Are emotional support animals considered service animals under the ACAA?

Under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), emotional support animals are not classified as service animals. The ACAA defines service animals strictly as dogs that are individually trained to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities. This definition does not extend to emotional support animals, which may provide comfort but do not perform specific, trained tasks that alleviate a disability.

This distinction is significant because it affects the rights and access that individuals with emotional support animals have when traveling by air. Only trained service animals, specifically dogs, are granted broad access to airplanes and associated facilities as per ACAA regulations. Emotional support animals, while beneficial to many, do not meet the legal criteria to be recognized in the same manner under federal law regarding air travel.

This understanding reflects the regulatory framework that distinguishes between service animals and other types of assistance animals, ensuring that only those animals trained for particular tasks are afforded the rights associated with service animal status.