Southwest Airlines Pet Policy

Travellers can carry small domestic dogs and cats in the cabin of flight. Southwest Airlines’ pet policy states that dogs and cats must be properly vaccinated. Every pet must remain under the passenger’s seat in an approved carrier as per the standards. No pets can travel along in the cabin of international flights.

The first-come-first-service policy is maintained by Southwest Airlines as the seats for pets are limited per flight. Travellers should book tickets for their pets soon to get a guaranteed seat for their four-legged friend.

Every pet must enter through the ticket counter at the Airport, but the passengers’ can check-in online, at the airline’s ticket counter, or the curbside.

The pets should have sound and good behavior to be approved for travel in the flight cabin. Cats and dogs with the below-mentioned behaviors will not be accepted in the southwest airlines flight.

• growling, lunging, biting
• Excessive scratching or barking
• Urinating near the cabin or gate area

Pet Policy Preventions of Southwest Airlines

No pets moving without a customer are accepted in the cabin of southwest airlines flights.

No pets will be permitted to travel in the cabin with the unaccompanied minors.

Pets are not welcomed in any southwest international flight or any booking that includes an international flight.

Passengers/customers cannot occupy exit row seats or the no forward under-seat stowage if travelling with pets.

Only six pets can enter and travel in the cabin per Southwest Airlines’ flight. But the figures may increase or decrease further depending on the situation.

Cats, birds, and other pets must be eight weeks old or more to travel in the cabin of a Southwest flight.

Cats and dogs must not be of harmful or disruptive nature, and they should not bother any co-passenger/customer.

Every pet must be kept in a strong carrier with proper locks. The carrier should be under the passengers’ seat during the flight.

No pet can share the carrier with emotional support or trained service support animal.

Travellers may have to purchase an extra seat for their pets if they travel through a trained or emotional service animal or a portable oxygen concentrator.

Southwest airlines won’t take any responsibility if a passenger or customer misses their flight because they require to take the pet to the outside relief area.

There are no arrangements if the passenger’s or customer’s pet faces any medical emergency.

No oxygen mask is available for pets in case of an emergency.

Southwest Airlines strictly don’t accept any pet remains in the flight’s cabin.

Southwest flying with pets in-cabin

The Southwest is flying with in-cabin policy states that your pet requires all the requirements and standards of Southwest Airlines. The pet in the flight is agreed. Travellers need to put their pets in an approved carrier as per the requirements.

Dimensions or Size Requirement for Pets Carrier in Southwest Airlines

Travelers can purchase Southwest Airlines’ official pet carriers from any Southwest ticket counter/kiosk for $58 (inclusive of taxes). All purchased pet carriers are non-refundable.

Acceptable pet carriers

Pet’s carrier maximum dimensions are 18.5 inches x 8.5 inches x 13.5 inches for a flight with Southwest Airlines.

Soft-sided and hard-sided carriers are accepted as a pet carrier inside the cabin

The carriers must be appropriately locked with ventilation systems; Sufficient space for the pet inside to stand and move around comfortably.

The carrier must fit properly below the customers’ seat.

Necessities for pets

Southwest flights have limited to one pet allowance per ticketed passenger.

Travellers are permitted two pets in a single carrier/cage if the pets belong to the same species and size; both the pets should have enough space to move and stand comfortably without touching the carrier’s top.

Cats or dogs must remain totally inside the carrier.

Every pet must be in the locked carrier while traveling to exit from the Airport. Unable to follow this rule will lead to the denial of pet transportation.

Pet cages are considered a piece of carry-on luggage or personal item. Passengers/customers can either take a personal item and a pet carrier or carry-on luggage and a pet carrier.

Southwest Allowed pets

Birds, cats, and dogs with some supportive pets are allowed on Southwest Airlines’ flights.

Age restriction

Every pet must have the age of at least eight weeks old.

Restricted routes

No permission for pets can travel with southwest airlines on international flights, including Puerto Rico’s destination.

