It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's a...Service Dog?

Bossy the Boston Lobster and I on our first flight ever!

I write to you from underneath a seat at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport!  Since I just completed my first flight on an airplane, I thought I'd share some of my tips and tricks for how to navigate flying with a Service Dog by your side, since Mom had no clue what she was doing until now.  I hope I can help make flying easier for other SD teams, as well as ESA teams!

Before the Flight:

·      Call ahead of time to let the airline know that you are bringing a Service Dog with you.  Some airlines, like Delta, need to know the breed and weight of your dog in order to make appropriate accommodations for you.

·      If you have a PSD (or an ESA), have your psychiatrist write a letter beforehand.  The letter should explain that you have a disability as recorded in the DSM and that you require/are prescribed a Service Dog for the flight (and/or at the destination).  Check with the airline beforehand to see if there’s any specific wording that you need.  Note: having a doctor’s note on you is always a good way to “prove” that you have a verifiable disability that requires a SD.

·      Start limiting water and food intake the night before—you don’t want any accidents at the airport!  Even the best-trained SD can have an accident in an airport or on the plane.  Make sure to potty the pup as soon as possible before and after the flight, especially if you are taking a flight more than a few hours long.  Consider having a layover if your flight is more than three or four hours long to make sure your pup is comfortable.

·      Prepare an accident cleanup kit, because accidents do happen!  Paper towels and/or wipes are a must, as well as dog bags.  Some air freshener isn’t a bad idea either!

·      Make a pup pack, complete with everything your pup might need, the night before.  You might want to include items like a water bottle (I recommend the Gulpy), a little bit of food and/or treats (especially for rewarding in difficult situations), medications (if necessary), and anything you may need immediately upon arrival (eg a puppy seatbelt).

·      Exercise, exercise, exercise!  Try to tire your pup out the day before and morning of, especially if you have a long flight, so that your SD can happily snooze on the plane.

At the Airport:

·      Locate a pet relief area and make sure to utilize it before you go through security (especially because oftentimes it’s located outside the airport—there are only a few airports with indoor pet relief areas).  I recommend using it after you have checked in your bags, because then you’re letting your pup relieve him or herself as close to the flight as possible, which helps you in the long run.

·      Have your documentation handy, whether that’s in your hand, in your bag, or in your pup’s saddlebag, or all three.  You definitely want things to go as smoothly as possible for you—you’re already dealing with a disability, so you don’t need life to be any harder for you.

·      Pro tip: at the gate, ask for Pre Boarding.  Most likely, the attendants will agree to this, and you will be able to board before everyone else so that you and your pup are already tucked away by the time the rabble begins to board.  This will protect paws and tails from getting squished under careless feet!

·      Note that you’ll probably have to go through a normal scanner and might have to undergo a body search, because that special security scanner where you throw your hands up in the air doesn’t accommodate pups. 

On the Plane:

·      First: breathe!  Mom was so worried that I’d be scared on the plane that she nearly gave herself a panic attack.  Best case scenario: your pup will rock it and be the perfect plane companion, like I somehow managed to do despite the fact it was my first time on a plane.  Worst case scenario: your pup has a few issues and makes a few mistakes.  Honestly, it’s not the end of the world.  We all make mistakes our first time doing anything, and your pup probably will, too.  Just roll with it and try to make your pup as comfy as possible—the flight will be over soon!

·      There are three places your pup will be, depending on how and where you’re seated, as well as what size your SD is: the floor, the seat next to you, or your lap.  Figure out which works best for you, and do your best to make it work.  Your neighbor(s) may or may not be dog-friendly, but it is your right to sit in your seat—they can always switch with someone.  Most likely, the floor is probably your best option, but if you’re like me, you’ll magically transform into a lap dog (despite your 35 pounds) when you get on a plane!

I hope this helps out any future SD teams who fly!  It's definitely a tricky world to navigate, so I definitely recommend being prepared and doing your research beforehand.  If you've flown before with a pup and have had some other experiences, don't hesitate to share any of your tips and tricks for flying--I'd love to add them to my post.

Until next time,

Kelsie Iris

Check out these posts of mine:
SD team etiquette -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/dos-and-donts-of-encountering-service.html
Confused?  Here are some terms and abbreviations -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/as-abbreviations.html