United to tighten rules for comfort animals

DALLAS — United Airlines wants to see more paperwork before passengers fly with emotional-support animals — and don’t even try to bring a peacock on board.

The airline announced Thursday that it will tighten rules starting March 1. The changes are similar to those coming at Delta Air Lines.

United said owners will have to confirm that their animal is trained to behave in public, and they will need a vaccination form signed by a veterinarian. The vet will have to vouch that the animal isn’t a health or safety threat to other people.

The airline said the number of comfort animals has jumped 75 percent in the last year and there has been a big increase in animal-related incidents.

On Sunday, United bounced a passenger who showed up at the airport with a peacock for emotional support.

United already bans exotic animals and nonhousehold birds. Still, the fact that a passenger tried to bring a peacock on board “helped illustrate why we needed to revise our policy,” said United spokesman Charles Hobart.

A spokeswoman for American Airlines said the carrier was still studying the issue, adding that untrained animals can lead to safety issues for employees and passengers.

Guide dogs have been occasional flyers for years, but in recent years there has been a surge of emotional-support animals on planes.