New Delta and United airline requirements for service and emotional support animals

Both Delta and United Airlines have updated their policies for service and emotional support animals. The airlines now require passengers to submit health and vaccination papers for uncaged animals as well as documentation that the animal has been trained. Emotional support animals also require a letter from a doctor or licensed mental health professional. Behind the recent policy changes is the incredible increase in incidents involving people taking advantage of disability protections and boarding airplanes with animals with questionable credentials. United Airlines has seen a 75% increase in “customers bringing emotional support animals onboard” and Delta claims a 84% increase in “incidents” involving animals.

Disabled in Action Activist at The Largest Minority
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United Airlines Destroys a French Man’s Wheelchair at the Beginning of His Month-Long Vacation

Another United Airlines passenger gets dragged off the plane in an aisle chair, although this time United damaged the wheelchair instead of the passenger. That man, from France, had been embarking on a month long dream vacation.

Woman in wheelchair dropped by airport employee on United Airlines flight, suffers serious injury: lawsuit

A wheelchair-using woman was dropped by an unidentified Air Serv employee while transferring onto a plane at Houston airport. She suffered injuries to her shoulder that still persist, which have limited her use of her arms and her independence. And to add insult to injury, United Airlines also damaged her wheelchair. But at least she didn’t get dragged off the airplane, so I guess that’s progress!

Read the rest at: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/woman-confined-wheelchair-dropped-united-flight-lawsuit-article-1.3228429