Tips for Flying with a Service Dog

Whether you’re preparing for your first flight with your service dog or you’re a pro, we’ve gathered some handy tips for before, during, and after your flight from Meg Keough, Undivided’s account manager, researcher, and health plan services coordinator. Meg has had her service dog Kristin for the last two years, since August 2022, for her son Jackson who has a diagnosis of autism. Jackson is now 15 years old (was 13 when they were matched at Canine Companions) This is their first service dog. Read on for Meg’s tips for flying with a service dog!

Every airport and airline will have different guidelines, so before you book your flight, search your airline's website and read what they expect from you in order to fly with your animal on their airline. Fill out the Department of Transportation form, which is universal and required for anyone flying with a service dog.

The DOT form will ask for things such as weight, breed, vaccination info, etc. It also has a section where you have to list the tasks your dog performs. “You’ll have to be really specific about those tasks,” Meg explains, “Not general, like, ‘They comfort me,’ or, ‘They help guide me.’ If you have a service dog, even if it's for a situation like with us, where it's autism, you already know what those commands are that they specifically trained you on. For ours, it’s ‘lap,’ like ‘Krissy can go and get in Jack's lap and put her front paws on his lap,’ or ‘She can go visit and put her face on his knee and help regulate him.’

Tip: it’s good to already have an idea of which two tasks you're going to use because the airline can ask you. They can't ask you to demonstrate the tasks, however.

After your application has been accepted, you’ll receive a Service Animal ID number.

Many airlines use an organization called Open Doors, which is an online portal that allows you to fill out the DOT form online, submit it, and receive your Service Animal ID Number. Meg tells us that once you get that ID number through email, you have the option within Open Doors to inform the airline of your travel. You can put in your flight info because you've already booked your flight, and your new service dog ID number. If your airline uses the Open Doors portal, you can use it every time you’re flying. “It makes it really convenient,” Meg says, “But it depends on the airline.” Other airlines may have you fill out the form through their website/online account.

Most, if not all, airlines should have an accessibility phone number that you can call for questions, or to confirm that your flight and your ticket show that you have a service dog flying in the cabin with you.

They can also help you get the right seats on the flight. Meg explains that in her experience with Alaska Airlines, once her dog was registered and the DOT form was complete, she called the airlines accessibility line for help being placed in seats that would be the easiest for her family. Sometimes what is recommended is the bulkhead, which is the area between first and general seating. “That way, your dog can lean against the wall and have a little extra foot room. I think you have to pay extra to book those seats, but when you're doing it through accessibility, if the seats are available, they give them to you.”

Tip: it’s recommended to complete the DOT form 48 hours before the flight, but Meg recommends doing it a month or two before — when she called, all the bulkhead seats were already taken, and there were only two aisle seats available. While you can wait and see if people will move, it is a bit risky. Meg tells us that another seating option is wheelchair-accessible aisles because you’ll get more support from airline staff.

Meg recommends calling the accessibility line often, and even the day before, to make sure there haven’t been any changes to your seating, and if so, to make changes before the flight. Then, once at the airport at your gate, ask the staff for another update on your seating (because there’s always a chance something was changed last minute). For example, if you wanted to leave the middle seat open to have more room, they might place someone there, which is what happened on Meg’s return flight.

“Going home, I tried the same thing: I called the accessibility line the day before we left, and somebody [was seated between us],” she says. “Then the next day, I went to the gate and they said, ‘Somebody's still seated between you guys, and we can't move them, but we'll swap you. And we'll explain to them privately that you’re going to have a dog there and make sure that they're helpful and kind.’ You don't want to sit next to somebody who's fearful of dogs.”

• Airports usually list designated pet relief areas that are outside and inside of the airport, and what terminals/gate they're nearby (you can also find info online if people have shared on blogs or websites).
• Sometimes, the inside bathrooms for dogs are like porta potties and smell awful, so instead, you can try to find a grassy or rocky area outside of the airport, usually downstairs near baggage claim. This is also a good option if you think your pet won't use an inside pet space, or they’re refusing to use it.
• Withhold food and water two hours prior to travel (maybe skip the meal closest to travel).
• When you get to the airport and check in, before you go through security, find a pet relief area or go downstairs to baggage claim to find somewhere outside because now you have less baggage that you're carrying, and you already know you're checked in for your flight.

Meg personally recommends:

• Bring a towel, and put it down on the ground where your dog will be in front of your seat. This way, they have a designated little bed space to curl up on. You can also lay the towel down in the car.
• To keep them occupied and also help clear their ears, give them something to chew on during takeoff and landing. You can bring edible, rawhide-free, chewy bones, or anything chewy, and use one when you go and then when you come home. You can also try getting KONGS and filling them with peanut butter and giving it to them when you take off and land.
• Bring a small bag of food for your dog because you've likely packed their food for the trip in your suitcase. If you lose your suitcase or it arrives late, you don't want to have to go out and find a different food that might upset their tummy.
• Whatever food or snack you're going to give, try it out beforehand because dogs can have a bad reaction or an upset stomach.
• Bring your dog's favorite toys (don’t assume that dog-friendly accommodations are going to have dog toys).

It’s hard enough going through long security lines with the kids, let alone with a service dog. Meg says that while TSA doesn't publicize this, you can ask where the handicap accessibility security line is. Don't just assume you have to get in the normal security line.

Another tip is to practice going through a doorway with your service dog so they’re ready to go through security. Note that airport security can’t ask you to take their coat or leash off. “You don't want the dog to push through security because if they thump or hit it, it tags you, and I think you have two or three chances before they end up pulling you aside and patting you all down.”

Practice walking up to it and telling your dog to sit while you still hold their leash. You can then walk through it yourself, turn around, then tell them to come to you. To prepare, you can practice that in doorways in your home so your dog can learn when you’ll be turning, waiting, walking through a doorway, and telling them to follow after you.

For more about service dogs, such as the eligibility requirements, costs, and the application and training process to get a service dog for a child with a disability, read our article The Amazing, Incredible Service Dog. Need more tips on flying in general? Head over to our article Airplane Travel Tips for Kids with Disabilities.

Do you have experience flying with a service dog? Reach out to us and let us know your tips and tricks!