ESA travel guide for the festive season: everything you need to know
Traveling with your ESA during the holiday season can be really fun and exciting. It would be a great opportunity for you to make good memories for yourself and your pet. However, some people feel anxious while traveling, and it can be more complex with an ESA.
If you are well prepared for your trip, everything will go smoothly and you won't face any problems. Some considerations must be kept in mind while traveling with your ESA.
Planning a trip during the festive season can be overwhelming, especially when traveling with an ESA. However, with our ESA travel guide for the festive season, we have got you covered. realesaletter provides you with all the information you need to plan your trip, including travel regulations, documentation, and tips on how to make your journey stress-free for you and your ESA.
Get your documents ready!
The first and foremost step before embarking on a journey with your ESA is to get the necessary documents ready. The most essential document is the emotional support animal letter which is your golden ticket for your ESA rights. You need a legitimate ESA letter that has the following elements
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It must be issued on the letterhead of the therapist with the signature of the therapist
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It must mention the license type, license number, and state of issuing the license
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It should mention your diagnosis according to the DSM V criteria
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It should recommend that you need an ESA to support your emotional needs.
The letter can be issued by a licensed health professional, mental health therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist, social worker, or registered nurse.
This letter is the most important document that you would need to travel with your ESA. However, be careful of fraudulent scam services and use an authentic source to get your real esa letter for housing. You should also remember that there is no need to register your ESA or get any certification for it as it is not required for an ESA.
Notify the airlines that you are traveling with
You should know that the airlines are using strict regulatory measures to prevent people from sneaking in their pets as ESAs. Moreover, your ESA is not a service animal or pet, so different regulations apply to it.
Previously people could just walk into the airport with their ESA without any prior notification but now there are strict regulations.
You should check the website of the airlines that you wish to travel with to understand their specific requirements. Most airlines require that you submit the necessary documentation 48 hours before traveling so they can be prepared to accommodate you.
Some airlines require you to fill out an online form that contains your personal information regarding your ESA. This form has to be submitted along with the other necessary documents required by the airlines.
Planning is the most important aspect of the traveling process. If you figure out all your needs, you are likely to get things done smoothly. If you notify the airlines in time and get your documents ready, you are good to go.
Once the official stuff is done, you can focus on your personal needs and your pet's needs during the trip.
Prepare your pet for the journey
Airports are stressful even for people, but your animal can also get stressed out due to the loud announcements on speakers, and a huge crowd of people all around. It’s also easy to lose your pet in the crowd and it can get scary which can be problematic for everyone.
Your pet should be properly trained to follow commands so it does not cause any public nuisance. It should not hurt, bite or attempt to bite another person.
Your pet should be on a leash or it should be carried in a pet carrier so it is easy to manage.
Some other regulations for flying:
Your ESA should fit below your feet under your seat and it should not poke its head into the aisle or walk into the aisle.
It should not sit on a passenger seat, but it can sit in your lap as long as it is smaller than a 2-year-old child.
The ESA should be clean and well-behaved but it is not allowed to eat from the food tray.
It should not relieve itself during the flight or should do so in a way that does not create a sanitation issue.
Types of ESA that can travel with you
Most airlines allow you to travel with pets that do not create a safety concern for other passengers. The pet should be well-trained and suitable for traveling.
You can easily take your dog on local or international flights as it is the most accepted ESA and service animal. Some species of dogs such as pit bulls are prohibited from traveling, which can be aggressive and dangerous for others.
You can travel with a cat, guinea pig, miniature horse, or hamster on a local flight within the US. However, the rules for international flights are variable. Some airlines might allow you to travel with an unusual ESA but most exotic animals would not be allowed.
Know your rights!
If you are prepared you would not face any issues during your flight. You should have your paperwork ready which includes your emotional support animal letter and your permission form with the airlines. Airlines often face problems with people trying to travel with exotic animals and passing off pets as ESAs but they don’t have the documents to prove their claims.
You should also have access to the air carrier act which makes it legal for you to fly with your pet. You should read the policy of the airlines on ESAs, so you know where you stand and have no troubles during your holiday travels.
Useful resources:
How to Know If an ESA Letter is Legit?
How To Get a Legitimate ESA Letter?
For depression, is it possible to obtain an ESA letter?
Wondering how to get an ESA dog: Here is everything you need to know
What degree of depression must exist before an ESA dog is considered?