Hawaiian Airlines Emotional Support Animal and PSD Policy Guide.

• Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSDs): Allowed to fly with you free of charge, under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA).
• Maximum of Two Service Animals: Hawaiian Airlines permits up to two service animals per passenger. Any additional animals will be considered pets and will fall under the Hawaiian Airlines pet policy.
• DOT Travel Form Requirement: A DOT travel form and a Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD) letter are required for traveling with service animals.
• Emotional Support Animals: Emotional support animals are allowed to fly but are subject to Hawaiian Airlines dog policy. However, they will not get accommodation available for service animals.
• Breeds Allowed: Only dogs, cats, and domesticated birds are allowed as pets and are subject to breed restrictions.

Yes, Hawaiian Airlines’ service animal policy allows psychiatric service dogs to fly with passengers free of charge. However, specific requirements must be met to ensure safety and compliance with airline regulations. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) travel form is required for service animals, and passengers must carry a valid PSD letter, proving the need for their service dog.

Under current federal DOT regulations, Hawaiian Airlines cannot require or review a medical “PSD letter” or doctor’s note for psychiatric service dogs. Instead, travelers flying with service dogs must complete the required DOT documentation.

• U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form: This form must be completed and submitted online at least 48 hours before departure. It serves as a legal self-attestation confirming your service dog’s training, behavior, health, and vaccination status.
• U.S. DOT Relief Attestation Form: This additional form is required only for flights scheduled to last 8 hours or longer, which may apply to certain mainland-to-Hawaii routes. It confirms that the service dog can either avoid relieving itself during travel or can do so in a sanitary manner.

Emotional support animals are not recognized as service animals under federal airline rules and must comply with Hawaiian Airlines’ standard pet travel policies and applicable fees.

To help ensure a smooth experience, follow these steps:

1. Complete the DOT Form: Download the U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form from the Hawaiian Airlines website.
2. Submit the Form on Time: Submit this form at least 48 hours before your departure. If booking within 48 hours, bring the completed form to your departure gate.
3. Prepare for Long Flights: For flights longer than eight hours, submit the DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form to confirm your animal’s relief needs.
4. Carry Your PSD Letter: Bring a current PSD letter that verifies your need for a psychiatric service dog. Airline staff may ask questions regarding the dog’s tasks and its purpose in supporting your condition.

• An Exit row
• A seat where an animal could block the aisle
• A seat needs to be accessible to allow for an emergency escape.

If you have a pet carrier, you can only sit in a seat with enough space. The Hawaiian Airlines pet carrier requirements for the cabin are 16″ L x 10″ W x 9.5″ H.

Additionally, your service animal must not occupy an empty seat. They must sit on your floor space, the floor space of an adjacent empty seat, or your lap.

You must obtain a health certificate for your service animal if you enter Hawaii. Consider the following health certificate requirements.

• Flights within Hawaii: Not required.
• Flights departing Hawaii: Not required
• Flights to Hawaii: This is required, and the certificate must be dated no more than 14 days before the flight arrives in Hawaii.

If your return flight back to Hawaii is on the same round trip reservation, you may use your original certificate, provided it is dated at most 30 days before arrival in Hawaii.

If your return flight back to Hawaii is on a separate reservation, you must have a certificate dated at most 14 days before arrival in Hawaii.

Hawaii is one of the few places in the world that remains completely rabies-free, which means its animal entry rules are significantly stricter than those of the U.S. mainland. All dogs and cats entering Hawaii, including trained service dogs and psychiatric service dogs (PSDs), must comply with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s (HDOA) “5-Day-or-Less” Direct Release program requirements.
Your animal may be quarantined for up to 120 days after arrival if these conditions are not met beforehand.
To qualify for direct airport release or reduced quarantine, prepare the following months before travel:

• Microchip Requirement: Your animal must have a functioning electronic microchip for identification.
• Two Rabies Vaccinations: The animal must have two documented rabies vaccinations administered more than 30 days apart and remain current at the time of travel.
• FAVN Rabies Antibody Test: Your veterinarian must collect a blood sample and send it to an approved laboratory for rabies antibody testing. The laboratory must receive the sample at least 30 days before arrival in Hawaii.
• Health Certificate: Obtain a veterinary health certificate issued within 14 days of arrival in Hawaii.

