American Airlines

Going beyond other airlines’ recently revised policies regarding service and emotional support animals, American Airlines will further tighten its policies. Under new rules that go into effect on July 1, American will ban a number of species as service/support animals including amphibians, ferrets, goats, hedgehogs, insects, reptiles, rodents, and spiders as well as non-household birds and animals with tusks, horns and hooves (with the exception of miniature horses). Animals that are unclean or have an odor will also not be allowed as in-cabin service/support animals on American Airlines aircraft. 

In addition, passengers requesting travel with emotional support animals will be required to present a completed form or letter by a licensed mental health professional, a behavior guidelines form completed by the customer and an animal sanitation form also completed by the traveler for flights over eight hours that indicates that “the animal traveling won’t need to relieve itself during the flight or can do so in a manner that doesn’t create a health or sanitation issue.”

If an animal violates the guidelines on the behavior form by growling, biting or jumping on people during the trip it will result in the animal being classified as a pet and all applicable travel fees will then be assessed.

Delta Air Lines

Delta will launch two new routes from Boston Logan International Airport starting on October 1, 2018. New flights will be available four times daily from Boston to Philadelphia using Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft that will be equipped with 12 first class seats, 20 Delta Comfort+ seats and 44 economy class seats. The new daily service from Boston to Las Vegas will be operated using Boeing 737-800 aircraft and will be conveniently timed for both business and leisure travelers.

WestJet

A possible labor strike is on the horizon for WestJet as pilots for Canada’s second largest airline overwhelmingly voted in favor of a job action. The cooling off period for this ongoing labor dispute ends at midnight on May 18. However, union officials said the pilots will not walk out over the upcoming long holiday weekend, which marks Canada’s Victoria Day on May 21.

A WestJet tweet said, “The company remains actively engaged in negotiations and is confident that an agreement can be reached.” The airline also promised to refund travelers if any flights are cancelled due to strike action by its pilots.