American Airlines will ban a number of animals, including hedgehogs, sugar gliders and goats, from its flights, beginning July 1.
The airline issued a list of animals — even those kept for emotional support — that will be banned from flights, due to “safety and/or public health risks.”
Suzanne Boda, American’s Senior Vice President in Los Angeles, said in a video posted on the airline’s website on Monday that the changes apply only to “support animals,” and that the company’s current policies regarding service animals would remain in place.
Boda cited past “incidents” regarding support animals as the airline’s reason for the new restrictions.
“We’re tightening things down a little bit, because as you know, we’ve had some incidents in the past on our aircraft and we want to make sure that the safety of everyone, including support animals, is protected,” Boda said.
The number of customers bringing support animals on flights has skyrocketed in recent years. American said that from 2016 to 2017, the number of cases increased by more than 40 percent.
United and Delta also issued guidelines this year that implemented new restrictions on support animals on their flights.
……..
- Discussion
-
American Airlines bans support goats, hedgehogs from flights: https://t.co/zazpT5VaGO pic.twitter.com/RhjR2jgJ1j
— The Hill (@thehill) May 15, 2018
Animal restrictions
Some animals can’t be permitted as service or emotional support animals due to safety and/or public health risk. If you have questions, contact our special assistance help desk.
Contact special assistance
Amphibians
Ferrets
Goats
Hedgehogs
Insects
Reptiles
Rodents
Snakes
Spiders
Sugar gliders
Non-household birds (farm poultry, waterfowl, game birds, & birds of prey)
Animals with tusks, horns or hooves (excluding miniature horses properly trained as service animals)
Any animal that is unclean / has an odor
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.