frontier will accept fully trained psychiatric service dogs as trained service animals
• Frontier limits the number of service animals traveling with a single passenger with a disability to two service animals
• Frontier will not recognize comfort animals, companionship animals, or any other non task-trained animals as service animals
• A trained service animal must be trained to behave properly in a public setting and be under the control of the handler by use of a harness, leash, or tethered at all times in the airport and on the aircraft
• Frontier will NOT accept service animals in training
• Service animals under the age of 4 months will not be accepted
• Only one pet in cabin per person

A trained service animal that engages in disruptive behavior or poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others may be denied boarding.

Examples of disruptive behavior include (but are not limited to):

• Scratching, excessive whining or barking
• Growling, biting, lunging
• Urinating or defecating in the cabin or gate area

Frontier – Special Services

Related articles on our blog:

• American Airlines Service Dog Info
• Psychiatric Service Dog Training
• Getting Started with Basic Dog Obedience Skills