Air Travel and Public Access Flashcards

A passenger wants to bring an ESA on an international flight operated by a U.S. carrier. Which rule applies?

Answer: The destination country's import and quarantine laws also apply, and the airline may follow its pet policy

International travel involves both the airline's post-2021 pet policy and the destination country's animal import requirements, which can include quarantine or breed restrictions.

What floor space requirement must a service animal meet to be allowed in an airline cabin seat row?

Answer: The animal must fit in the passenger's foot space without blocking the aisle or encroaching on another passenger's space

DOT rules require that a service animal fit in the passenger's foot space without blocking the aisle or impeding other passengers — animals too large to do so may be reseated or denied boarding.

Which of the following best describes why ESAs lost mandatory airline accommodation rights in 2021?

Answer: The DOT found widespread fraud and concluded ESAs differ fundamentally from trained service animals in terms of disability mitigation

The DOT cited widespread abuse of ESA documentation, a lack of task training, and safety incidents as reasons to align ESA treatment with standard pet policies.

If a landlord charges a pet deposit for all pets, can they also charge a pet deposit for a tenant's ESA?

Answer: No, charging a pet deposit for an ESA is considered a discriminatory surcharge under the FHA

The FHA prohibits landlords from imposing pet deposits or fees specifically for ESAs as a condition of the reasonable accommodation.

A psychiatric service dog handler is asked to move to a different seat on the plane so the dog can fit. The handler refuses. What should the airline do?

Answer: Work with the handler to find a mutually acceptable seating solution that meets safety requirements

DOT guidance requires airlines to work collaboratively with passengers to find seating solutions that accommodate the service animal while meeting safety requirements.

Which of the following behaviors would justify an airline denying transport to a service animal under DOT rules?

Answer: The dog repeatedly lunges at other passengers and the handler cannot control it

An airline may refuse a service animal that poses a direct threat to health or safety, such as uncontrolled aggressive behavior that the handler is unable to mitigate.

Under FHA guidance, which of the following is an example of an unreasonable burden that would NOT require a housing provider to accommodate an ESA?

Answer: The ESA is a large exotic animal that poses documented health or safety risks to other residents

Housing providers may deny an ESA accommodation if granting it would impose an undue burden or pose a direct threat, such as an exotic animal with documented safety risks.