✈ Department of Transportation (DOT) Revised Its Rules: What ESA and Service Animal Owners Need to Know
The Department of Transportation (DOT) revised its rules in January 2021, creating a major shift in how airlines handle emotional support animals (ESAs) and service animals. For years, ESA owners could fly with their animals in the cabin without paying extra fees, provided they had proper documentation. However, the revised rules changed that landscape entirely — redefining who qualifies as a service animal and how ESAs are treated under federal travel law. In this article, we’ll break down what the DOT’s revisions mean, how they impact ESA and psychiatric service dog (PSD) owners, and what steps you can take to travel smoothly in 2025 and beyond. Why Did the DOT Revise Its Rules? The DOT updated its Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) regulations after years of complaints from airlines, passengers, and disability advocates. Some passengers were abusing ESA policies, bringing untrained animals — from peacocks to miniature horses — on planes, creating safety and health concerns. Air...