Should you fly with your pet? No, and here’s why

On a recent flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu, Dave Terry almost tripped over a 70-pound Labrador Retriever every time he stepped into the aisle to use the bathroom. After six hours of sitting next to the otherwise well-behaved canine passenger, he wondered why on earth people fly with dogs.

It turns out that question — should I fly with my pet? — sharply divides pet owners and other passengers.

A “free trip” for your pet?

Terry, who works for an aluminum railing manufacturer in Pomona, Calif., says the dog’s owner claimed the white lab was an emotional support animal. But for him, and the other passengers on the plane, it felt more like a safety hazard, he says.

“I love dogs and understand some people have special needs,” he says. “But after watching it, I’m not sure what support it provided the owner. It looked more like a free trip for the dog.”

Some travelers complain that their fellow passengers claim their dogs are emotional support animals just to fly them for free.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Transportation tightened some of its rules about service animals. Among some of the policy changes, it gave the green light for airlines to ask passengers traveling with a service animal to provide…