Allegiant Airlines
Psychiatric Service
Dog Policy

Allegiant Airlines Main Takeaways:

Psychiatric service dogs fly free on all Allegiant flights with required US DOT documentation for your disability.
Emotional support animals are no longer recognized as service animals and must travel as pets with additional fees.
Your dog must perform trained tasks for your mental health disability, not just provide comfort through its presence.
Maximum of two service dogs per passenger on Allegiant flights.
Required documentation includes US DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form submitted 48 hours before departure.
Service dogs must fit within your foot space without encroaching on other passengers during the entire flight.
You can use Open Doors Organization’s Service Animal Forms Portal for streamlined form submission with unique Service Animal ID number.

Understanding Allegiant Air’s Service Animal Policy

Allegiant Air welcomes passengers with disabilities traveling with trained psychiatric service dogs on all flights within the contiguous 48 United States. Psychiatric service dogs travel free of charge in the aircraft cabin and receive full protection under applicable disability laws. This guide covers current regulations, required documentation, and what to expect when flying with a psychiatric service dog on Allegiant Air.

The Air Carrier Access Act: Federal Law Governing Airline Policies

The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), enacted in 1986 and codified at 49 U.S.C. § 41705, prohibits discrimination against air travelers with disabilities. Enforced by the U.S. Department of Transportation through 14 CFR Part 382, the ACAA applies to all U.S. airlines including Allegiant Air. The law requires airlines to allow trained service dogs in the cabin at no charge, provide boarding assistance, and make reasonable accommodations for passengers with disabilities.

Allegiant Air complies with all ACAA requirements and follows the revised DOT service animal regulations implemented in January 2021. Allegiant accepts psychiatric service dogs at no cost, processes required DOT documentation, and ensures passengers with service dogs receive equal treatment on all routes within the contiguous 48 states.

Important Policy Change: Emotional Support Animals No Longer Recognized on Flights

Effective January 11, 2021, Allegiant Air changed its service dog program following the U.S. Department of Transportation’s revised rules on service animals. No emotional support animals are accepted as service animals on any Allegiant flights.

Before January 2021: Old ESA Rules

Service animals and emotional support animals both flew free in the cabin
ESA letters from mental health professionals were accepted as sufficient documentation
Multiple species were accommodated at no charge
Less stringent documentation requirements for ESAs

After January 2021: Current ESA Rules

Only trained service dogs are recognized as service animals
Emotional support animals are NOT recognized as service animals
ESAs must travel as regular pets with fee per segment
Psychiatric service dogs (task-trained) still qualify for free accommodation
Stricter documentation requirements including DOT Service Animal Form for all flights

Psychiatric Service Dogs vs. Emotional Support Animals

The key distinction is task training. Psychiatric service dogs must perform specific trained tasks such as interrupting panic attacks, reminding you to take medication, providing tactile stimulation during dissociative episodes, guiding you to safety during psychiatric episodes, waking you from nightmares, or creating physical barriers in crowded spaces. If your dog only provides comfort without performing trained tasks, it’s classified as an ESA and must travel as a pet.

Advanced Notice

Notify Allegiant Air when booking your reservation that you’ll travel with a psychiatric service dog. Allegiant Air requires providing documentation at least 48 hours before departure to ensure proper seating arrangements and smoother boarding.

Submit your US DOT Service Animal Form at least 48 hours before departure if you booked your flight in advance. If you purchase tickets less than 48 hours before departure, you may complete the form at the airport but should arrive at least 2 hours before departure for processing.

Contact Allegiant Air by phone at (702) 505-8888. You can also email documentation to [email protected]. Allegiant Air partners with Open Doors Organization to offer a streamlined Service Animal Forms Portal where you can maintain a valid DOT form on file and receive a Service Animal ID number for easier booking.

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Allegiant Airline PSD Requirements

US DOT Service Animal Form Requirements

The U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form is mandatory for psychiatric service dogs on all Allegiant Air flights. You must:

Attest to your dog’s task training for your psychiatric disability
Confirm appropriate public behavior and training
Verify your dog won’t threaten other passengers
Provide veterinarian’s name and contact information
Provide rabies vaccination date and expiration
Provide trainer’s name/organization and contact number
For flights over eight hours, complete the DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form attesting your dog can refrain from relieving itself or do so sanitarily

Download the form from transportation.gov and submit at least 48 hours before departure by emailing [email protected].

For flights booked less than 48 hours before departure, complete the form and present it to an Allegiant representative at the airport at least 2 hours before departure.

