Southwest Airlines Emotional Support Animal Policy Explained

Navigating air travel with animal companions requires careful planning, especially as airline policies evolve. If you’re flying Southwest Airlines, understanding their specific rules for pets, emotional support animals (ESAs), and service dogs is crucial. Since recent regulatory changes, the guidelines for bringing a Southwest Airlines Emotional Support Animal onboard have significantly shifted. This article details Southwest’s current policies, helping you prepare for your journey with your furry friend, whether they are a pet, a former ESA, or a trained service dog.

Southwest Airlines Emotional Support Animal Policy Update

Effective March 2021, Southwest Airlines updated its policies following the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) final rule on traveling by air with service animals issued in December 2020. A key outcome of this rule is that emotional support animals are no longer classified as service animals by airlines.

Consequently, Southwest Airlines no longer accepts ESAs under the classification of service animals. This means individuals traveling with a Southwest Airlines Emotional Support Animal must now adhere to the airline’s standard pet policy. While ESAs were once accommodated similarly to service animals, they are now treated as regular pets for the purposes of air travel on Southwest flights.

Flying with Pets (Including ESAs) on Southwest

Since ESAs are now considered pets, they must meet Southwest’s requirements for in-cabin pet travel. Here’s what you need to know:

General Pet Requirements

• Accepted Animals: Southwest permits small, vaccinated domestic dogs and cats in the cabin.
• Age: Pets must be at least eight weeks old.
• Carrier: Your pet must remain in an approved pet carrier that fits under the seat in front of you for the entire duration of the flight (applicable for flights within the US).
• Accompaniment: Unaccompanied minors cannot travel with pets.

Southwest Airlines Pet Fees

Transporting a pet (including a former ESA) incurs a fee.

• Fee: The charge is $125 each way per pet carrier for flights within the US mainland.
• Inter-Island Hawaii Fee: For flights between Hawaiian Islands, the fee is $35 each way per pet carrier.
• Payment: The Pet Fare must be paid at the airport ticket counter using an accepted credit card.
• Refunds: Pet Fares are refundable if you cancel your reservation or if Southwest cancels your flight and you do not rebook. Contact the airline or visit a ticket counter to request a refund.
• Carrier Purchase: Southwest-branded pet carriers can be purchased at the ticket counter for $58 (subject to availability).

Southwest Airlines plane tail logo against a blue sky, illustrating airline policy changes for emotional support animals.

Pet Carrier Requirements

Your pet carrier is crucial for compliance and your animal’s comfort.

• Approval: Carriers must be specifically designed for pet transport, leak-proof, and well-ventilated. Both hard-sided and soft-sided carriers are acceptable.
• Size: The carrier must fit under the seat in front of you.
  • Southwest Airlines Pet Carrier dimensions: 17” (L) x 10” (W) x 9.5” (H).
  • Maximum dimensions for other carriers: 18.5” (L) x 13.5” (W) x 9.5” (H).
• Containment: The pet must remain entirely inside the carrier at all times while in the gate area, during boarding/deplaning, and during the flight.
• Carry-on Status: A pet carrier counts as either your personal item or your carry-on item. You can bring the pet carrier plus either a personal item or a standard carry-on bag, but not both.

Graphic illustrating Southwest Airlines pet travel fees and carrier purchase option at the ticket counter.

Number of Pets Allowed

• Per Passenger: One pet carrier is allowed per ticketed passenger.
• Per Carrier: A maximum of two small dogs or cats of the same species can travel in a single carrier, provided they can both stand up and move comfortably inside.
• Reservations: Due to limited space (typically six carriers per flight, subject to change), Southwest recommends calling to make pet reservations in advance.

Destination-Specific Pet Regulations

Travel requirements can vary based on your destination.

• To/From Hawaii: Pets (including ESAs) are not permitted on flights to or from the state of Hawaii from the U.S. mainland or international locations.
• Between Hawaiian Islands: Pets are allowed on inter-island flights. Stringent Hawaii Department of Agriculture Animal Quarantine rules apply, including potential OIE-FAVN rabies antibody tests with long processing times (1-2 months delay possible) and a minimum 30-day waiting period post-vaccination/testing before entry. Check the Hawaii Animal Industry Division website for current advisories and requirements. Failure to comply can result in quarantine at the owner’s expense.
• Puerto Rico: Traveling with pets to Puerto Rico requires specific documentation. Key requirements include:
  • An official health certificate (valid 30 days) from an accredited veterinarian stating the animal is not from a rabies quarantine area.
  • Rabies vaccination certificate for animals over four months old (vaccinated within 6 months prior).
  • Proof of treatment for external parasites within 72 hours prior to entry.
  • Official individual identification (microchip or tag).

Beagle dog looking out from an airline-approved pet carrier, representing pet travel requirements to destinations like Puerto Rico on Southwest.

Pet Procedures at the Airport and Onboard

• Check-in: Pay the Pet Fare at the ticket counter.
• Security: You will need to hold your pet while the carrier goes through the X-ray machine. Carriers are subject to inspection.
• Gate Area & Boarding: Pets must remain securely in their carriers. Failure to comply may result in denied transport. You will board with your assigned group.
• Behavior: Pets exhibiting disruptive behavior (excessive barking, whining, growling, scratching, biting, lunging, urinating/defecating inappropriately) may be denied boarding.
• Pet Relief Areas: Available at airports, but flights won’t be delayed for pet relief needs.
• Checked Items: Pet strollers or crates can be checked free of charge with regular baggage, but Southwest is not liable for damage.
• Seating: Passengers with pets cannot sit in exit rows or seats without under-seat storage.
• In-Flight: The carrier must remain stowed under the seat in front of you throughout the flight. Pets must stay inside the carrier.

Small dog resting comfortably inside an airline pet carrier under an airplane seat on a Southwest flight.

Understanding Service Dogs on Southwest Airlines

It’s vital to distinguish between pets/ESAs and trained service dogs, as they are subject to different regulations.

Southwest Airlines accepts fully trained service dogs, including Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSDs), onboard free of charge, in compliance with DOT regulations. A service dog is defined as a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability (physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability).

Unlike the southwest airlines emotional support animal policy, which now treats ESAs as pets, trained service dogs have specific access rights.

Documentation for Service Dogs

• Required Form: Passengers traveling with service dogs must complete and submit the U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation form. This form must be presented digitally or printed at the ticket counter or gate on the day of travel.
• Other Items: Southwest explicitly states that items like vests, harnesses, ID cards, or registration certificates cannot substitute the required DOT form.

General Requirements for Service Dogs

• Training: Only fully trained service dogs are accepted. Service dogs in training, therapy animals, and companion animals (including ESAs) are not considered service animals under DOT rules and must travel under the pet policy if eligible.
• Control: Service dogs must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered unless these devices interfere with the dog’s task or the handler’s disability prevents their use. The dog must be under the handler’s control at all times.
• Behavior: Service dogs must be well-behaved. Dogs that exhibit disruptive behavior or pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others will be denied transport.

Golden Retriever service dog lying calmly at its owner's feet in the cabin of a Southwest Airlines plane.

Service Dog Procedures at the Airport and Onboard

• Check-in: Present the completed DOT form to a Customer Service Agent. Be prepared to answer credible questions about the tasks your service dog performs.
• Relief Areas: Service dog relief areas are available at Southwest-served airports.
• Seating: Passengers with service dogs can sit anywhere except emergency exit rows.
• Accommodation: The service dog must sit at the handler’s feet or in their lap (if no larger than a child under two). It cannot occupy a seat, tray table, or extend into the aisle or adjacent seat space.
• Carriers: If a service dog is small enough to be in a carrier, the carrier must remain under the seat during taxi, takeoff, and landing.

Destination-Specific Service Dog Requirements

Handlers are responsible for meeting all destination-specific regulations.

• Hawaii: Entry is strictly regulated, typically only through Honolulu (HNL) unless a valid Neighbor Island Inspection Permit is obtained before travel. Extensive documentation and adherence to quarantine rules are required. Check the Hawaii Animal Industry Division’s Guide & Service Dogs page and general quarantine info page well in advance. Failure to comply can lead to quarantine or transport out-of-state at the owner’s expense. Service dogs must be declared on the Plants and Animals Declaration Form distributed inflight.
• Puerto Rico: Refer to the Health Requirements Governing the Admission of Animals into Puerto Rico for applicable rules.
• International Travel: Research and comply with the laws of your destination country. For entry/re-entry into the U.S., review the current CDC regulations for dogs, which apply to service dogs and include requirements for age (min. 6 months), health, microchip, and a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Additional rules may apply for dogs from high-risk rabies countries.

Illustration of a passport and globe, signifying international travel regulations for service dogs flying with Southwest Airlines.

• Restricted Destinations: Trained service dogs cannot travel to/from Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ) on Southwest.

Training Your Own Service Dog

While ESAs no longer have special travel rights, individuals with qualifying disabilities might consider a Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD). Under U.S. law, individuals can train their own service dogs. Key aspects include:

• Obedience: Mastery of basic and advanced commands is foundational.
• Task Training: The dog must be trained to perform specific tasks that mitigate the handler’s disability (e.g., Deep Pressure Therapy, medication reminders, alerts for anxiety or medical episodes).
• Public Access: The dog must be trained to behave appropriately and remain calm and focused in public settings, ignoring distractions. Consistent training and positive reinforcement are essential. Online resources and courses can guide owners through this process.

While certification or registration isn’t legally required, proof of training completion can sometimes facilitate interactions in public access situations. Verification databases, like the one offered by Service Dog Training School International, can provide this.

Conclusion

The landscape for traveling with animals on airlines has changed, particularly regarding the southwest airlines emotional support animal policy. ESAs are now considered pets and must fly under Southwest’s pet program, including carrier requirements and fees. In contrast, fully trained service dogs, including PSDs, continue to be accepted free of charge, provided handlers submit the required DOT form and the dog meets behavior and control standards. Always verify the latest policies and destination-specific requirements directly with Southwest Airlines and relevant authorities well before your flight to ensure a smooth journey for you and your animal companion.