Spirit Airlines policy adheres to the rules and regulations for service animals as set forth by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Regardless of your chosen airline, Dogs on Planes encourages all travelers with any type of service animal to be familiar with their basic rights and responsibilities.
Spirit Airlines imposes its own set of service animal policies within the parameters of these federal regulations. See below for essential information about traveling with your service animal.
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Spirit Airlines Service Animal Policy
Spirit only accepts service animals if evidence of training or service is presented. This includes identification cards, written documentation regarding a medical need for the animal’s presence in the cabin, and/or the reasonable credible verbal assurance from the individual with the disability using or accompanying the animal. For Spirit, a service animal is one who is trained to lead the hearing or visually impaired or trained in special assistance for the disabled.
If you plan to travel internationally, Spirit may be able to help you understand the requirements for your destination. However, it is up to you to follow any applicable regulations. For assistance, call 801-401-2222.
Spirit Airlines Emotional Support Animal Policy
Spirit Airlines does not allow emotional support animals to travel as service animals. However, emotional support animals may travel as pets on Spirit Airlines flights.
How to Travel with Your Service Animal
Spirit encourages passengers traveling with a service animal to check in at least 90 minutes before the check-in time for the general public. This time is allotted for document verification. If you are planning to travel with an assistance dog, you must contact the airline via telephone 801-401-2222 at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled departure. The animal must remain with you at all times—in the airport and on the aircraft.
Spirit does not require a health certificate as a condition of transporting service animals, but the airline encourages owners to understand the potential for destination-related health documentation. They recommend utilizing the CDC website.
Assistance animals must be seated on the floor at your feet and cannot block an aisle or other area that must remain clear for emergency evacuation. However, you may choose to sit anywhere you’d like—with the exception of emergency exit rows. No animal, or any part of the animal, can be placed on an aircraft seat at any time.
What Types of Service Animals are Prohibited?
Due to safety and/or public health concerns, Spirit Airlines prohibits the following types of animals from traveling:
- Snakes and other reptiles
- Spiders
- Rodents, including rats and guinea pigs
- Rabbits
- Ferrets
- Non-household birds
- Animal improperly cleaned or with a foul odor
- Amphibians