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
I have a question- what provisions are being made for people who may have life threatening allergies to animals? How are they to know if there will be a pet right next to then that might send them into anaphylaxis?
There was a dog under the seat next to me on an American flight once, and I spent the entire flight having an asthma attack, and my allergies are minor.
Just wondering. Are people who have allergies now responsible every time they fly to ask if there will be pets? Or do the have a reasonable expectation that the journey won't make them ill?
Is this coming down to which customers matter more?
just curious...
I am a long time Southwest Airlines flyer but I think this new pet policy for Southwest Airlines is ridiculous. I don't want to have to worry about my allergies flaring up because I was sitting near someone's pet cat on my flight. I want to be able to fly the blue skies with Southwest, arrive and depart on time and get to my appointed destination without having to use allergy medicine or running to the bathroom to wash my eyes out so I can see. I would rather pay for a bag than have to go through this -- I believe I'll have to look for alternative airlines from now on. I think SWA has forgotten that the airline was built to fly people first and foremost.
Great way to get the people who fly with their pets often to fly with you.
Many people take their pets to shows on the weekends flying both ways.
Many people take their pets on vacation with them.
Many pets are flown in cabin to their new owners.
I fly often for all those reasons, and often have to alert the passenger
beside me to not kick the carrier, they didn't notice there was a live animal aboard.
I love it! I realize alot of people are annoyed by pets, but honestly, I am more annoyed by young children on flights!
I just wish you could implement something for larger breeds of dogs flying in the cabin, then I would really be on board!
This is exciting for me! There have been many flights I've had to book on other carriers because my Pug was coming with me.
For those who express concern about pet odors, I've flown with my Pug many times, and frequently people comment that they didn't even realize I had an animal with me. Most pets on flights are quiet and don't make messes. Good pet owners know how to limit the water their pet drinks prior to a flight, and most pets know not to make a mess in their crate because they have to sleep in that.
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.
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....
MJ,
I am not sure where you got the 10 carrier figure, but we only allow five carriers per airplane.
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.
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.