The Essentials

How to Spot a Fake Service Animal on Your Flight

@dexterthepeacock

For airline passengers and airlines alike, it’s a continuing problem. Not long ago, airline cabins resembled something out of Noah’s Ark — passengers bringing aboard their so-called emotional support animals of every kind and breed.

 

There’s good news now. Emotional support animals are banned on flights, and only legitimate service dogs for people with disabilities are allowed onboard.

 

But that hasn’t stopped some passengers from trying to sneak in their pets. How can you tell if it’s a fake service dog? Look for these signs: the owner feeds the animal treats mid-flight, the dog is resting on its own pillow, the passenger boards with two “service” animals, or — perhaps the biggest giveaway — the owner speaks to it in baby talk.