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My sister was traveling from Punta Gorda, Florida to Asheville, North Carolina several weeks ago on Allegiant. She has flown with her Golden Retriever, who is certified as a therapy dog, for five or more years. She has never had any issues with airlines letting the dog travel with her. She has all the appropriate paperwork.

She was told by a very rude airline associate that her paperwork she had for the dog was not good enough. My sister was devastated, as this is her therapy dog and he goes everywhere with her.

She had to leave the dog with someone for a week, and it ruined her whole trip. She was worried about her dog the whole time and could not believe how rude she was treated at the airport. After staying with me for a week she had to go back to Florida to get her dog and then fly to Boston to go home. This was very stressful, inconvenient and an extra expense on her part.

She had no problem flying back to Boston with her therapy dog on Delta. This was discrimination by one of your associates of Allegiant Airlines and this needs to be addressed. Discrimination of certified therapy or companion animals is a serious issue.

Reason of review: Poor customer service.

Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution.

Allegiant Air Cons: Uncaring staff, Poor customer service.

Location: Greer, South Carolina

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Guest

Hay, just bring them on. Don't waste the $100 persegment.

Insist tha the FAA requires it to be carried free. Come on, the dog is everything to me and a part of my family. I'll freak out it if I cannot care for it. Isn't that enough justification?

Don't let the grumpy passenger in the next seat intimidate you because you dog needs, and is justified, in spreading our into his precious space. He doesn't need all of it!

Guest

I travel with a comfort pet on Allegiant. The terms and agreements are very specific as to what the proper paper work must contain.All airlines have recently started carefully making sure all pets are being properly documented to prevent abuse of ppl wanting free travel of pets.It is understandable if the documents were not complete or older than one year to refuse travel.As with any situation such as public transportation one should always read the terms and agreements as they change often.

Guest

A therapy dog is neither a Service Dog, nor an ESA. I'm suprised that other airlines allowed the dog to fly.

Legally, airlines are only obligated to allow Service Dogs, dogs specially trained to support a task or tasks in support of the handlers disability. Airlines are under no obligation to allow a therapy dog in the cabin, as they are not by definition Service Dogs.

Guest

I understand your sister, being upset; however, therapy dogs are not service dogs and as such shouldn't be allowed on planes or in public places such as grocery stores. I know the dog is certified as a therapy dog but that still doesn't make it a service dog. I have to go, as much as I dislike them, with Allegiant on this one.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-955660

Mrs G - before providing advice and "going" with Allegiant, on this one, learn the law. Airlines must allow both service animals, AND Emotional Support on the aircraft and they don't have to be crated like "pets".

Perhaps brush up on all three definitions "pets vs. service animals vs.

emotional support (therapy) dogs. You did get one sentence right - therapy dogs are not service dogs - but then you delve into false statements and maybe what you'd prefer, rather than the law.

Guest

Actually it is illegal for them to deny her dog on the plane.It is also illegal that they ask for proof that the dog is a service dog.It is clearly stated in the americans with disability act.She should lawyer up and sue since the law is on her side with this one.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-953875

A therapy dog is not a service dog. You are correct about it being illegal to not allow it on the plane and also about asking what service the dog provides.

You are incorrect in believing that a therapy dog is a service dog. I hope they didn't "lawyer up" or the lawyer corrected their misunderstanding.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-955662

Yes but she does not have to show papers like she was forced to prove anything about this dog.That was where they broke the law.Sue them.What if she fought in the war and has ptsd?What would you rather she had a freak out while the plane is in the air?Therapy dogs are in fact service dogs because they are assisting the person with their mental health.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-955676

By law, with a โ€œcomfortโ€ animal she most certainly can be asked for proper paper work.โ€œServiceโ€ Do not apply to the same terms and agreements.By the way, other air lines now require a form filled out provided only by that airline. Allegiant is allowing a letter from the qualified physician as long as they adddress all terms of agreement specified by their terms.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-955676

For future reference to help your sister, I hope this helps.48. Service AnimalsCarrier permits dogs and other service animals used by an individual with a disability to accompany such individual in the passenger cabin at no charge.Carrier will accept as evidence that an animal is a service animal the presentation of identification cards, tags, or other written documentation; the presence of harnesses or markings on harnesses; or the credible verbal assurances of the individual with a disability using the animal.Carrier will permit a service animal to accompany a qualified individual with a disability at either a bulkhead seat or a seat other than a bulkhead seat, as the individual prefers, unless the animal obstructs an aisle or other area that must remain unobstructed in order to facilitate an emergency evacuation.

Service animals may not occupy a seat.A trained service animal accompanied by a trainer will be permitted to travel aboard Carrier' s aircraft only if the animal is being delivered to the domicile of an individual with a disability who either owns or, upon delivery, will take immediate ownership of the animal for that individual's personal use. No additional charge will be assessed for carriage of a trained service animal being delivered to the domicile of the animal's owner under such circumstances.Service animals in training will be accepted by Carrier for transport.Emotional Support or Comfort Animals do not need to have specific training for that function. Proper documentation (no older than one year from the date of the passenger's scheduled initial flight) is required on letterhead from a mental health professional (e.g., a psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, or other medical doctor specifically treating the passenger's mental or emotional disability) stating:That the passenger has a mental or emotional health-related disability recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (DSM IV).That having the animal accompany the passenger is necessary to the passengerโ€™s mental health or treatment or to assist the passenger with his or her disability during the flight or at the passengerโ€™s destination.That the individual providing the assessment of the passenger is a licensed mental health professional and the passenger is under his or her professional care.The date and type of the mental health professional's license and the state or other jurisdiction in which it was issued.Airline personnel will require this documentation as a condition of permitting the animal to accompany the passenger in the cabin.

The purpose of this provision is to prevent abuse by passengers that do not have a medical need for an emotional support or comfort animal and to ensure that passengers who have a legitimate need for emotional support or comfort animals are permitted to travel with their service animals on the aircraft. Carrier does not require the documentation to specify the type of mental health disability, e.g., panic attacks.

Guest

Your sister obviously does not need any emotional support dog because she was able to fly to your house, stay a week, and then fly back without the dog and without breaking down. As you said, her only concern was for the care of the dog.

Your sister sounds like one of those person who "games"the system so her large dog can fly for free -pathetic.

Also you gloss over the paperwork issue. Alligiant refers a letter from a mental health practioner who is your sister's doctor, that she needs the dog.

The issue is not whether the dog is certified. Sorry to hear that Delta did not call your sister on her "emotional support"dog that she doesn`t need for weeks at a tkme.

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