Photo by PoPville flickr user Chris Williams
“Dear PoPville,
I’m hoping you can give me some advice. I have an emotional support dog. I’m a veteran with some PTSD issues, so this isn’t just a ploy to get my dog on the plane for free. He’s actually in training to become a service dog but is an ESA for now.
I’m flying Southwest on a non stop flight and have all the documentation from my provider that the airline requires. My dog is a large German Shepherd and the website for Southwest says ESA’s must be in a carrier or on a leash in front of the owner. Obviously an 80lb German Shepherd isn’t going to fit in a bag or in a small area.
The agents at Southwest have told me I will get priority boarding and I’m hoping I can either sit in the back of the plane alone or in the front bulkhead without someone sitting next to me.
Does anyone have any advice or experiences they can share? I am just so worried they will kick me off the plane or be difficult for whatever reason. ESA’s have gotten a bad rap because all of the people who abuse the system. I legitimately need this. This will be my first time traveling with him as an ESA.”