Know About Southwest Airlines Pet Policy
rayan warn
Southwest Airlines has a first-come, first-served policy as pet seats are limited per flight and passengers must book tickets for their pets as early as possible to get a guaranteed seat for their four-legged friend and book your flight with pet at 1–888–875–0388 And in this complete Southwest Airlines Pet Policy so you read it.
All pets must check-in through the airport ticket counter, but passengers/customers can check-in online, at the airline’s kiosk/ticket counter, or curbside.
Southwest Airlines Pet PolicyPets must be of sound and good behavior to be approved for travel in the flight cabin. Pets with the behaviors listed below will not be accepted on a Southwest Airlines flight.
- Bite, grow, lung
- Excessive barking or scratching
- Urinating near the gate area or in the cabin
- Pets traveling without a passenger/customer are not allowed in the cabin of Southwest Airlines flights.
- With unaccompanied minors, pets will not be allowed to travel in the cabin.
- Pets are not welcome on any Southwest International flights or any reservation that includes an international flight.
- Passengers/customers are not permitted to occupy any exit row seats or not stow under the front seat if they are traveling with pets.
- Only six pets are permitted in the cabin per Southwest Airlines flight, but numbers may increase or decrease in the future depending on circumstances.
- All dogs and cats must be 8 weeks of age or older to be allowed to travel in the cabin of a Southwest flight.
- Pets must not be of a harmful or disruptive nature and must not disturb any traveler/customer.
- All pets must be placed in a sturdy carrier with appropriate locks. The carrier must be under the passenger seat at all times during the flight.
- No pet is allowed to share a carrier with emotional support or trained animal support service.
- Passengers may need to purchase an additional pet seat if traveling with a trained emotional/service animal or portable oxygen concentrator.
- Southwest Airlines will not be liable if the passenger/customer misses his/her flight due to the need to bring the pet to an outdoor relief area.
- No arrangements are made if the passenger/customer’s animal encounters any medical emergency.
- An oxygen mask is not available for pets in case of an emergency.
Southwest Airlines strictly does not accept any pets that remain in the flight cabin.
Southwest Airlines with pets in the cabin
Southwest’s in-cabin pet policy states that if your pet meets all the requirements and criteria of Southwest Airlines’ pet policy, the pet will be accepted into the flight cabin. Passengers/Customers are required to place their pets in an approved carrier as per the requirements.
Passengers/customers can purchase Southwest’s official pet carriers at any Southwest ticket booth/office for $58 (tax included). All pet carriers purchased are non-refundable.
- Pet carriers accepted
- The maximum dimensions allowed for carrying a pet is (18.5” x 8.5” x 13.5”) for a Southwest Airlines flight.
- Both soft and hard-sided carriers are accepted as an in-cabin pet carrier
The carrier must have proper locks and ventilation systems, and there must be enough room inside for the pet to stand and move around comfortably without touching the top of the carrier. - The carrier must fit properly in the passenger/customer seat.
Pet carrier requirements - Southwest Airlines is limited to one pet allowance per ticketed passenger.
- Passengers may carry two pets in one carrier/crate if the pets are of the same type and size, and both pets must have enough room to move and stand comfortably without touching the top of the carrier.
- Pets (cats and dogs) must remain whole (head to tail) inside the carrier.
All pets must be in the enclosed carrier at all times, from the gate area to the entire duration of the trip. Failure to follow this rule will result in a refusal to transport the pet. - All pet carriers/cages are considered a piece of carry-on baggage or personal items. Passengers/customers can either bring personal items and a pet carrier or a carry-on bag and pet carrier.
Pets are not allowed to fly with Southwest Airlines on international flights including destination Puerto Rico.
Southwest Airlines pets are allowed to fly on the Hawaiian Islands, but there is no pet service to Hawaii.
restricted breeds
According to Southwest Airlines’ pet policy, no cats or dog breeds are permitted in the cabin of the flight, but the pet must be healthy and well-behaved, and aggressive behavior will not be tolerated at all.
check-in
Passengers/customers can check in with Southwest Airlines through any of their available methods (online, reservation center/kiosk, or curbside) but they are still required to visit the box office for the pet check-in process and pay the fare and pet reservation fee.
Pets traveling in the cabin of a Southwest flight need to go through a security check like all passengers/customers. Passengers will need to remove their cat or dog from the carrier/cage and hold them in their arms while they pass through the security screen. The pet carrier/crate will go through the x-ray machine along with all other small items and belongings. Dedicated airline personnel and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have the right to thoroughly search the pet carrier.
Remember to always plan for your pet’s requirements and needs. Make notes of pet relief area availability and locations at the airport. Southwest Airlines will not delay your flight because of your pet but will take off your flight according to the scheduled departure time.
Southwest pet reservations
If you would like to reserve space for your pet on a Southwest Airlines flight, call the Southwest Airlines pet reservation number to reserve a seat. There is no guarantee for pet seats because seats are limited. Southwest Airlines follows a first-come, first-served service, so passengers/customers are advised to make reservations for their pets as early as possible. Pet reservation fees will be collected at the Southwest Airlines ticket booth/desk, and fees for this service are non-refundable. If the passenger fails to use the pet reservation/reservation, the charge will not be posted to any future travel credit account. Passengers/customers traveling with pets are required to check in at the southwest booth/ticket counter. After check-in, pets are allowed on board.
Passengers/customers are advised to book their flight tickets through online mode or at the airport reservation desk/kiosk. By Southwest Airlines’ pet policy, pets are not allowed to travel with their owners. If you have any other questions regarding pet reservations with Southwest Airlines, simply call the Southwest Airlines pet reservation number.
Southwest Airlines Emotional Support/Service Support and Law Enforcement Animals Pet Policy
Southwest Airlines understands that an emotional support animal may provide mental support to a passenger/customer due to his/her disability. Southwest’s Pet Policy for Emotional Support Animals states that passengers may bring their emotional support animal during the flight but the animal must meet Southwest Airlines’ specific requirements and standards.
- All passengers traveling with their pets must be present before submitting all required documents and certificates.
- Southwest Airlines only accepts a cat or dog as an emotional support animal.
- The allowance is only one emotional support animal per passenger/customer.
- The emotional support animal must be placed in a carrier/crate that can be located under the passenger seat.
- All passengers/customers wishing to travel with their emotional support animals must provide all necessary certificates and documents (documents must be no more than one year old on the date of actual travel) on official letterhead from a physician or licensed mental health professional providing a diagnosis of mental health-related disabilities.
The letter must include the four points mentioned below
The customer/passenger has an emotional or mental disability specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
The evaluation is provided by a licensed physician or mental health professional, and the customer/passenger undergoes treatment.
The type and date of the doctor’s license or the practice of the mental health profession and the jurisdiction of the country under which it was issued.
The traveler needs a dog or cat to act as an emotional support animal throughout the flight or for any activity at the destination.
ESAs are welcome to travel on Southwest flights to/from all destinations including domestic and international destinations, however, some international destinations follow the rules and regulations of that specific country.
Southwest Airlines’ pet policy is slightly different from other airline’s pet policies in that Southwest Airlines does not have a pet shipment facility or service. Southwest Airlines does not ship any pets; They do not accept any pet reservation as a piece of checked baggage or cargo hold.