Spirit, Frontier and JetBlue join rush to ban emotional support animals
Gone are the days of packing an emotional support hamster, goldfish or mini horse on your next flight.
Spirit and Frontier are the latest airlines to designate dogs as the only acceptable species of service animals on board, formally relegating emotional support animals to "pet" status on flights.
"All emotional support animals are now welcome onboard as pets if they meet our pet requirements found here," the carrier announced on its customer support page.
Frontier Airlines made the same move in a Monday afternoon announcement, saying its change is "in line with new regulations recently issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)."
Alaska Airlines was the first carrier to reflect updated DOT guidelines on Dec. 29, quickly followed by the "Big 3" U.S. airlines — American, Delta and United — in early January 2021. JetBlue also recently updated its animal travel policy.
Related: Your guide to ethically traveling with an emotional support animal
In the final days of 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) ruled that emotional support animals (ESAs) will no longer be considered service animals moving forward, amending an Air Carrier Access Act loophole which often allowed travelers to bypass paying pet fees for air travel.
“This final rule is intended to ensure that our air transportation system is safe for the traveling public and accessible to individuals with disabilities," the DOT stated in the ruling published on Dec. 2, 2020, which went into effect 30 days after date of publication in the Federal Register.
Service dogs must still meet a host of requirements before being allowed on board, according to the DOT; airlines retain the right to refuse boarding to any aggressive animal and its owner, regardless of service designation.
Related: TPG's complete guide to traveling with pets
Service animals are “individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability,” as defined in the DOT's Dec. 2 statement. In contrast, people hoping to earn ESA status for their pet simply need a doctor's note stating that the animal is medically necessary for the owner's comfort and support.
U.S. military veteran: Why I'm glad the DOT will change emotional support animal requirements
The ESA loophole surged in popularity in recent years, as airlines began to increase travel fees for everything from seat selection to checked baggage. Travelers discovered that designating their pets as emotional support animals was a handy way to avoid paying pet fees, which can exceed $100 on a one-way domestic flight.
However, a number of issues have arisen from untrained animals enjoying service animal privileges. Animals have attacked passengers on flights. One notorious incident occurred when United Airlines denied boarding to a traveler who tried to bring an emotional support peacock on a flight departing from Newark International Airport (EWR). The exploitation reached a peak in recent years, with lawmakers, airlines and many travelers uniting in outcry against the lax policies.
That being said, animal lovers can still get their furry fix in some airports that offer trained therapy animals to help soothe anxious travelers.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.