Pets with Southwest flights are permitted to travel on the routes of the Hawaiian Islands, but there is a service ban for Hawaii Islands.

Banned breeds

No cat or dog breeds are restricted from travelling in the flight’s cabin per the Southwest airlines pet policy. But the pet must be sound and have good behavior; aggressive behavior will not be tolerated at all.

Check-in

Passengers can enter Southwest airlines through any available method with an online booking center. Still, they will have to visit the ticket counter for the pet check-in process payment of the pet reservation fare and charges.

Pets travelling in Southwest Airlines flights need to pass through a security check-up just like all the passengers. Travellers must exit their cat or dog from the carrier or cage and keep them in their arms once they pass through the security screening device. The pet carrier or cage will go through the x-ray machine with all the other small items and pieces of baggage. Dedicated employees and TSA hold the right to examine pet carriers thoroughly.

Remember to plan for your pet’s requirements and personal needs. Keep in mind the pet relief area availability and at airport locations. Southwest airlines will strictly not move the flight late due to your pet; they will take off their flight as scheduled departure time.

Southwest Pet Reservations

Suppose you wish to book a space for your pet on a Southwest Airlines flight, call the Southwest Airlines pet reservation number +1-844-673-0381 to reserve a seat. Seats for pets are limited. Southwest airlines go through the first-come-first-service pattern, so the passengers/customers are advised to make bookings for their pets as early as possible.

The fee and charges for the pet reservation service will be collected at the Southwest Airlines ticket counter, and the fee and charges for this service are non-refundable. Suppose the passenger fails to use the pet booking/reservation, the fee will not be carried over to any future travel credit account. Travellers travelling with their pets need to check in at the Southwest ticket kiosk/counter.  After checking in, the pets are allowed to onboard the flight.

Travellers are advised to book their flight tickets online or with the airport booking counter. Pets are not allowed to travel with their owners per the Southwest airlines pet policy. Suppose you have any further queries regarding the pet reservations with Southwest airlines, ring the Southwest airlines’ pet reservation number.

Southwest Airlines Pet Policy With Law Enforcement Details

Southwest Airlines understands that an emotionally attached pet may provide mental support to a passenger or customer for their disability. The Pet policy of Southwest Airlines for emotional support animals states that passengers may take their emotional support animal on the flight. Still, the animal must meet the set requirements and standards of Southwest airlines.

All travellers moving with their pets must present all the required documents and certificates.

Southwest Airlines only allows a cat or dog as an emotional support animal.

Only one emotional support animal per passenger or customer is permitted.

The emotional animal must be kept in a carrier or cage to fit under the passenger’s seat.

All passengers or customers wishing to travel with their emotional support animals must present before all the necessary certificates and documents on the letterhead of a medical doctor or a licensed mental health professional who diagnoses mental health-related disabilities.

Remember Essential Points

The customer or passenger suffers from an emotional or mental disability identified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

The assessment is offered by a licensed medical doctor or mental health professional for the undergoing customer’s treatment

The date and type of medical doctor’s or the mental health professional’s license and the state judiciary are issued.

Travellers need a dog or cat as the emotional support animal for the entire flight or any activity at the destination.

The supportive animals are permitted to travel on Southwest Airlines flights to/from all the destinations, including domestic and international. Still, some of the international destinations follow the rules and regulations of that specific country.

Southwest Airlines Pet Cargo

Southwest airlines’ pet policy is slightly different from the other airlines’ pet policies. Southwest airlines never transport any pets or accept any pet reservation as a piece of checked baggage or cargo shipment.

Southwest Pet Fee

The Southwest pet fee is $105 for the one-way flight, which a traveller needs to pay at the airline’s ticket booking counter. The mode of payment for Southwest pet fees must be through a credit card, cash, and Southwest gift cards. All the pet reservation fees are non-refundable.

Passengers or customers cannot use their Southwest points to pay the pet reservation fees. The rewards points can be used to purchase a Southwest gift card of $200, and then, the passenger or customer can use the gift card for making payment.