Service Animal Forms Portal (Optional)

Allegiant Air partners with Open Doors Organization to offer a Service Animal Forms Portal (SAFP) at no cost. Benefits include:

Complete the DOT form online and receive a unique Service Animal ID number
Use the same ID number for all future Allegiant flights (and other participating airlines)
Valid for the duration of your dog’s rabies vaccination
Receive email reminders when rabies vaccine renewal is due
No need to resubmit forms for each flight
Faster check-in process at the airport
Visit opendoorsnfp.org/service-animal-forms to access the portal. The DOT form is valid for one year or until the rabies vaccine expires, whichever comes first.

Training Requirements for Psychiatric Service Dogs

Allegiant Air accepts fully trained psychiatric service dogs. Service dogs must be individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a psychiatric disability. Your dog must remain under your control at all times and behave appropriately in public settings.

Health Certificate Requirements

Allegiant Air may request a veterinary health form for domestic dogs, even if they are fully trained service animals. While not always required, it’s recommended to carry:

Current rabies vaccination certificate
Veterinarian’s contact information
Proof that your dog is free from fleas, ticks, and contagious diseases

For service dogs, health certificates are generally not mandatory for domestic travel within the contiguous 48 states, but having documentation available can expedite the check-in process.

No Breed Restrictions for Service Dogs

Allegiant Airline does not have breed restrictions for trained service dogs traveling in the cabin, following federal ACAA regulations. Previously, Allegiant banned pit bull-type breeds, but under current ACAA rules, all breeds must be allowed if they meet service dog requirements. However, your service dog must fit within your seating area and behave appropriately throughout the flight.

Behavior Standards During Flight

Your psychiatric service dog must remain leashed, harnessed, or tethered at all times in the airport and on the aircraft. The dog must stay under your control within your foot space.
Your dog must behave appropriately without excessive barking, biting, jumping, or displaying aggression toward passengers or crew. Dogs cannot occupy seats or tray tables, and cannot block aisles or emergency exits.
Allegiant Air may refuse transport or remove dogs that pose safety threats or cause significant disruptions during flight. Examples of disruptive behavior include growling, snarling, biting, attempting to bite, acting aggressively, or running around unleashed.

Seating Rules for Psychiatric Service Dog Handlers

You may select any available seat except emergency exit rows. Due to foot space limitations on Boeing aircraft, passengers with pets may not be able to sit in aisle seats and will be relocated to alternate locations.

Allegiant Air accepts a maximum of two service dogs per person, provided both fit within your seating area without encroaching on other passengers. The size of your service animal(s) must not exceed the footprint or personal space of your foot area during the entire flight. Service dogs must be able to occupy the handler’s foot space with no encroachment on neighboring passenger’s foot space or into the aisle.

No Fees for Psychiatric Service Dogs

Psychiatric service dogs travel completely free under applicable disability laws. Allegiant Air does not charge for cabin access, documentation processing, or any disability-related accommodations. You only pay for your own passenger ticket.

Emotional Support Animals: Traveling as Pets on Allegiant Air Flights

Since January 11, 2021, emotional support animals are no longer recognized as service animals on Allegiant Air flights. Your emotional support animal must travel as a regular pet with all applicable fees and restrictions.

ESA Pet Fees

Cabin pets cost $50.00 per segment (each direction of travel) per carrier. This fee is non-refundable and must be paid at booking or check-in.

Pet Carrier Size Requirements

Only dogs and cats at least 8 weeks old are permitted as cabin pets. Carriers must not exceed 8″H x 14″W x 18″D. The carrier must fit completely under the seat in front of you, be leak-proof, well-ventilated, and secure. Soft-sided carriers are recommended.

Pet Travel Requirements

Your pet must remain in the carrier throughout the entire flight with no part of the animal extending outside. Vaccination records may be required depending on destination. Your pet carrier counts toward your carry-on baggage allowance (you may bring a pet carrier plus a personal item OR a paid carry-on bag, but not both).

Pets must be harmless, non-disruptive, and odorless. A maximum of two pets may travel in one carrier if they can comfortably fit together. Each passenger is limited to one pet carrier.

Check-In Requirements

Passengers traveling with pets must check in with an Allegiant agent at the ticket counter or gate counter at least 1 hour prior to scheduled departure. Online check-in and self-service kiosks are not available when traveling with pets.

Allegiant Air’s Travel Requirements

Service dogs and pets are accepted on all flights within the contiguous 48 United States with proper DOT documentation. Allegiant Air operates flights exclusively within the lower 48 United States, serving smaller cities and leisure destinations. The airline does not offer: