The country’s flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) will now allow dogs on board aircrafts provided that they are accompanying a customer with disability.
These dogs, according to PAL, are used for a passenger’s emotional support.
“However, these emotional support dogs will only be allowed for flights to and from the United States,” PAL indicated on its website.
The dogs, PAL added, should be trained to behave or it may be denied boarding.
PAL will also ask documentation such as letterhead from a mental health professional or medical doctor who will state the following:
1. The Passenger has a mental or emotional disability recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fourth Edition (DSM IV)
2. The Passenger needs the emotional support of psychiatric service animal as an accommodation for air travel and/or for activity at the passenger’s destination
3. The individual providing the assessment is a licensed mental health professional or medical doctor, and the Passenger is under his or her professional care AND
4. The date and type of mental health professional’s or medical doctor’s license and the state or other jurisdiction in which it was issued
Passengers, who wish to do this, are advised to provide an advance notice of at least 48 hours prior to departure.