Jack Bauer sure will be happy this week. Not only because this season of “24” is over (finally…it was way too suspenseful), but also because now his little furry friends can travel on Southwest Airlines flights. For those of you who don’t know, Jack Bauer is my huge Maine Coon Cat.
Beginning today, Southwest Airlines will offer special pet fares for your cats and dogs to travel with you in the cabin on all of our flights!
The Pet Fare will be $75 one-way ($150 roundtrip) and is open for small cats and dogs in carriers that can be stowed under the passenger’s seat.
Jack unfortunately is a large breed of cat and does not fit comfortably in a pet carrier…Jack will be staying home.
For those of you who prefer people to pets, don’t worry, we will be limiting the number of felines and canines in order to provide a comfortable environment for all onboard.
Here are a few other points to remember when traveling with pets:
- Customers can travel with no more than one (1) pet carrier each. Each pet carrier can have no more than two (2) of the same species of small cats or dogs per carrier.
- Customers may bring a soft or hard-sided pet carrier that is leak proof and well ventilated. The pet carrier must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of the Customer and be stowed in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations. The dog or cat must be able to stand up and turn around in the carrier with ease.
- So…can I still bring a carry-on? The pet carrier will count as your carryon item. You may also bring one additional personal item on board.
- Just call Southwest Airlines at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA and the Customer Representative will gladly create a booking for your pet.
For complete information about the Pet Policy click here.
Oh, and check out our furry friends that share the policy with you here:
Comments
The Southwest Pet Policy says that pets must be (among other things) "odorless" to fly. I can't wait to hear the first news story about a Gate Agent or Flight Attendant telling a confirmed passenger they can't fly because their pet stinks....
Please SWA, you're losing me. First it was Business Select and un-democratizing the skies. Then you retained the family boarding policy (make em board where their numbers are, you're discriminating against the rest of your rule abiding customers), and now pets!
The worst flight of life was a flight from Houston to Albuquerque with a couple who took their dog out of the carrier mid-flight and let it ride in their laps.
At the very least make clear that pets can't be taken out of their cages mid-flight.
You refuse to recognize peanut allergies, and now you're refusing to recognize the large majority of us with pet allergies. This isn't a car trip to grandma's....this is a flight, with paying customers and a contract of carriage. Do better. Be better.
Oh boy, a 4 hour flight smelling dog poop and cat urine. A battle of dogs yipping at each other as their ears pop, and my head exploding as my cat allergy kicks in.
I have flown Southwest exclusively for the past 8 years. Friendly staff, lowest fares, and they go where I want to go (most of the time). No hidden fees and a great frequent flier plan that is simple to calculate - and it offered free drink coupons. Yeah!
Unfortunately, I believe that my flights on July 4th and 9th will be my last two flights on Southwest. It may not be as bad as I think it will be, but Continental has reasonable prices - especially for the business traveler with only 1 bag.
We cant afford to fly first class, but I'll spend the extra $20 so I don't have to fly kennel class.
Another Bad Decision
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and actually we have addressed the issue about pets staying in the carrier during flight. If you will click on the two links above, the one that says "Pet Policy" click here has all the details of the policy, and the second link immedeately under that will take you to our video, that also explains the pet must remain in the carrier.
As to allergies, we have carried service and emotional assist in the cabin for years, and should someone be allergic, we try to separate the parties far enough away that the allergy no longer becomes an issue.
Brian
MJ
I hope you will reconsider your decision. You mention Continental, and they also allow cabin animals, including rabbits and household birds. Indeed, Southwest was one of the last airlines to prohibit dogs and cats (which are all we allow) in the cabin.
Thanks for the quick bolg back Brian.
I wasn't aware that others allowed the furry (and feathered) friends in the cabins as well. A long time with a single airline will isolates you from the other airlines policies.
I appreciate that you would try to relocate passengers so they wouldn't be seated near allergy sufferers, but 10 carriers on a plane wouldn't allow for a lot of options. I check in as early as possible to get my preferred seat (you and I both know all seats aren't the same) but who gets moved when a pet owner sits near an allergy sufferer? Do I pay for Business Select and then get relocated next to the rear toilet?
Continental only allows 4 pets in the economy class (1 in the front of plane on select flights), Delta restricts pets to just 2 in the main cabin. The odds of sitting next to poopy the cat, or yippy the dog are 2.5x greater on Southwest compared to Continental, and 5x greater compared to Delta, based on sheer numbers. Add the economic factor, pets fly for less on Southwest (just $25 less than a 3rd bag), and I suspect Southwest will attract more pet fares.
But they will lose the human allergy suffering fares.
I guess Southwest already calculated that though. They just forgot to send me a "Dear John" letter to tell me that they wanted to see someone else.
I am not the least bit excited about this pet policy. I love animals, just don't want to be trapped in a crowded cabin with them. I hope Southwest will reconsider. Up until now you've been the only carrier I will use.
MJ,
I am not sure where you got the 10 carrier figure, but we only allow five carriers per airplane.
I am horrified by this. I have flown SWA exclusively since 1998. Now they are allowing pets on board an already cramped and sometimes smelly plane. Do the people that make these rules actually fly on SWA flights? Do they realize that even the smell of a stinky passenger quickly goes through much of the plane?
I have mild allergies to cats/dogs but it's bad enough that I will be sneezing and have a runny nose for the rest of the day! How can I now be able to get peanuts on board your planes, but no one cares if someone has allergies to pets? This allergy is much more common than peanuts!
I am encouraging everyone to write letters to the executive of SWA to express our disgust. I am writing a letter right now. I am also looking into other airlines....
Great decision! I really appreciate Southwest trying to make those with pets worry less when we fly. But what about the large dogs? Do you think you will change your policy sometime in the future to allow large dogs too? Even if the policy changes so that large pets will only be allowed on certain, not as busy flights, it would be extremely beneficial to me and many others.
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