Because Hawaii’s entry process involves strict timelines and documentation requirements, travelers should begin preparing several months before departure to avoid delays, extended quarantine periods, or denied entry procedures.

As support animals are not protected under the ADA, your ESA will be considered a pet when traveling with Hawaiian Airlines. Your ESA will be subject to Hawaiian Airlines dog policy.

No pets younger than eight weeks old for dogs/cats, and two weeks old for birds.
Pets are not accepted on flights to or from Texas, New York, Massachusetts, American Samoa, or Florida via cargo services.

• Bulkhead rows
• First-class (except inter-island flights)
• Emergency exit rows

Your pet’s kennel must fit securely under the seat in front of you.

Health certificate requirements differ based on destination:

• Flights within Hawaii: Not required
• Flights from Mainland USA to Hawaii: Certificate dated no more than 14 days before flight arrival
• Return flights from Hawaii to the Mainland: If on a round-trip ticket, the certificate can be up to 30 days old.

• Within Hawaii: $35.00
• Between Hawaii and North America: $125.00 (prices may vary; confirm with Hawaiian Airlines).

Hawaiian Airlines charges pet travel fees based on route type, but travelers flying with pets to or from Hawaii should pay close attention to cabin restrictions, especially for inbound flights.

• Inter-Island Flights Within Hawaii: Pet fee is typically $35 each way.
• Flights Between Hawaii and North America: Pet fees are generally $125 each way, although travelers should verify current pricing before departure.

Cabin Travel Restrictions for Pets

• Inbound Flights (Mainland to Hawaii): Standard pets and emotional support animals (ESAs) are generally not permitted to travel in the passenger cabin when flying into Hawaii. Instead, they must travel as checked baggage in the climate-controlled cargo hold to accommodate Hawaii’s agricultural inspection and quarantine procedures upon arrival.
• Outbound Flights (Hawaii to Mainland) and Inter-Island Routes: Small pets may travel in the cabin if they fit inside an approved carrier that remains under the seat in front of the passenger throughout the flight.

Because Hawaii enforces strict animal import regulations, travelers should review both airline policies and state entry requirements before booking pet travel arrangements.

Hawaiian air pet policy restricts some brachycephalic dog breeds (short-nosed) as checked baggage. It is because of the respiratory difficulties these animals may experience while in transit and Hawaii’s tropical climate.

Some of the Snub-nosed dog breeds are.

• American Bully
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• American Pit Bull Terrier
• Boston Terrier
• Boxer
• Brussels Griffon
• Bulldog
• Bull Mastiff
• Bull Terrier
• Chow Chow
• Dutch Pug
• English Bulldog
• English Toy Spaniel
• French Bulldog
• Japanese Spaniel (Chin)
• Lhasa Apso
• Pekingese
• Pit Bull
• Pug
• Shar Pei
• Shih Tzu
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Some of the Snub-nosed cat breeds.

• Burmese
• Exotic
• Himalayan
• Persian

• The kennels must be non-folding, non-collapsible, and non-rolling.
• The kennels should be leak-proof, hard-sided, and constructed of rigid wood, metal, or hard plastic.
• The kennels must have a single door located at the front, made of metal grate, and secured with metal bolts or screws.
• The kennel must be appropriate so the animal can comfortably sit, stand, turn, and lie down. The recommended baggage Hawaiian airlines pet carrier requirements are 36″Long x 25″Wide x 28″Height.
• The kennels used for flights between the Continental USA and Hawaii must have two dishes (one for food and one for water), accessible from the outside for filling without opening the door.

Preparing to travel with your service or emotional support animal on Hawaiian Airlines doesn’t have to be stressful. By understanding the airline’s requirements you’ll be well-equipped for a smooth journey. Remember, policies may change, so for the most current information, check Hawaiian Airlines’ official site or reach out to their support team before your departure. With the right preparation, you and your companion can enjoy a hassle-free flying experience.