Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Traveler Information

Traveling with Special Items

• If you have a service animal, please tell the TSA officer that the animal with you is a service animal and not a pet. This way you can move to the front of the screening line since the TSA officer may need to spend more time with you.
• We recommend that you carry verification that your animal is a service animal. This may include: cards or documentation, presence of a harness or markings on the harness, or other credible verification.
• You will not be separated from your service animal during the screening process.
• TSA officers have been trained not to communicate, distract, interact, play, feed, or pet service animals.
• The TSA officer should ask permission before touching your service animal or its belongings.
• Please control your service animal while the TSA officer conducts the inspection. You are required to ensure the animal cannot harm the TSA officer.
• If you need to leave the secure boarding area to relieve your animal, you must undergo the full screening process again. When you return to the security checkpoint, tell the TSA officer you are back and she/he will move you to the front of the screening line.

Service Dogs

• Tell the TSA officer the best way for you and your dog to go through the metal detector as a team (i.e., whether walking together or with the service dog walking in front of or behind you).
• If the metal detector alarms when you and your service dog walk through together, both you and the dog must undergo additional screening.
• If the metal detector alarms on either you or your service dog individually (because you walked through separately), whoever set off the alarm must have additional screening.
• If your service dog alarms the walk-through metal detector, the TSA officer will ask for your permission and help before touching your service dog and its belongings. The TSA officer will then perform a physical inspection of your dog and its belongings (collar, harness, leash, backpack, vest, etc.) The TSA officer will not remove your dog’s belongings.