If you live in the United States, your service dog is allowed by law to go just about anywhere you go. Can you take your service dog on an airplane? A cruise ship? A bus or a train? Absolutely. Hotels, too, are required to allow your service dog to stay with you without charging an extra deposit or pet fees.

However, many questions persist about the definition of a service animal and how to travel with one. We’re here to help provide clarity, so you can plan a stress-free trip!

Understand the official definition of a service animal.

As defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.

Other types of animals that help people do not have the same protection under the law.

• Service animal vs. an emotional support animal: Emotional support animals can help alleviate mental health conditions, but they’re not trained to perform tasks. For example, a service animal for anxiety might do things like reminding its owner to take medicine, fetching medicine, or calming its owner during an anxiety attack by offering a paw.¹ An emotional support animal simply helps its owner feel better with its presence.
• Service animal vs. therapy animal: Therapy animals work in settings such as schools or hospitals. While therapy dogs are trained and must meet requirements to earn the title of AKC Therapy Dog, they’re not the same as service dogs.²
• Service animal vs. comfort animal: Comfort animals are trained to calm and distract people during a crisis. They, too, are highly trained, but they’re not service animals.

Airlines used to treat these animals as similar to service dogs. But when people began abusing the system by bringing untrained dogs on airplanes, as well as emotional support horses, squirrels, pigs, and even a “comfort turkey,” the Department of Transportation tightened the rules.³

Buy travel insurance well in advance of your trip.

A good travel insurance plan can protect you from all kinds of travel mishaps: unexpected cancellations and trip interruptions, medical emergencies, lost baggage and baggage delays, travel delays, and more. The best time to purchase your plan is right after paying your first trip deposit.

Get a quote for travel protection

Does travel insurance protect service animals? In several ways, yes. While a service animal is not an insured traveler, Allianz Travel Insurance plans do define your service animal as both a family member and a travel companion. This means…

• If something happens to your service animal during the trip and you need help, you can call 24-hour assistance or use the Allyz® app to reach our expert Assistance team.

• If your service animal experiences a medical emergency before the trip, or if something else happens that prevents you or your service animal from traveling, that may be a covered reason for trip cancellation. The cause for cancellation must be a covered reason—that is, one specifically named in your insurance plan.
• If your service animal becomes seriously ill or injured while traveling, that can be a covered reason for trip interruption. Your plan may also reimburse you for additional accommodation and transportation expenses while your service animal is hospitalized. Travel insurance can’t cover veterinary bills, however.
• If your trip is interrupted because of a covered reason involving your service animal, trip interruption benefits can reimburse you for unused, non-refundable trip costs as well as eligible transportation costs and other expenses.
• If your service animal’s trip is delayed for a covered reason, travel insurance with trip delay benefits can reimburse you for eligible expenses incurred because of the delay.

Learn more: How Does Travel Insurance Cover Your Travel Companion? and How Travel Insurance Covers Family Members

Check your airline’s rules about bringing a service animal on an airplane.

Airlines are required by law to let service animals travel on flights to, from, and within the United States.⁴ However, airlines are also allowed to require that your service dog be vaccinated, be leashed or wearing a harness, and be well-mannered and under control at all times.

The best tip for smooth flying with a service dog: Notify the airline well in advance. This gives them time to make arrangements, such as giving you an additional empty seat to make room for a larger animal. This isn’t required, but some airlines will do it.

They may ask you to fill out a Service Animal Air Transportation Form and a Service Animal Relief Attestation Form, which says your service animal will relieve itself on the airplane in a sanitary way, such as with a diaper or potty pad.

Airlines can deny transport to a service dog if it:

• Is too big to fit safely in the space available, whether sitting at your feet or in your lap
• Causes a significant disruption in the cabin or at airport gate areas (by barking or jumping on people, for instance)
• Poses a threat to the health or safety of others
• Violates health requirements (if it’s prohibited from entering a U.S. territory or foreign country, for instance)

If this happens, you may be able to arrange for your service dog to fly as a pet instead and pay any fees the airline charges.

Rules also apply to taking a service animal on a cruise.

Service animals are allowed by law to travel with you on a cruise. However, caring for and feeding your service dog is 100% your responsibility—there’s no kibble buffet! Check with your cruise line beforehand to find out how they accommodate service animals.

As an example, Royal Caribbean’s service animal policy asks that you notify the ship’s Access Department at the time of booking (or no later than 30 days before sailing) that you’ll have a service dog with you. They’ll provide 4x4 foot relief areas with mulch (or sod, if you request it and it’s available) where service dogs may use the bathroom. Service dogs may not be left unattended in your stateroom, and crew members aren’t required to look after your service dog for you.⁵

Be prepared to push back against intrusive questions when traveling with a service animal.

• “Why isn’t your dog wearing a vest?”
• “Why do you need a service dog? You don’t look”
• “Show me what your service dog does.”

Questions like these are common, whether from fellow passengers or airline/airport staff. How you respond is up to you, but it helps to know your rights!

Service dogs are not required to wear a special vest, tag, or ID. However, it can make your life easier (especially when traveling) if your dog does wear a clearly labeled service dog vest.⁶

In the U.S., employees of a business may legally ask you two questions: (1) Is your dog a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) What work or task has the dog been trained to perform? You do not have to provide details about your disability or demonstrate what your dog does.

When you’re traveling overseas with a service animal, research the rules for your destination country.

There’s no room for error when traveling internationally with your service dog. Depending on where you’re headed, you may need to provide:

• Vaccination records
• Proof your dog has been microchipped
• A health certificate from your veterinarian
• An import permit from your destination country
• A blood test
• A letter from your doctor⁷

Not sure what the requirements are? Reach out to the U.S. embassy at your destination for guidance.

Feeling overwhelmed? Your Allianz Travel Insurance concierge is here to help.

Many Allianz Travel Insurance plans include concierge benefits. Just call the number printed on your policy letter of confirmation. Your concierge can provide travel-planning help for travelers with disabilities or special needs, including traveling with a service animal. For example, you can ask your concierge to:

• Suggest some animal-friendly hotels at your destination that are also accessible for travelers with disabilities
• Research the rules and protections for service animals in your destination country
• Recommend a local veterinarian
• Help you locate nearby pet supply stores that carry special food for your service dog

If there’s anything we can do to make traveling with your service dog easier for you, we will. Bon voyage!

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