Is Southwest Airlines pet friendly?

General Information. Southwest Airlines allows small vaccinated domestic cats and dogs to travel with you in-cabin under the seat in front of you. All pets must be carried in an appropriate carrier, as indicated below.



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An animal no larger than a child under the age of two may sit on your lap, otherwise it must be positioned on the plane floor.

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Usually dogs are only allowed to fly in the cabin—known as carry-on pets—if they can comfortably fit in a carrier that you can stow under the seat in front of you. A small number of airlines, including JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, and Etihad Airways, allow passengers flying with dogs to buy an extra seat for their pet.

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AirAsia (3.1), Fiji Airways (0.7), South African Airways (0.6), Azul Airlines (0.3) and Jetstar Airways (0.0) round out the bottom five airlines for traveling pet owners as each either doesn't allow pets at all or limits pet travel to the cargo hold.

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In general, if your pet carrier (with your pet inside) can fit under the seat in front of you, your dog can ride in the cabin on flights that permit it. Typically, this would be a dog weighing up to about 20 pounds.

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The whole process of flying can be stressful for a dog, but those levels of stress can be greatly reduced with a few simple home comforts and reassurances. Ensuring your flight is a non-stop flight rather than one with changeovers can be a huge benefit to your dog, as can looking to travel at a suitable time.

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Dogs must still fly in a carrier and fit under the seat to be stowed for taxi, takeoff, and landing (on Etihad, carriers can take up more space if being used with an additional seat); outside of those flight phases, passengers are generally allowed to put the dog carrier on their lap or in the seat next to them that ...

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If you like to travel with your dog, and you are wondering how much it costs to bring a dog on a plane, you'll need to add their travel costs to your budget. Generally, airlines charge a pet fee of $100 to $200 each way, but prices will vary depending on where you're traveling and your airline.

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Your Pet's Plane Ticket: Choosing the Right Route Pets must be carefully routed through pet-friendly airlines, and any extended layovers must include comfort stops at pet hotels. Airlines also charge higher rates for live animals due to liability and the additional attention they require.

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According to estimates released by the Department of Transportation, less than 1 in 10,000 animals were injured, lost, or killed from flying. That said, the general safety of flying your pet as cargo doesn't discount the gravity of the fact that animals are sometimes harmed by flying in the cargo hold.

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When checking a pet, you need to:
  1. Contact Reservations at least 48 hours prior to travel.
  2. Check in at the ticket counter with your official orders.
  3. Allow extra check-in time (at least 2 hours and no more than 4 hours before your flight)
  4. Complete a checklist with an agent.
  5. Provide a health certificate.


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Animals can also suffer the effects of atmospheric pressure, like humans, and may present: mild ear pain; decreased hearing; tinnitus.

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Understanding Your Dog's Ear Anatomy This tube helps even out pressure between the outside environment and the inside of the ear. So, when the air pressure changes rapidly, such as during take-off or landing of an airplane, your dog's ears can also experience a 'popping' sensation.

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Dog separation anxiety, more aptly termed as separation distress or panic is real. It can happen not only when you go on vacation but also when you need to leave them in general. It is a relatively common behavioural disorder, and it is a lot more than just “getting bored”.

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A 40-pound dog is indeed too large to travel in-cabin on most (if not all) airlines and will have to ride as cargo. Besides very small pets, only trained and certified service or support dogs with legitimate documentation can sometimes accompany their owners in-cabin.

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A 40-pound dog is indeed too large to travel in-cabin on most (if not all) airlines and will have to ride as cargo.

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Flying a dog in the cabin usually costs between $125 and $200, while the cargo hold is typically over $1000. There are also licensed companies that offer international pet shipping companies — they usually charge between $1000 and $6000.

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Pets are not permitted to travel with Unaccompanied Minors. Pets are not allowed to travel in-cabin on international flights or any itinerary that includes an international flight. Customers traveling with a pet may not occupy an exit row or a seat with no forward under-seat stowage.

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The simple answer is yes, you can send your pet on a plane without you. But the more detailed answer is a bit more complicated. When it comes to transporting a pet internationally, most airlines let you send them in the cargo hold.

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One of the top reasons for concern is the cleanliness of aeroplanes. They aren't the cleanest of places and can, therefore, carry many germs and illnesses, such as Parvo, that can be picked up by pets and can sometimes be deadly and easily transmitted to others.

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