New support animal policy goes into effect Oct. 1

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Aug 30, 2018, 11:00 ET

SEATTLE, Aug. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines is updating its support animal policy, limiting the number and type of emotional support animals and type of service animals a customer can travel with on all aircraft.

The updated policy aligns with recent airline industry changes and provides clear guidance and a consistent and safe travel experience for guests and employees. This change is being made to protect the health and safety of passengers and crew while maintaining a safe and orderly operation.

Summary of the new policy, which goes into effect for all travel occurring on or after Oct. 1, 2018, regardless of when booked:

Guests traveling with an emotional support animal:

May bring only one emotional support animal on the flight.
Emotional support animals will be limited to either a dog or cat. No other species of animal will be permitted.
For the safety of other passengers, all emotional support animals must be in a carrier or leashed at all times.
Must provide appropriate documentation and 48-hours advance notice, per our existing policy.

Summary of the service animal policy, which now includes psychiatric service animals, goes into effect for all travel occurring on or after Oct. 1, 2018, regardless of when booked:

Guests traveling with a trained service animal:

Service animals (now includes psychiatric service animals) will be limited to either a dog, cat or miniature horse.
Service animals must be under the control of their owner at all times.
Alaska Airlines accepts fully trained psychiatric service animals as trained service animals—no documentation is required for service animals.

Guests who have traveled on their outbound flight prior to Oct. 1 and returning on or after Oct. 1 will be allowed to transport their trained service animal or emotional support animal in accordance with the existing policy.

Customers traveling with one or more emotional support animals after Oct. 1 have the option to limit their travel to only one emotional support animal, to travel without their animal, or to receive a full refund if they no longer wish to travel.

Learn more about the support animal policy at alaskaair.com.

Alaska Airlines and its regional partners fly 44 million guests a year to more than 115 destinations with an average of 1,200 daily flights across the United States and to Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica. With Alaska and Alaska Global Partners, guests can earn and redeem miles on flights to more than 900 destinations worldwide. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Carriers in North America" in the J.D. Power North America Airline Satisfaction Study for 11 consecutive years from 2008 to 2018. Learn about Alaska's award-winning service at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines, Virgin America and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK).