Widely known for its excellent customer service, Southwest Airlines is one of the most preferred airlines in the United States. If you’re one of their lucky customers and have a service dog, you’ll find that Southwest Airlines accommodates service dog owners exceptionally well. That said, you may still want to familiarize yourself with the Southwest Airlines service dog policy to ensure a smooth travel process.
Southwest Airline’s award-winning customer service and employee satisfaction are what the company is known for. Southwest consistently ranks high on FORTUNE’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. The airline also lands routinely on J.D. Power’s top companies for customer service. As an employer, its remarkable dedication to employees ranks the company on the Forbes Best Employer list year after year.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sets service dogs apart from pets and protects the rights of people with disabilities. Unlike pets, service dogs undergo extensive training to perform specific tasks for people who have a disability.
Flying With Your Dog On Southwest Airlines
The Air Carrier Access Act (ACA) enables people who have a disability to travel with their service dogs. The airline fees and regulations which apply to pets do not apply to service dogs.
Although these laws exist, airlines may still request prior notification and documentation before flying with a service dog. Prior notice enables the airline to make the reasonable accommodations necessary to fly with a service dog.
Pets, emotional support animals, and therapy animals do not qualify under the existing ACA laws. Because of those changes in federal regulations, Southwest only accepts trained service dogs for travel.
Southwest Airlines Becomes Latest Carrier To Ban Emotional Support Animals
Service dogs are individually trained to perform a task for a person with a disability and are welcome to fly the cabin with their handler. Southwest Airlines only recognizes dogs as service animals. Other non-canine service animals must fly as pets.
When traveling with a service animal, Southwest allows customers to notify the airline in advance through the “Special Assistance” link, which is accessible through the Passenger & Payment page (when booking online) or by calling 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) before the travel date.
Southwest Airlines requires completing the U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Travel Form before flying with a service dog. If you purchase your ticket in advance, you must submit your form at least 48 hours in advance to Southwest.
Southwest To Ban Emotional Support Animals
The U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Travel Form attests to the health, training, and behavior of the service dog that is traveling. The U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Travel Form must be completed accurately and presented at the gate or ticket counter before boarding on the day of travel. The form is available on the Southwest Airlines website and at airports.
Southwest Airlines requires a U.S. DOT Service Animal Form dated on the ticket purchase date or afterward. Be especially careful to thoroughly complete the form, as an incomplete form is grounds for denial of transport. Southwest does not allow you to replace the form by simply using an ID card, registration, or service animal vest.
At the airport, the individual traveling with the trained service dog must present the U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Travel Form to the ticket counter or gate agent. Keep in mind that the gate agent will not ask you to disclose your disability but may ask fact-finding questions as to what tasks your service dog performs.
Southwest Airlines Will No Longer Accept Emotional Support Animals
Some locations may have additional health regulations for dogs, so do check the animal requirements for your destination. In addition, all U.S. airports have animal relief stations available. Feel free to have your animal utilize a relief station before and after flying.
For more information on how to fly with a service dog on Southwest Airlines, take a look at the customer service site or call 1-800-I-FLY-SWA.
Information at this site is provided solely for the user’s information and, while we strive to be accurate, all information is provided strictly “as is” and without warranty of any kind. It is not intended to be used as a substitute for legal counsel from a qualified attorney. , its agents, affiliates, employees or contractors will not be liable to you for any damages, direct or indirect, or lost profits arising out of your use of information provided at this site, or information provided at any other site that can be accessed from this site.If you have an emotional support animal or psychiatric service dog, you probably take your support animal with you as you travel. Due to the U.S. Department of Transportation's 2021 policy changes, airlines are not required to let ESAs fly. If you want to travel with your ESA or PSD, here's what you need to know about the Southwest Airlines ESA policy.
Southwest Airlines Cracking Down On Emotional Support Animal Policy
If you want to bring your pet or emotional service animal with you in the cabin on a Southwest Airlines flight, there are some rules to follow and criteria to meet. The company permits small vaccinated domesticated cats and dogs to travel under the seat in front of you (where your small personal item would typically fit). Since they are required to travel in a pet crate, your dog or cat needs to be particularly small to ride in the cabin with you.
Southwest Airlines also requires the pet’s crate to be approved by the company, such as the official Southwest Airlines Pet Carrier, which measures 17 inches long, 9.5 inches high, and 10 inches wide. Other carriers should be no larger than 18.5 inches long, 8.5 inches high x 13.5 inches wide, maximum, and must fit completely under the seat ahead of yours. The carrier must be ventilated and have a waterproof bottom in case of a potty accident, as well.
Starting in January 2021, the DOT does not classify ESAs as service animals. Southwest Airlines must approve service dogs for travel, including psychiatric service animals. The only exceptions are if a passenger tries to bring an aggressive service animal or more than two animals aboard.
No Fly List: Southwest Last To Ban Emotional Support Animals
If you have a psychiatric service dog, you're entitled to fly with it on Southwest Airlines. To prove that your dog is a psychiatric service dog and not an ESA, sign up for a consultation with a certified mental health expert at and fully train your dog as a service dog. If you're approved, you'll receive a letter confirming that your pet is a service dog and that you're entitled to keep it with you.
If your dog helps you address the symptoms of a diagnosed mental health condition, it qualifies as a psychiatric service dog under the Southwest Airlines pet policy. To fly with your service dog, first ensure that your dog is ready for travel. Make accommodations for your dog to relieve itself, or ensure that the flight is short enough that it will not have to urinate or defecate. Take your psychiatric service dog out in public so that it can get used to being around strangers
Next, fill out the U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation form. This form asks for your name and information about your service dog, such as whether the animal was individually trained and whether or not it is up to date with required vaccinations. When you check in at the ticket counter, bring the completed form. You may also be required to show it when you arrive at your gate. Don't be surprised if public and airline employees ask questions about your service dog's purpose.
Southwest Airlines Pet Policy, +1 877 805 0998 & Fees
Unlike with pets, the Southwest Airlines service dog policy does not require you to put your dog in a crate or carrier for the flight. Instead, you must keep your service animal in a harness or on a leash at all times.
Once you board the aircraft, make sure that your dog is not in anyone else's way and that you're not in an emergency exit seat. Do not put your psychiatric service dog on your tray table or on the seat next to you, even if the seat is unoccupied. You can keep your dog on your lap, at your feet, or in a carrier under the row in front of you.
Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSDs) are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act and are legally granted access to places where pets are prohibited, such as airplane cabins, storefronts and restaurants. Find out more
Best Pet Friendly Airlines 2023 For Flying With Your Furry Friends
To get your own psychiatric service dog, trust to take you through the process. Just take our service dog assessment to determine your eligibility and needs and meet with a licensed mental health professional for an official diagnosis. At that point, we can issue your legitimate PSD letter, but its usage is optional.
However, your canine companion must be trained to be a service dog, and with our online PSD training program, you can make this happen from the comfort of your home and on a schedule that fits your lifestyle. To get started, complete our PSD training assessment and let guide you through the rest.
Once you’ve completed the assessment, you’ll meet virtually with a licensed mental health professional who can officially diagnose your qualifying psychological or emotional disorder. If you don’t already have a furry best friend, they can help you determine the right type of dog to
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